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c1nn4m0n
cinnamon is usually my secret ingredient; i add it to almost everything i cook. and i believe that the kind of cinnamon used makes the difference between a good and a great batch of chai. the best cinnamon in the world comes from vietnam; only in the past five or ten years has it become accessible here. the spice house in evanston is the only place that has it (and every other spice and flavour you can imagine); if you're in chicago, check them out: the spice house 1941 central st. evanston, il 60201 from nub chai: latin name: cinnamomum cassia ; lauraceae meridians/organs effected: spleen, kidney, liver and urinary bladder active constituents: essential oil including phellandrene, eugenol, cinnamic aldehyde, methuleugenol; cinnamaldehyde, cinnamyl acetate, phenylpropyl acetate; mucilage, tannin, sucrose, starch. properties: aromatic, analgesic, antibacterial, antiseptic, circulatory stimulant, astringent, carminative, demulcent, diaphoretic, expectorant, and hemostatic. uses: The cinnamon bark contains aromatic volatile essential oils that aid digestion and relieve gas; and an antibacterial oil, inhibiting e. coli, staphylococcus aureus and candida zibicus. cinnamon is a stimulant of the circulation; an analgesic that relieves pain when taken orally; an astringent that firms tissues and organs, reduces discharges and secretions; a carminative that relieves intestinal gas, pain and distention, and promotes peristalsis; a demulcent that soothes, protects and nurtures internal membranes; a diaphoretic that induces perspiration and increases elimination through the skin; an antiseptic that kills or prevents the growth of bacteria and counters sepsis; an expectorant that promotes discharge of phlegm and mucus from the lungs and throat; a hemostatic that stops the flow of blood, internal bleeding or hemorrhaging. generally cinnamon raises vitality, warms and stimulates all the vital functions of the body, counteracts congestion, is anti-rheumatic, stops diarrhea, improves digestion, relieves abdominal spasms, aids the peripheral circulation of the blood, warms the kidneys and strengthens adrenals. cinnamomum cassia is commonly used for impotence, spermatorrhea, cold and weak legs, backache, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. also used to promote menses and to alleviate menstrual pain from coldness. used in traditional chinese medicine specifically for causing sweating to eliminate chills, fever, colds and flu. traditionally the bark was believed best for the torso the twigs for the fingers and toes. also for tonifying for the kidneys. precautions: contraindicated in pregnancy because it is a uterine stimulant. use with care in overheated or feverish conditions. |