A moderate sized tree, up to 16 m in height with rough, thick bark. The leaves are petiolate, opposite for the most part, coriaceous, entire, ovate or ovate-oblong, obtusely pointed, and three-nerved, with the lateral nerves vanishing as they approach the point. The flowers are small, white, and arranged in axillary and terminal panicles. The fruit is an oval berry, which adheres like the acorn to the receptacle, is larger than the black currant, and when ripe has a bluish-brown surface, diversified with numerous white spots.

Astringent, aromatic, stimulant, carminative, expectorant, antiemetic, reduces nausea and lipolytic.

Ethnobotanical Leaflets
Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Herb Information
Cinnamon

1,8-cineole, alpha-pinene, alpha-terpineol, ascorbic acid, benzyl-alcohol, benzyl-benzoate, beta-carotene, beta-pinene, borneol, bornyl-acetate, camphene, cryophyllene, cinnamaldehyde, coumarin, cuminaldehyde, eugenol, farnesol, furfural, gamma-terpinene, geraniol, iso-eugenol, limonene, linalyl-acetate, methyl-eugenol, myrcene, niacin, p-cymene, phellandrene, riboflavin, terpinen 4-ol, terpinolene, thiamin (bark); alpha-terpinene, benzaldehyde, camphor, mannitol, methyl-chavicol, nerol, phenol, safrole, tannin, vanillin (plant)

Aids in relieving stomach cramps and for irritation of the gastrointestinal tract; diarrhea and dysentery (where it is sometimes given with chalk); rectal, stomach and uterine cancer (decoction); also used in rheumatism, neuralgia, toothache and in parala and paralysis of tongue.

Not to be used during pregnancy. May cause skin irritation. Could cause tachycardia, increased respiration and perspiration.

Grieve M. A Modern Herbal 1931 (www.botanical.com).