Report: Ceylon Cinnamon Relieves Parkinso... - Cure Parkinson's

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Report: Ceylon Cinnamon Relieves Parkinson's Motor Impairment. Evidence Suggests Remedy of Underlying Disease (repost)

park_bear profile image
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Image credit: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl... Can cinnamon spice down autoimmune diseases?

This post includes both evidence from the medical literature and personal observation. It was originally posted in 2020 and had been deleted recently due to an unfortunate incident.

Using The Correct Cinnamon

There are two varieties of cinnamon. One is Ceylon cinnamon, also known as cinnamomum verum or cinnamomum zeylanicum, which has an acceptable safety profile. The other is cassia cinnamon, which contains coumarin, a blood thinner. It is also called cinnamomum aromaticum, and is grown in Southeast Asia. It should not be consumed in quantity. Ceylon cinnamon is readily available at Amazon and elsewhere. It is milder than cassia cinnamon, which makes it easier to take in quantity. In what follows, "cinnamon" refers to Ceylon cinnamon.

Introduction

There is strong evidence that Parkinson's is caused by excess alpha synuclein that neurons are unable to dispose of. See here for graphic images: healthunlocked.com/cure-par.... Human mutations that cause an excess of normal alpha synuclein and mutations that impair the disposal of alpha synuclein both cause Parkinson's.

Animal models of Parkinson's that involve applying a toxicant require some time to result in the formation of excess alpha synuclein. In the case of the mouse MPTP model, 14 days, if done properly. Reference: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Researching animal studies for substances to treat Parkinson's is an exercise in frustration. The vast majority of such studies treat the animal with the therapeutic substance either prior to or at the same time as applying the toxicant. Such studies are invalid because the animal never develops Parkinson's to begin with. At this stage even a simple antioxidant can prevent the toxicant from causing damage. Researchers subject to publish or perish who just want to get something published commonly use such invalid models.

One model that guarantees the animal being treated actually has Parkinson's is the A53T mouse. A53T refers to a human mutation in the structure of alpha synuclein that results in Parkinson's. Regarding these mice: alzforum.org/research-model... “around 10 months of age they begin to develop severe motor impairments (Lee et al., 2002). Early signs of impairment include wobbling and posturing." Investigators serious about treating Parkinson's make sure the test animal has Parkinson's before applying treatment, such as with these 10-month-old A53T mice.

Cinnamon study

Researcher Kalipada Pahan has spent many years studying the effect of cinnamon on Parkinson's and published numerous studies, most recently here: link.springer.com/article/1... This study used 10-month-old A53T mice.

"The present investigation underlines the importance of a naturally used spice and flavoring agent viz. cinnamon in reducing α-syn deposits in transgenic mice expressing mutant A53T human α-syn. Upon oral administration, cinnamon markedly reduced the level of insoluble α-syn in nigra, hippocampus and brain stem of A53T mice... Glial activation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative disorders including PD... and we found suppression of microglial and astroglial activation in the nigra of A53T mice upon cinnamon treatment. Moreover, neuroprotective proteins like DJ-1 and Parkin are known to reduce the formation of Lewy bodies in the CNS. Accordingly, we observed upregulation and/or normalization of DJ-1 and Parkin in the nigra of A53T mice by treatment with cinnamon...

"Quantification of α-syn immunostaining indicated a significant reduction of α-syn in cinnamon-treated mice relative to the vehicle-treated group...cinnamon treatment decreased the level of insoluble, but not soluble, α-syn in the nigra ofA53T mice... Mice were treated with cinnamon (100 mg/kg body wt/d) ... via gavage for 60d."

The mice also showed improvement in their motor and cognitive function.

Adjusting for metabolic rate as set forth here: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl... the mouse dosage is equivalent to 8 mg/kg body wt/d for a human, about .5 g for a 60 kg (132 pound) human. There is no guarantee that this will be an effective human dosage.

Be on the lookout for edema

There is a case report of cinnamon causing edema: jabfm.org/content/31/5/809....

We also have had 2 reports from people on this site who had experienced edema from cinnamon. If you experience edema after starting cinnamon then you should stop and cinnamon is not for you.

