Solicitous Cinnamon

Solicitous Cinnamon I believe is one of the world’s most favorite spices and for sure is Peter’s.  When I recently asked him what was his favorite spice he answered with a firm smiling response, “Cinnamon.” I expected that as he adds it to many things he enjoys especially warm drinks and requests it in various food dishes. 

Solicitous Cinnamon is truly a blue ribbon winner in flavor and has an incredible way of adding a cozy warmth and comfort to any environment and our senses.  It is a “friendly hearted” spice as it “plays well” with savory and sweet, helps calm bitter items due to its sweet nature, and can tame gamey flavors in meat such as lamb, all while being gentle or pungent depending on how much and what type of cinnamon used.   

Grown natively in Asia, the Cinnamon tree has contributed its bark to medicinal and culinary uses for thousands of years.  Over the years many tropical places have adopted growing these wonderful trees as well.  For this spice its bark is as good as its bite!!  For those that know I like to make fun puns, that’s an original just for this blog post:)

Like all the other Botanical Blips, these do stir memories. I bet you may have many yourselves.  Should you need, please do seek a pro for feedback if you are concerned with a health condition.  Solicitous Cinnamon is another super healthful botanical but it can be potent and too much is not good.  So please do take the time to consider what is beneficial but don’t go hog wild…more is not always better.  When you do buy Cinnamon flavored items make sure you are getting the real thing as most every spice and flavor has a counterfeit out there and it will not be good for you.

When I was in elementary school I used to make real oil Cinnamon tooth picks and found that lots of my classmates liked them.  They were hot and spicy, tingled a bit and made everything smell like Cinnamon.  I was generous so when it got on your fingers, well it got everywhere those fingers touched.  Yes, my teacher at the time politely told me not to bring those anymore as they were making the school smell like a candy store and not a school.  Can you imagine?  And she understood better than me that they were dangerous if someone should accidentally get it in their eye.  I felt a bit bad about that and absolutely respected her wishes and only made them for holiday class gifts for those I knew really liked them including my teacher.

I have a lifetime of enjoying Cinnamon and was so happy when I learned some of its amazing medicinal properties.  My parents sure enjoyed it too, mostly in hot drinks and sweets especially European pastries and yep, doughnuts as well.  We didn’t have them too often but what a splurge treat they were!  The rare but delicious Cinnamon Raisin Bread was one of my mom’s favorites.  Today I make a healthier version of the bread using hardly any sugar, plenty of Cinnamon and raisins from our grape vines seeds and all.

I could go on for a long time with stories involving today’s Botanical Blip but how about us seeing the list of the goodness inside the versatile Solicitous Cinnamon. First, there are two types Ceylon with milder flavor, the one we prefer, and Cassia which is bolder.  Cassia contains a strong chemical called coumarin which may not be good for the liver when used for a long time and in big doses. Always pay attention to your body’s reaction to things.

Like Sanative Sage this is quite a strong medicine and needs to be used wisely.  A little really does go a long way. A third to a half a teaspoon of dry powder a day is more than enough.  Of course, it depends on your weight too.  Be wise.  Ceylon, a true Solicitous Cinnamon and a wee bit more expensive, is gentler yet still needs that measurement.  I personally like to use many different spices and herbs to maximize health benefits and at the same time not unnecessarily load or tax my body with too much of any one of them.  For me, I have found variation is better.

Benefits:

Anti-inflammatory

Provides Pain Relief for Joints, Muscles and Headaches

Good for Blood Sugar

Aromatherapy

Good for the Heart

Aides Digestion

Anti-Fungal

Astringent

Anti-Bacterial

Nutrient Enhancer in Nutrient Dense Foods

Super charged with Antioxidants

Helps the Blood

Relieves Menstrual Issues

Anti-Clotting

Good for Mouth Health Including Gums

Diuretic

Respiratory Ailments like the Flu and Colds

Help Against Alzheimer’s

Good for Brain Health and Function

Flavor Enhancer

Good for Nervous Tension

Helps the Body Process Fats which Helps the Heart

Aides the Body in Fighting Infections

Encourages Healing

Helps with Healthier Milk in Lactating Mothers

A Natural Insecticide

And more…. 

Cinnamon has some excellent nutrients like manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, flavinoids, antioxidants, phosphorus, vitamin A, amongst others that makes this spice much more than just a likable flavor. 

I enjoy this spice in a tea as well with just a sprinkle here and there until I taste it. This Solicitous spice is good friends with a lot of other spices so don’t be shy pairing it up. 

You are always welcome to make a comment or even share a story or recipe.  You might even have a benefit to add, so please do so if you like.

Whether you prefer to use the sticks, powder, essential oil (be careful) or grow the tree, Solicitous Cinnamon is clearly another gift from God to warm and minister goodness in our lives. 

In closing, God made the Solicitous Cinnamon to be a symbol of His Love, His Beauty, His Favor, His Healing and the Holiness of His Presence…it is a special spice to Him as He Directed Moses in using it in  His Holy Annointing Oil as in Exodus 30 and the main component in Holy Incense.  It was also used in the Passover meal mixed with fruits and nuts.   The Solicitous Cinnamon was also known for being sniffed at the end of Sabbath for those feeling sad it was coming to a close.  How special is Cinnamon!  Another thought these convey to me is of the Comforting Uplifting Healing Love of our Saving God which is good for our soul. 

Here are two Scriptures Passages to administer some of His Comfort and Healing Love right now:

Psalms 86 KJV

1 (A Prayer of David.) Bow down Thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy.

2 Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O Thou my God, save Thy servant that trusteth in Thee.

3 Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto Thee daily.

4 Rejoice the soul of Thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

5 For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee.

6 Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.

7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon Thee: for Thou wilt answer me.

8 Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto Thy works.

9 All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before Thee, O Lord; and shall glorify Thy Name.

10 For Thou art great, and doest wondrous things: Thou art God alone.

11 Teach me Thy way, O LORD; I will walk in Thy truth: unite my heart to fear Thy Name.

12 I will praise Thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify Thy Name for evermore.

13 For great is Thy mercy toward me: and Thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.

14 O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set Thee before them.

15 But Thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

16 O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give Thy strength unto Thy servant, and save the son of Thine handmaid.

17 Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because Thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me.

2 Corinthians 1:2-4 

“Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Mercies, and the God of all Comfort; Who Comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

Until next thyme…