This popular plant in our country is ranked among the 'four great medicinal herbs'.

General practitioner Bui Dac Sang, Vietnam Oriental Medicine Association, said that cinnamon essential oil helps improve human intelligence, increase concentration, memory... In addition, it also has the effect of warming the whole body, eliminating odors, eliminating flu, colds, diarrhea, stimulating blood circulation...

In traditional medicine, cinnamon is considered one of the four most valuable medicinal herbs (ginseng, velvet antler, cinnamon, and aconite). In European countries, cinnamon is used as a medicine to treat diarrhea, malaria, coughs, etc. In India, cinnamon is widely used as a spice mainly for food preparation.

According to modern medicine, cinnamon contains many ingredients that are beneficial to health. Cinnamon can stimulate brain activity as a tonic, helping to reduce nervous tension and memory loss.

Some studies have shown that just half a teaspoon of cinnamon in your daily meals can reduce bad cholesterol in the body. Therefore, eating cinnamon is a way to protect heart health and reduce blood sugar levels.

"Cinnamon is also one of the herbs that can treat tooth decay and bad breath. Chewing a small piece of cinnamon or rinsing your mouth with cinnamon water also helps clean your mouth and bring fresh breath. It also has antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties," said physician Sang.

According toHealthlineCinnamon contains powerful medicinal properties. The distinctive smell and taste of cinnamon comes from the oil, which is very high in the compound cinnamaldehyde. Scientists believe that this compound has beneficial effects on health and metabolism.

Antioxidants protect the body from oxidative damage caused by free radicals. Cinnamon contains many powerful antioxidants, including polyphenols.

In fact, cinnamon's antioxidant effects are so powerful that it can even be used as a natural food preservative.

In addition, cinnamon also has other effects such as anti-inflammatory properties, helping to reduce the risk of heart disease.

According to one review, supplementing with as little as 1.5 grams, or about 3/4 teaspoon, of cinnamon per day may reduce triglyceride levels, total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, and blood sugar in people with metabolic syndrome.

Another review of 13 studies found that cinnamon can reduce triglyceride and total cholesterol levels, both of which are risk factors for heart disease.

Cinnamon is also known for its hypoglycemic properties. In addition to its beneficial effects on insulin resistance, cinnamon may also lower blood sugar levels through several other mechanisms.

It has also been extensively studied for its potential use in cancer prevention and treatment. Currently, evidence is limited to test-tube and animal studies.

Accordingly, cinnamon helps reduce cancer cell growth and angiogenesis in tumors and appears to be toxic to cancer cells, causing cell death.

A study in mice with ovarian cancer showed that cinnamaldehyde can block the expression of certain proteins involved in cancer growth.

These findings are supported by test-tube experiments, which show that cinnamaldehyde can reduce the growth and spread of ovarian cancer cells.

However, more research is needed to evaluate the potential anti-cancer effects of cinnamon in humans.

What to note when using cinnamon

Physician Sang also noted that we should not overuse cinnamon. Some people may be allergic to the ingredients in cinnamon. Eating too much cinnamon at once can lead to hypoglycemia, causing fatigue, dizziness, fainting, etc.

A safe amount of cinnamon is 6g per day, should only be used for 6 days then stopped for 1-2 days before using again.