Personal report (as of the end of 2020)

UPDRS

Date started cinnamon treatment: November 6, 2020. UPDRS score at start of treatment: 35

My score had been 25 prior to a misadventure with another treatment. Cinnamon treatment improved my status as compared to before that event: UPDRS score as of completion of treatment on December 29, 2020: 20. (For those unfamiliar with UPDRS, lower is better)

My main symptom is motor impairment which has been much improved. I do have some tremor which is unchanged.

Update October 2024

In 2020 I had mild tremor. Having neglected cinnamon, as of 2024 I had bad enough tremor to interfere with my sleep. At this time there has been improvement and I am sleeping better.

Medication Reduced

I am very sensitive to levodopa - too much interferes with my walking, causing my leg on the affected side to be too tight and unable to move easily. Levodopa dosage prior to starting cinnamon treatment: 100 milligrams 3x daily, as Carbidopa / levodopa ER. Exercise with medication in "ON" state. Levodopa dosage at December 29, 2020: 100 milligrams 2x daily. I now exercise in the "OFF"/unmedicated state because any additional levodopa is too much.

Update December 2021: after one year without three grams daily cinnamon, my levodopa need has crept back up to 250-300 milligrams levodopa daily. I recently resumed taking one gram of cinnamon daily. If that does not help I will try an increase of my dosage.

Motor improvements

Dexterity has been restored to my affected arm - I am now able to manipulate buttons equally well with my affected hand. I walk more easily – A person who had not seen me for several weeks remarked I was no longer dragging my leg. These abilities are an improvement over my status prior to the misadventure I mentioned above, as is the need to exercise in the off state.

Personal observations indicating underlying disease condition is improved

In past attempts at herbal remedies, motor improvement came at a cost - dystonia, which was unacceptable, and indicated some adverse change was occurring as well as favorable change. That has not been the case with cinnamon. Improvement was gradual since the start of this treatment, and improvement has been maintained in the month since end of treatment. This is unlike a symptom reducing medication that merely increases the overall amount of dopamine present.

Reducing inflammation can have an adverse effect

During most of the seven week treatment period I took 3 g of cinnamon daily, mixed with food over the course of the day, without adverse effect. During the final week I increased my dosage to 6 g daily which apparently triggered a flare of a chronic infection that had been in remission. Inflammation can serve a useful purpose. Reducing it too much can be too much of a good thing.

September 2024 update: I had been neglecting my cinnamon and have experienced progression. I've resumed taking cinnamon. 3 grams daily seems to be too much but 2 grams daily seems to be OK.

Additional Evidence From The Medical Literature

Effect on inflammation

According to this study, link.springer.com/article/1... cinnamon essential oil had an anti-inflammatory effect on the microglia, which are immune system cells inside the brain: "Our results showed that TCA [cinnamon essential oil] significantly ... decreased iNOS and COX-2 protein expression level ...It also reduced LPS-induced mRNA expression of iNOS, COX-2, and TNFα."

According to this study:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Can cinnamon spice down autoimmune diseases?

" Recent studies indicate that cinnamon either in powder or extract form and NaB are capable of modulating different autoimmune pathways as well as protecting animals from different autoimmune disorders...Accordingly, in a recent randomized double-blind clinical trial ...oral cinnamon (2000 mg/patient/day) treatment significantly reduced the disease activity [of rheumatoid arthritis] score, visual analog scale, and tender and swollen joints counts [18]... rodent results suggest cinnamon as a possible complementary and alternative medicine for MS [multiple sclerosis]...Decrease in pro-inflammatory molecules by cinnamon... Decrease in inflammatory infiltration by cinnamon:.." Further details of the auto immune down regulation from this study shown in the title image.

Additional safety considerations

For lead content of various products see my comment towards the bottom of the page.

In a study of diabetics here: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/146... 10 patients each took 3 or 6 g of cinnamon daily for 40 days without any adverse effects reported:

"Results: After 40 days, all three levels of cinnamon reduced the mean fasting serum glucose (18-29%), triglyceride (23-30%), LDL cholesterol (7-27%), and total cholesterol (12-26%) levels; no significant changes were noted in the placebo groups. "

This is great, but it can be adverse for those suffering from hypoglycemia.

