Holistic Health Aromatherapy & Essential Oils The Health Benefits of Cinnamon Essential Oil By Cathy Wong facebook twitter Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health. Learn about our editorial process Cathy Wong Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Arno Kroner, DAOM, LAc on July 07, 2020 facebook twitter linkedin Arno Kroner, DAOM, LAc, is a board-certified acupuncturist, as well as an herbalist and integrative medicine doctor. He operates a private practice in Santa Monica, California. Learn about our Medical Review Board Arno Kroner, DAOM, LAc Updated on July 09, 2020 Print The warm and spicy aroma of cinnamon is often associated with the holiday season. Once thought to be more valuable than gold, this highly versatile essential oil also offers a variety of health benefits. Verywell / Emily Roberts Health Benefits Cinnamon essential oil contains a number of compounds thought to influence health. These compounds include cinnamaldehyde, which has been found to reduce inflammation and act as an antimicrobial (a substance that destroys or suppresses the growth of microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi). Cinnamon essential oil is touted as a natural remedy for health concerns ranging from cough and colds to constipation. In addition, cinnamon essential oil is said to stimulate circulation, reduce stress, relieve pain, fight off infections, improve digestion, and protect against insects. Despite its long history of use in aromatherapy, cinnamon essential oil has been tested in very few scientific studies. To date, research on the health effects of the aromatherapeutic use of cinnamon essential oil is very limited. However, a number of studies suggest that compounds found in cinnamon essential oil may offer certain health benefits. For example, preliminary findings from laboratory studies and animal-based research indicate that compounds found in cinnamon essential oil may help destroy Streptococcus mutans (a type of bacteria closely linked to the development of cavities), promote widening of the blood vessels (and, in turn, possibly aid in the treatment of high blood pressure), and control diabetes (in part by regulating blood sugar levels). Possible Side Effects It's important to note that none of the above studies tested the aromatherapeutic use of cinnamon essential oil. It should also be noted that the ingestion of any essential oil may have harmful and potentially toxic effects. Cinnamon (particularly Cassia cinnamon) is high in coumarin, a compound that can be toxic to the liver and kidneys if used in excess amounts. (Coumarin can be absorbed through the skin and cause adverse effects even if it isn't ingested.) Coumarin also has a "blood-thinning" effect. In addition, some individuals may experience irritation and/or allergic reactions when applying cinnamon essential oil to the skin . It's also important to note that self-treating a health condition with cinnamon essential oil and avoiding or delaying standard care may have serious consequences. Pregnant women and children should consult their primary health care providers prior to using essential oils. Dosage and Preparation When combined with a carrier oil (such as jojoba, sweet almond, or avocado), cinnamon essential oil can be applied to the skin or added to baths. Essential oils can cause chemical burns and other adverse effects if they aren't properly diluted in a carrier oil or applied directly to the skin. Cinnamon essential oil also can be inhaled after sprinkling a few drops of the oil onto a cloth or tissue, or by using an aromatherapy diffuser or vaporizer. Keep in mind that diffusers can become moldy and should be cleaned regularly. What to Look For Keep in mind that aromatherapy products do not need FDA approval. You can find a lot of tips on purchasing essential oils online. Widely available for purchase on various sites, cinnamon essential oil is sold in many natural-foods stores and in stores specializing in self-care products. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Nabavi SF, Di Lorenzo A, Izadi M, Sobarzo-Sánchez E, Daglia M, Nabavi SM. Antibacterial Effects of Cinnamon: From Farm to Food, Cosmetic and Pharmaceutical Industries. Nutrients. 2015;7(9):7729-7748. doi:10.3390/nu7095359 Rao PV, Gan SH. Cinnamon: a multifaceted medicinal plant. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2014;2014:642942. doi:10.1155/2014/642942 Mollazadeh H, Hosseinzadeh H. Cinnamon effects on metabolic syndrome: a review based on its mechanisms. Iran J Basic Med Sci. 2016;19(12):1258-1270. doi:10.22038/ijbms.2016.7906 Chaudhari LKD, Jawale BA, Sharma S, Sharma H, Kumar CDM, Kulkarni PA. Antimicrobial activity of commercially available essential oils against Streptococcus mutans. J Contemp Dent Pract. 2012;13(1):71-74. doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10024-1098 Abraham K, Wöhrlin F, Lindtner O, Heinemeyer G, Lampen A. Toxicology and risk assessment of coumarin: focus on human data. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2010;54(2):228-239. doi:10.1002/mnfr.200900281 Ackermann L, Aalto-Korte K, Jolanki R, Alanko K. Occupational allergic contact dermatitis from cinnamon including one case from airborne exposure. Contact Dermatitis. 2009;60(2):96-99. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0536.2008.01486.x Connolly M, Axtell A, Hickey S, et al. Chemical Burn From Cinnamon Oil. Eplasty. 2017;17:ic11. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Aromatherapy. Updated December 12, 2017. Additional Reading Tung Y-T, Yen P-L, Lin C-Y, Chang S-T. Anti-inflammatory activities of essential oils and their constituents from different provenances of indigenous cinnamon (Cinnamomum osmophloeum) leaves. Pharm Biol. 2010;48(10):1130-1136. doi:10.3109/13880200903527728 Xue Y-L, Shi H-X, Murad F, Bian K. Vasodilatory effects of cinnamaldehyde and its mechanism of action in the rat aorta. Vasc Health Risk Manag. 2011;7:273-280. doi:10.2147/VHRM.S15429