Cinnamon Bark - Pieces (Cinnamomum cassia; Rou Gui Pi) 125 gm

Although in Europe and the U.S. cinnamon is most often associated with sweet dishes it has broad culinary uses. For example in India cinnamon is never used with desserts but is the main ingredient in curries. In North Africa not only is cinnamon an ingredient in Raz-el-Hanout the flavoring of couscous and tagines but appears also in Berber spices. In Greece it appears in lamb dishes. And it is an essential spice in Chinese cuisine. Ground it is one of the constituents of five-spice powder; whole it is frequently added to flavor braised dishes. In the Caribbean it is in Jerk seasoning. In Mexico it appears with chocolate and chili powder in Mole sauces. In the U.S. it is used in barbecue rubs and sauces. Cinnamon is the bark of three bushy evergreen trees of the laurel (Lauraceae) family. The most fragrant and delicate cinnamon is obtained from the Cinnamomum zeylanicum tree native to Sri Lanka (which used to be called 'Ceylon') the western coast of India (known as the Malabar coast) and Burma. Zeylanicum cinnamon is sometimes called 'true cinnamon' and 'old fashioned cinnamon.' But the 'true' part was just advertising copy for the Dutch East India Company's 17th century monopoly. Cinnamon is also derived from the Cinnamomum loureirii tree native to Indonesia and the Cinnamomum cassia tree native to China Vietnam and Sumatra. The cinnamon from the loureirii and cassia trees is darker and more pungent and aromatic than cinnamon from the zeylanicum tree. Cassia cinnamon is what most Americans are used to and is the preferred cinnamon in Southern Europe. So don't let the term 'true cinnamon' confuse you; cassia cinnamon is just as true as zeylancium. Neither Grieve King nor Felter distinguish the cinnamon varieties medicinally – Grieve simply asserting that they all act alike and King's covers all varieties in one listing as 'The barks of numerous species of Cinnamomum.' Medicinally they all act the same although there are subtle taste differences. Cassia cinnamon has a more intense and less fragrant aroma than zeylanicum (Ceylon) cinnamon. It is sweet warm pungent and slightly astringent. Zeylanicum (Ceylon) cinnamon is pale in color and more delicate more fragrant not as pungent and not as sweet. It has a slight citrus flavor. Zeylanicum (Ceylon) cinnamon is more expensive than cassia and better to use in sweet dishes and cakes. Cassia nips the tongue and is more suited to spiced meats stews rice dishes curries pancake and waffle batters cinnamon rolls and flavored drinks. Cassia cinnamon sticks are reddish brown thick and coarse in texture. They are the sticks Americans are accustomed to and use in mulled cider and wine. Zeylanicum cinnamon sticks are pale in color thin and look like a roll of dried paper; they are delicate and crumble easily. Cassia cinnamon depending on its origin or strain is also known as Chinese Vietnamese (Saigon) and Korintje (Sumatran) cinnamon. Each has its own distinctive taste. The 1997 Commission E on Phytotherapy and Herbal Substances of the German Federal Institute for Drugs recommends Cinnamon 'For loss of appetite dyspeptic complaints such as mild spastic condition of the gastrointestinal tract bloating flatulence.' 'Side Effects: Frequently allergic reactions of skin and mucosa.' 'Daily Dosage: 2 - 4 g of bark; 0.05 - 0.2 g of essential oil; equivalent preparations. Mode of Administration: Cut or ground bark for teas essential oil as well as other galenical preparations for internal use. Actions: Antibacterial; Fungistatic; Promotes motility.' Cinnamon is also a powerful hemostat and can be of great use in some female complaints. Grieve's classic 'A Modern Herbal': 'Stomachic carminative mildly astringent said to be emmenagogue and capable of decreasing the secretion of milk.' 'The tincture is useful in uterine haemorrhage and menorrhagia the doses of 1 drachm being given every 5 10 or 20 minutes as required.' 'It is chiefly used to assist and flavour other drugs being helpful in diarrhoea nausea vomiting and to relieve flatulence.' 'The oil is a powerful germicide but being very irritant is rarely used in medicine for this purpose. It is a strong local stimulant sometimes prescribed in gastro-dynia flatulent colic and gastric debility.' 'Dosages: Of oil 1 to 3 minims. Of powder 10 to 20 grains.' King's 1898 Dispensatory: 'Stimulant tonic stomachic carminative and astringent; also reputed emmenagogue and capable of diminishing the secretion of milk.' 'The tincture of the bark is useful in uterine hemorrhage and menorrhagia given in drachm doses in sweetened water and repeated every 5 10 or 20 minutes or as may be required. A tincture of the oil (j) in 98 per cent alcohol (viii) is preferable given in from 5 to 30-drop doses repeated as often as necessary.' 'For post-partum and other uterine hemorrhages it is one of the most prompt and efficient remedies in the Materia Medica. To a limited extent it controls hemorrhage from other parts of the body yet its most direct action is upon the uterine muscular fibres causing contraction and arresting bleeding.' 'Upon the nervous system cinnamon first stimulates and then depresses. Cinnamon is generally used to correct the effects or improve the flavor of other drugs and is one of the best additions to cinchona bark for correcting the nausea or vomiting sometimes occasioned by that drug.' 'Internally it is very useful in diarrhoea colic cramp of the stomach flatulency and to allay nausea and vomiting. Dose of the powder from 5 to 20 grains; of the tincture from 10 to 60 drops; tincture of oil 6 to 60 drops. Specific cinnamomum 10 to 60 drops (see Oil of Cinnamon).' American Materia Medica 1919 (Ellingwood): 'Cinnamon in the experience of the writer is a hemostatic of much power and is positively reliable in all passive hemorrhages. It is not advisable to combine it with the usual astringents as ergot geranium or epilobium but it acts in perfect harmony with erigeron and to a certain extent with turpentine.' 'German authorities claim that as soon as the menses or any uterine hemorrhage becomes excessive and produces exhaustion or causes alarm the decoction should be administered freely. It works to a better advantage in hemorrhage due to atonic conditions of the non-gravid womb or where there is muscular relaxation or a general flaccid state of the womb after delivery.' 'It certainly restores tone to the uterine muscular structure and induces tonic contraction. It will also Hale says moderate hemorrhage not dependent on plethora anemia or organic uterine disease. In some cases during labor it promotes the normal labor pains and materially increases uterine contraction and prevents post-partum hemorrhage.' This is 2's nitrogen-flushed vacuum pack. Plum Flower is one of the most distinguished herb houses in the world. Sulfur Free Chlorine Free Aluminum Phosphate Free. Sulfites are used to give herbs the appearance of freshness. As with dried fruit unsulfured herbs look different than those that are adulterated with preservatives. Herbs that are preservative free are more natural looking and are generally darker. The brightness of the herbs may be appealing but it indicates the presence of harmful additives. Despite their appearance unsulfured herbs are more fresh and safer than regular commercially available products. 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