In another study, here: link.springer.com/article/1... 30 subjects participated in a three-month escalating dose study. At the final month they took a daily capsule of cinnamon extract equivalent to 6 g of cinnamon - which is to say concentrated cinnamon. Four suffered digestive upset, and two dropped out of the study for that reason. No other adverse effects were reported. We are not taking cinnamon extract, and mixing cinnamon with food or drink minimizes the likelihood of digestive upset.

Animal studies found excellent safety, which was reviewed here: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/226...

Disclaimer

I am not an M.D., just a fellow member of the Parkinson's club. I cannot offer any guarantees, nor assume liability. If you try the cinnamon treatment and some adverse effect arises you should stop.

Suggested Cinnamon Dosage Range

.5 – 3 g of cinnamon daily, added to food or drink. One gram of cinnamon is approximately one half level teaspoon. I strongly recommend getting a sensitive scale for accurate dosing. If you decide to go with the higher-end dosage, I suggest it be divided into two or three portions over the course of the day.

Avoid High Temperatures

I find that the best way to consume cinnamon is to add it to something I am eating or drinking. It is best to do so just before consuming. High temperatures can cause chemical changes in cinnamaldehyde, the active ingredient:

pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.102...

"trans-Cinnamaldehyde, the principal component of cinnamon flavor, is a potent antimicrobial compound present in essential oils such as cinnamon.... starting at ∼60 °C, pure cinnamaldehyde undergoes a temperature-dependent transformation to benzaldehyde under the influence of heat"

Cinnamaldehyde, the active ingredient in this treatment, is a volatile compound - the reason for the lovely aroma of cinnamon. Heating tends to evaporate it, which smells great, but will reduce the amount that gets into your body.

Keeping track

You can self administer the UPDRS (Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale) to track your progress. This will not be as objective as having an observer administer the test, but for tracking any changes it will suffice. If you choose to do this, I suggest omitting the back pull test, even if you do have a partner available for this, because there is the danger of falling and injury. The UPDRS can be accessed here:

parkinsons.va.gov/resources...

What brand of cinnamon to use? I have no particular insight as to any brand being better than another. Here is I have use that seems to be satisfactory:

amazon.com/gp/product/B0041...

I hope this helps!

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park_bear
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67 Replies
missingnewmexico profile image
missingnewmexico

Thank you for posting this.. truly encouraging to me. Time to get serious about taking this every day.

Missy0202 profile image
Missy0202

Part of my daily routine for 4 years thanks to you!!!

Mob0 profile image
Mob0 in reply toMissy0202

Hi. What dose have you been taking and how has it helped?

Missy0202 profile image
Missy0202 in reply toMob0

I take one rounded teaspoon which is about 2 grams. I can't say how it helps but I have remained quite stable for 5 years so I will keep doing it

drumhead profile image
drumhead

Great post and tastes good too :) Just beware that Consumer Reports published an article earlier this month about many brands of cinnamon having elevated levels of lead. You can Google it or copy and paste the link below if you want to see lead levels by brand that they tested.

consumerreports.org/health/...

Rufous2 profile image
Rufous2 in reply todrumhead

Aaagh, been taking a couple of grams of cinnamon here, wasn't worried about lead cause it's Ceylon and assumed (erroneously!) it was ok and that the culprits were all cassia. You got me wondering, so I started looking around and found this; mamavation.com/food/cinnamo...

The one we've been taking, True Organics, has lead, cadmium and glyphosate, and so does Frontier! 😩

park_bear profile image
park_bear in reply toRufous2

According to the Mamavation testing Frontier had 552 parts per billion lead, which is .55 parts per million. This is .55 micrograms per gram of cinnamon, which amounts to 1.65 micrograms of lead per day for 3 G of cinnamon daily.

Now consider the Scientific Opinion on Lead in Food By the EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain, European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Parma, Italy, published on 22 March 2013 efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.co...

