tvak :

Substitute:

Possible substitutes include:

allspice
anise
caraway
cloves
fennel
ginger
mace
nutmeg
vanilla

Adultrants:

Powdered cinnamon is often grossly adulterated with sugar, ground walnut shells, galanga rhizome and various other substances. Galanga, according to Schmitz-Dumont, may be detected by the presence of small club-shaped, rod-shaped, partly bent, microscopic pieces of resinotannol. (Zeit. oeff. Chem., 1903, No. 2.) Powdered cassia buds are frequently added to the inferior cinnamon powders, but can hardly be looked upon as an adulterant, as they contain a larger proportion of volatile oil than the lower grades of cinnamon

Controversy:

There is still some controversy over whether cinnamon really has the ability to control blood sugar. Extract of Cinnamomum zeylanicum, cinnamaldehyde, shows pronounced hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects (in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats): A report in Phytomedicine reiterates that Cinnamomum zeylanicum is a widely accepted traditional medicine to treat diabetes in India. For that reason, the study was designed to identify antidiabetic compounds, if any, by bioassay-guided fractionation.However, it is still controversial whether the beneficial effect is insulin-dependent or insulin-mimetic.

Commercial value:

Commercial production of cinnamon bark entails cutting the stems down low after an initial establishment period and harvesting the bushy regrowth stems at regular intervals thereafter. Stems are cut during the rainy season to facilitate peeling of the bark in 2 longitudinal strips.

Dr Mohamed Rifas

A dual country licensed Ayurveda Physician, currently working in Dubai as Head of Ayurveda and Yoga department. He also works as visiting doctor for Dr Hassan Ayurveda Brain and Spine Specialty Hospital. He is specialized in joint issues, brain and spine related issues and gastrointestinal issues with respect to anxiety.
Doctor profile: Click here