Hot apple cider just doesn't taste the same without a cinnamon stick. And toast, cookies, candies and fruit salads-not to mention cappuccino-all benefit from a generous sprinkling of its sweet powder. But cinnamon's most popular work isn't as a kitchen spice. This herb has been used medicinally for thousands of years to fight tooth decay, clear up urinary tract infections and soothe stomach irritation.

Ancient Chinese herbal references cite its uses as early as 2700 BC and Chinese herbalists still recommend it for relieving nausea, fever, diarrhea, and menstrual problems. Modern herbalists disagree on its ability to aid in menstrual difficulties; some think it stimulates uterine contractions, while others believe it calms the muscle.

You won't find a cinnamon tree in your backyard if you live in the United States. Most cinnamon comes from Asia and the West Indies. To harvest the spice, collectors strip the aromatic bark form branches of trees no more than 3 years old. These strips are what we know as cinnamon sticks.

Here's how to put cinnamon's medicinal powers to work for you. This fragrant spice:

• Fights tooth decay: Several toothpastes are cinnamon-flavored-for good reason. "Cinnamon is an antiseptic that helps kill the bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease," says Daniel B. Mowrey, Ph.D., director of the American Phytotherapy Research Laboratory in Salt Lake City and author of The Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine. Cinnamon also kills many disease-causing fungi and viruses. Cinnamon toothpastes can be found at supermarkets, drugstores and health-food stores.
• Soothes upset stomach: Like many culinary spices, cinnamon helps calm the stomach. But a Japanese study of animals revealed that this spice may also help prevent ulcers. To brew a stomach-soothing tea, use ½ to ¾ teaspoon of powdered cinnamon per cup of boiling water. Steep for 10 to 20 minutes. Drink up to three cups day.
• Clears up urinary-tract infections: One German study showed that cinnamon "suppresses completely" the cause of most urinary-tract infections (Escherichia coli bacteria) and the fungus responsible for vaginal yeast infections (Candida albicans).
• Allows diabetics to use less insulin: Some studies have shown that cinnamon helps people with diabetes metabolize sugar better. In adult-onset (Type II) diabetes, the pancreas produces insulin, but the body can't use it efficiently to break down blood sugar. Researchers discovered that cinnamon reduces the amount of insulin necessary for glucose metabolism. "One-eighth of a teaspoon of cinnamon triples insulin efficiency," say James A. Duke, Ph.D., a botanist retired from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and author of The CRC Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. Dr. Duke suggest that people with adult-onset diabetes discuss cinnamon's benefits with their doctor. Taking ½ to ¾ teaspoon of ground cinnamon with each meal may help control blood sugar levels.

The amounts of cinnamon normally used in food are non-toxic, although some people experience allergic reactions after eating this spice.

Cinnamon oil is a different story. Applied to the skin, it may cause redness and burning. Taken internally, it can cause nausea, vomiting and possibly even kidney damage. Never ingest cinnamon oil.

Culinary cinnamon is on the Food and Drug Administration's list of herbs generally regarded as safe. For otherwise healthy non-pregnant adults, there's no danger from medicinal doses.

nutritional supplement program variety packs