Definition: BMDL01 is benchmark dose (BMD) of 1 % extra risk

The greatest human sensitivity to lead is developmental neurotoxicity: "The respective BMDLs derived from blood lead levels in µg/L (corresponding dietary intake values in µg/kg b.w. per day) were: developmental neurotoxicity BMDL01, 12 (0.50)"

In other words .5 micrograms of lead per kilogram of body weight daily results in 1% extra risk. For a 50 kg human this would amount to 25 micrograms of lead daily. 1.6 micrograms of lead from cinnamon is way less than that.

Rufous2 profile image
Rufous2 in reply topark_bear

Thank you Park Bear, for this reassuring perspective. Still makes me a little uneasy that the CR article recommends limiting use of cinnamons with .55ppm to a quarter teaspoon a day. Not going to abandon it, but might add lead levels to bloodwork in the future.

park_bear profile image
park_bear in reply toRufous2

According to the Mamavation testing Frontier had 105 parts per billion cadmium, which is .105 parts per million. This is .105 micrograms per gram of cinnamon, Which amounts to .315 micrograms of cadmium per day for 3 G of cinnamon daily.

academia.edu/download/54674...

The EFSA Journal (2009) 980, 1-139, © European Food Safety Authority, 2009

SCIENTIFIC OPINION Cadmium in food,

Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain

"The average daily dietary cadmium intake should not exceed 0.36 μg Cd/kg b.w"

This amounts to 18 micrograms of cadmium daily for a 50 kg person, as compared to 0.3 micrograms of cadmium from cinnamon.

Chastar profile image
Chastar in reply topark_bear

Thank you Park Bear, very interesting info. I’m YOPD recently diagnosed so will get on the Ceylon Cinnamom. Is there any brand with less cadmium/ lead etc? I love dark chocolate and I know I get a dose of cadmium a day from that! I’m UK based so will have to see what I can find here supply wise.

park_bear profile image
park_bear in reply toChastar

See the Mamavation link from @Rufous2 above for list

stlewy profile image
stlewy

Park_bear - your post could not be more perfect timing for me. I started putting cinnamon on my organic oatmeal (3 times a week). I started this 16 days ago. I was doing it to help my insulin levels (I'm pre-diabetic averaging 112 /fasting). I didn't put the pieces of the PD mystery puzzle together, but now that you mentioned the cinnamon phenomenon, I'm realizing my symptoms have improved a bit. At first, I thought it was a discontinuation of my multivitamins and using separate vitamins instead (until I can find the culprit that makes me worse). I still don't know yet, but I'm going to continue with my cinnamon. Thanks for the info and all the great informative posts!

healthabc profile image
healthabc in reply tostlewy

So how much do you put inn your oatmeal?

stlewy profile image
stlewy in reply tohealthabc

a non-heaping teaspoon. I also sprinkle an ounce in my coffee.

popo1 profile image
popo1 in reply tostlewy

interesting comment: "..stopped multivitamins.."; i am convinced multivitamins, i.e. centrum, contain tons of bad stuff and likely contributed to my PD onset. never took the whole tablet either, something just wasn't right ... but every doctor i saw said i needed them.

btw - the worst ones were manufactured in asia...as most of them are.

park_bear profile image
park_bear in reply topopo1

I looked at the list of ingredients that I found here: amazon.com/Centrum-Multivit...

It includes: Talc and Titanium Dioxide. Talc strikes me as insane since there's a danger of asbestos contamination. Titanium Dioxide is banned for use in food products in Europe due to adverse effects. More detail on that here: tinyurl.com/yxus4t6f

I also avoid folate supplementation because it is carcinogenic. More detail on that here: tinyurl.com/ycdrz5lj

stlewy profile image
stlewy in reply topark_bear

Could highly be the cause of my PD. I took multi-vitamins (Centrum) and/or individual vitamins (Beta Carotene, C, B-complex, Zinc, Folic, CoQ10, E). When I turned 55, I started taking Centrum Silver. Before this forum, I kept thinking if all these vitamins damaged me. Many people say I look young for 60, but at the cost of PD if vitamins were the cause. Oddly enough, I stopped taking the Centrum Silver, then started again 30 days later, 2 to 3 days later, my PD symptoms were bad. I truly believe some vitamin(s) caused my PD.

