Common Name:

Cinnamon

Sanskrit Name:

Twak: Twak means skin; as the useful part of Dalchiniis stem bark so it is also called as twak.

Utkata: As it is sharp in action.

Dalchini: 

Cinnamomum zeylanicum – Lauraceae

Rasa (Taste) – Katu (Pungent); Tikta (Bitter); Madhura (Sweet)

Guna (Characteristics) – Laghu (Light); Ruksha (Un- unctuous); Teekshna (Sharp)  

Veerya (Potency) – Ushna (Hot)

Vipaka (Post digestion effect) – Katu (Pungent) 

The primary constituents of the essential oil are 65% to 80% cinnamaldehyde and lesser percentages of other phenols and terpenes, including eugenol, trans-cinnamic acid, hydroxycinnamaldehyde, o-methoxycinnamaldehyde, cinnamyl alcohol and its acetate, limonene, alpha-terpineol, tannins, mucilage, oligomeric procyanidins, and trace amounts of coumarin.

Dalchini pacifies Kapha and Vata Doshas but aggravates the Pitta Dosha; it can be used in conditions where there is aggravation of Kapha and Vata Dosha and Pitta activities are diminished.

• Kandu Nashanam: Dalchini is useful in management of itching of any etiology.
  
• Aam Aruchi Nashanam: Dalchini digests the Aama (a semi digested poisonous byproduct which is produced in body when metabolism is disturbed. This Aama is the root cause of most of the metabolic disorders.) and alleviates anorexia.
  
• Hrudya rogajit: Dalchini is useful in management of heart problems
  
• Vasti Rogajit: Dalchini is useful in all diseases of urinary system.
  
• Arsha Jit: Use of Dalchini is recommended in hemorrhoids.
  
• Peenasa Kasjit: Dalchini is useful in respiratory discomfort and running nose.
  
• Shukrala: Dalchini improves quality and quantity of sperms.
  
• Varnya: Dalchini improves complexion of skin.
  

• It is reported that regularly drinking of Cinnamomum zeylanicum tea made from the bark could be beneficial to oxidative stress related illness in humans, as the plant part contains significant antioxidant potential.
  
• Ranjbar, Akram et al.. "Antioxidative stress potential of Cinnamomum zeylanicum in humans: a comparative cross-sectional clinical study"
• Recent research documents anti-cancer activity of cinnamaldehyde/cinnamic aldehyde observed in cell culture and animal models of the disease. Proliferation, invasion, and tumor growth were inhibited in a murine A375 model of human melanoma.
  
• Cabello CM, Bair WB, Lamore SD, Ley S, Bause AS, Azimian S, Wondrak GT (January 2009). "The Cinnamon -derived Michael acceptor cinnamic aldehyde impairs melanoma cell proliferation, invasiveness, and tumor growth"
• Some researchers have isolated polyphenols from cinnamon that possess insulin-like activity and have demonstrated a dose-dependent increase in glucose utilization in animal muscle tissue.
  
• Qin B, Nagasaki M, Ren M, Bajotto G, Oshida Y, Sato Y. Cinnamon extract prevents the insulin resistance induced by a high-fructose diet. Horm Metab Res . 2004;36(2):119-125.
• Anderson RA, Broadhurst CL, Polansky MM, et al. Isolation and characterization of polyphenol type-A polymers from cinnamon with insulin-like biological activity. J Agric Food Chem . 2004;52(1):65-70
• Qin B, Nagasaki M, Ren M, Bajotto G, Oshida Y, Sato Y. Cinnamon extract (traditional herb) potentiates in vivo insulin-regulated glucose utilization via enhancing insulin signaling in rats. Diabetes Res Clin Pract . 2003;62(3):139-148.
• A few laboratory experiments suggest anti-inflammatory action of certain chemical components in cinnamon. Cinnamaldehyde inhibits nitric oxide production implicated in the inflammatory disease process and also demonstrated inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 catalyzed prostaglandin E2 biosynthesis.
  
• Lee HS, Kim BS, Kim MK. Suppression effect of Cinnamomum cassia bark-derived component on nitric oxide synthase. J Agric Food Chem . 2002;50(26):7700-7703.
• Lee SH, Lee SY, Son DJ, et al. Inhibitory effect of 2'-hydroxycinnamaldehyde on nitric oxide production through inhibition of NF-kappa B activation in RAW 264.7 cells. Biochem Pharmacol . 2005;69(5):791-799.
• Huss U, Ringbom T, Perera P, Bohlin L, Vasänge M. Screening of ubiquitous plant constituents for COX-2 inhibition with a scintillation proximity based assay. J Nat Prod . 2002;65(11):1517-1521.

Cinnamon has been given Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status by the FDA. 5 At dosages of up to 6 g/day, no significant adverse reactions have been reported.

Stem Bark; Oil; Leaves

Stem Bark Powder: 1-3 gm; Leaves Powder: 1-3 gm; Oil: 2-5 drops

Sitopaladi Churna;