Healing Herbs: Cinnamon

Yes, I am aware that cinnamon is technically a spice.

Here is the USA, we tend to think of cinnamon and sugar together in baked goods such as apple pie -- and while you will never catch me casting aspersions on pie, cinnamon is so much more than that.  Other cultures use it extensively in savory dishes (cinnamon is an ingredient in garam masala and chinese five spice blends), and for good reason.  Cinnamon is antiseptic, antiviral, and antibacterial, so it helps to kill foodborne pathogens.  It's also a digestive, helping the body to assimilate food and relieving nausea. 

Cinnamon does good things for your blood, too.  It lowers harmful cholesterol, stabilizes blood sugar, and aids circulation.  It's warming to the body. 

Some suggested uses:

• Add to oatmeal to enhance oatmeal's cholesterol-lowering benefits
• Sprinkle into hot chocolate when you come in from the cold -- it's a delicious combination and more warming than chocolate alone
• Make cinnamon-ginger honey to add to cereal and beverages
• Experiment with adding cinnamon to savory dishes
• Sprinkle onto cooked rice -- it helps with nausea when you're sick or getting over a bug

Sources:
McBride, Kami: The Herbal Kitchen, Conari Press, 2010
Balch, Phyllis A.: Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 2010
McIntyre, Anne: The Complete Herbal Tutor, Octopus Publishing Group, 2010

Healing Herbs: Pine

I've been wanting to learn more about healing herbs, and it occurred to me that the best way to learn about something is to write about it.  Way back in 11th grade I had to write a report on basketball and to this day I remember something about peach baskets being involved, so I have proof that the system works.  I will be researching the herbs as I write, so my information is by no means the last word on the subject.  Always contact an experienced herbalist if you have any questions about using herbs.


Did you know you can make tea from the pine trees that are probably in your backyard right now?  Neither did I, until my good friend Jeanne Abbot told me about it.  Jeanne owns Abbotswood, a lovely shop on Brown Street in Wickford, RI, where she sells teas, herbs, antiques, art by local artists, and lots of other pretty and interesting things.  She also knows a heck of a lot about herbs.

I knew that pre-Christian Europeans brought evergreens into their homes in the winter as symbols of eternal life, but what I didn't know is that pine is wonderful for winter health problems such as coughs, colds, sinus congestion, and to improve circulation.  It's also loaded with vitamin C, so it helps to build up the immune system.  On an emotional level, pine can help with the "winter blahs" and keep you feeling grounded when you are working on psychological or spiritual healing.  Jeanne Abbot recommends it for times when you need the courage to move onto the next phase of your life.  One caveat, though: pine is better taken as needed and not all the time as the tannins in it can be tough on the kidneys over the long term in high doses.

I thought pine tea would be rather strong and unpleasant, but I tried it anyway because I am your intrepid blogger.  It is actually a very light, tasty, drinkable herbal tea.

Pine Tea


Ingredients
2 teaspoons pine needles per cup of water
honey (optional)

Rinse pine needles under cold running water.  Bring water to a boil in saucepan.  Add the pine needles and simmer for 20 minutes.  Strain out the needles.  Add honey to taste if desired.

Sources:
The Herb Quarterly, Issue 125 Winter 2010
Hageneder, Fred: The Meaning of Trees, Chronicle Books, 2005
Hopman, Ellen Evert, A Druid's Herbal for the Sacred Earth Year, Destiny Books, 1995