Despe profile image
Despe in reply topark_bear

PB, didn't we discuss the difference between Folate and Folic Acid? Folic Acid, I remember, is the cancinogenic, not Folate.

park_bear profile image
park_bear in reply toDespe

All forms are carcinogenic because it is fundamental to the function of folate which is to promote cell division. There is no free pass on this one.

Despe profile image
Despe in reply topark_bear

I also remember discussing that anyone with cancer must not take Folic Acid. I might be wrong.

park_bear profile image
park_bear in reply toDespe

The liver converts folic acid into folate, and folate gets converted into the active form, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF). So to claim one is more or less carcinogenic than another is to make a distinction without a difference.

I do recall there had been a prior discussion wherein I failed to properly address this issue.

6daniparky profile image
6daniparky

Thank you, park bear... do you know if cinnamom can to improve cognitive symptoms?

park_bear profile image
park_bear in reply to6daniparky

The animal study I cited in the post did find cognitive improvement so there is evidence that it will help.

LAJ12345 profile image
LAJ12345

thanks, a reminnder not to forget the cinnamon drink each day! I’m a bit hit and miss

Zella23 profile image
Zella23

Thanks for your timely post.

My HWP began taking it a few years ago about the time you posted this before and now is a regular user.

Medication has hardly altered for many years. His Neurologist is surprised by his low med intake, so we never know if it’s the interventions or whether his PD is a very slow progressing type so we don’t change much.

I think it’s one of the many things he takes that helps. His mobility is still good, not perfect so I think we’ll keep it in his stack.

Pixelpixie profile image
Pixelpixie

be aware that some products contain lead. Check Consumer Lab

Caa11 profile image
Caa11

thank you for the information! I read it last time you posted & purchased it but have not started with my HWP- do you think it can be put into a capsule & taken that way?

park_bear profile image
park_bear in reply toCaa11

Figure about 500 mg per capsule so it would take a number of capsules.

jocelyng profile image
jocelyng

this is really interesting. Just curious what you add it to when you take it. I wonder if I can put it on the foam of my coffee in the morning?

park_bear profile image
park_bear in reply tojocelyng

Just wait until your coffee is cool enough to drink before you add it. I stir it into my bear porridge or non-dairy yogurt.

Gioc profile image
Gioc in reply topark_bear

Hi park_bear ,

Cinnamon is also helpful in eradicating Helicobacter pylori.

What do you think of my recipe for taking cinnamon:

espresso coffee, a tablespoon of pistachio cream, whipped cream, and Ceylon Cinnamon powder.🤗

Espresso
park_bear profile image
park_bear in reply toGioc

👍😀

Bhaktitoo profile image
Bhaktitoo

Thank you so much. I buy Ceylon cinnamon from Mountain Rose Herbs. But I did not use it because I have MCAS and cinnamon is a fairly reliable trigger. I will now find a way around that!

I am an herbalist and have been buying herbs in bulk for 40 years. I have found Mountain Rose Herbs are better quality than Frontier, generally (as in I have bought dozens of products from each and compared.) I have not looked for or requested MRose testing data, but they do test, regularly and rigorously, and are respected for extra diligence in sourcing, visiting and inspecting suppliers, and so on. They develop relationships with their growlers, and have a reputation for planet, friendly policies, which they educate and facilitate for their growers. For a surprising number of products, they are less expensive than frontier herbs. They also carry many things frontier does not, for instance, Traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicinal herbs.

Rufous2 profile image
Rufous2 in reply toBhaktitoo

This is a comment that was posted by a reader at the end of the Mamavation article. It supports your opinion, but it is anonymous;

"I checked with Mountain Rose Herbs about their organic Ceylon cinnamon. They sent me a copy of the Certificate of Analysis for the batch they are selling. It showed a minuscule amount of heavy metals including only 0.18ppm of lead. They were very responsive and since lead was my main concern I’m satisfied and wanted to pass on their great customer service."

park_bear profile image
park_bear in reply toRufous2

I chatted with them and they provided me with a COA for their sweet cinnamon immediately! As shown in the image the lead came in at .768 ppm, a bit more than Frontier, but still acceptable according to the limits I cited above. Also, this applies to the current lot, whereas the Frontier data may be for a previous lot.

