Cinnamon – The Circulation Harmonizer
November 14, 2022 | Written by Leticia Padmasri
Cinnamon comes from the bark of a tropical evergreen tree native to Sri Lanka. It is the most common spice found in nearly every kitchen! We can all agree that its taste and fragrance are very delightful.
In addition, its therapeutic properties have been used worldwide for thousands of years.
In Ayurveda, this spice is esteemed for its circulation powers, expectorant effects, and digestive properties.
Let’s look at its energetics and actions on the body and mind and learn how to benefit from it in our daily lives.
Cinnamon & Ayurveda
Cinnamon’s qualities are dry, light, and penetrating. Its taste (rasa) is pungent, sweet, and astringent. Its post-digestive effect (vipaka) is sweet, and its thermal action (virya) in the body is heating.
Based on these energetics, cinnamon decreases vata and kapha and mildly increases pitta, making it an excellent spice for the cold months.
During the fall and winter, our bodies may feel cold and congested. Cinnamon will warm our blood, feet, and hands and clear excess mucus, countering the excess vata and kapha common in these seasons. Plus, it gives us a sense of coziness with its sweet and spicy taste that strengthens the heart muscle and calms palpitations.
In addition to promoting circulation and reducing the cold in our extremities, cinnamon relieves coughs and colds and helps with glucose and carbohydrate metabolism. It also kindles our power of digestion when it feels slow or sluggish.
“Cinnamon is an effective herb for harmonizing circulation in the body! ”
So, how can you get more cinnamon in your diet?
Cinnamon can be purchased as powder or sticks. For example, I use the powder as a garnish and the sticks when making soups and teas.
Cinnamon is a crucial ingredient in chai tea. Make it caffeine-free, so the nervous system stays balanced, keeping vata dosha grounded. With the naturalness of the spices, you still get the energizing and invigorating effects one seeks from caffeine. In our kitchen, nutmeg is used in both sweet and savory dishes.
Ayurvedic chai is a delicious tea for the winter months. It removes stagnation, generates internal warmth, and keeps the digestive fire burning!
In our kitchen, we add cinnamon to our desserts, oatmeal, muffins, apple crisp, pancakes, soups, and dals, especially during the fall and winter. I use a delicious sweet spice mix for many recipes, and cinnamon is one of the ingredients.
Brewing Ayurvedic Chai tea
Using spices based on the season supports our body’s physiology and can better maintain our internal sense of balance throughout the year.
Sweet Spice Mix
2 tbsp fennel seeds
1 tsp dried rose petals
1 tsp cinnamon powder
¾ tsp cardamon seeds
½ tsp ginger powder
¼ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
Place all ingredients in a coffee grinder dedicated to spices or use a mortar and pestle. Grind to a fine powder. Store in an airtight glass jar away from light and heat.
This is a raw spice blend, so you should add it at the beginning of cooking. Also, always make small seasonal batches. This way, your mixture will stay fresh and retain the spices' medicinal properties.