Mountain Rose Herbs cinnamon COA
ssrs profile image
ssrs in reply topark_bear

so either the Frontier or the Mountain Rose should both be good to use? I just received the Frontier brand today that I ordered from Amazon for my Hwp.

Thanks!

park_bear profile image
park_bear in reply tossrs

Yes.

Rufous2 profile image
Rufous2 in reply topark_bear

Such an important point, PB. Just because a brand tested well at a certain point in time, doesn't mean it will in the future. It's not like we're talking about a synthesized product that's virtually the same from batch to batch.

A company's ability to provide a COA quickly seems like a good sign, indicating they're keeping an eye on lead levels at all times. They may not be able to offer a Ceylon cinnamon with the ultra-low lead levels that the best performing cassias have, but at least they're making sure they don't suddenly balloon.

MarionP profile image
MarionP in reply toBhaktitoo

Where is Mountain Rose located, I cannot get my browser to complete a page with them.

park_bear profile image
park_bear in reply toMarionP

They're located in Oregon.

mountainroseherbs.com/sweet...

MarionP profile image
MarionP in reply topark_bear

TY!

park_bear profile image
park_bear in reply toBhaktitoo

According to the Pahan study, cinnamon is metabolized to sodium benzoate, which seems to be the active compound. They tried that at half the cinnamon dosage and found that it was also effective in alleviating Parkinson's. Available from Amazon.

chartist profile image
chartist in reply topark_bear

Sodium Benzoate also seems like a good way to avoid the current and growing lead toxicity associated with multiple brands of cinnamon.

Art

Bhaktitoo profile image
Bhaktitoo in reply topark_bear

yikes. I have mysteriously high benzoic acid levels so... hmmm. Wonder if that's why I have the reaction. There's always more to know, isn't there? You seem to know an awful lot of it, though. Thank you for sharing it

Esperanto profile image
Esperanto in reply topark_bear

While sodium benzoate has potential therapeutic uses, particularly in neurological contexts, its impact on histamine content and related reactions warrants careful consideration. Individuals with sensitivities or conditions related to histamine should be cautious. For me this was a reason to avoid cinnamon supplementation.

Likii profile image
Likii in reply topark_bear

"According to the Pahan study, cinnamon is metabolized to sodium benzoate, which seems to be the active compound. They tried that at half the cinnamon dosage and found that it was also effective in alleviating Parkinson's."

A bit concerning:

Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf

. 2017 Sep;16(5):868-880.

Benzoate and Sorbate Salts: A Systematic Review of the Potential Hazards of These Invaluable Preservatives and the Expanding Spectrum of Clinical Uses for Sodium Benzoate

Joseph D Piper 1 , Peter W Piper

Sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate are extremely useful agents for food and beverage preservation, yet concerns remain over their complete safety. Benzoate can react with the ascorbic acid in drinks to produce the carcinogen benzene. A few children develop allergy to this additive while, as a competitive inhibitor of D-amino acid oxidase, benzoate can also influence neurotransmission and cognitive functioning. Model organism and cell culture studies have raised some issues. Benzoate has been found to exert teratogenic and neurotoxic effects on zebrafish embryos. In addition, benzoate and sorbate are reported to cause chromosome aberrations in cultured human lymphocytes; also to be potently mutagenic toward the mitochondrial DNA in aerobic yeast cells. Whether the substantial human consumption of these compounds could significantly increase levels of such damages in man is still unclear. There is no firm evidence that it is a risk factor in type 2 diabetes. The clinical administration of sodium benzoate is of proven benefit for many patients with urea cycle disorders, while recent studies indicate it may also be advantageous in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia, early-stage Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Nevertheless, exposure to high amounts of this agent should be approached with caution, especially since it has the potential to generate a shortage of glycine which, in turn, can negatively influence brain neurochemistry. We discuss here how a small fraction of the population might be rendered-either through their genes or a chronic medical condition-particularly susceptible to any adverse effects of sodium benzoate.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/333...

Discogs_discogs profile image
Discogs_discogs

Has anyone here tried Ceylon cinnamon and had an allergic reaction?

NiccNZ profile image
NiccNZ in reply toDiscogs_discogs

I had a reaction to taking too much, but I don't think it was an allergic reaction. I started on 1 teaspoon cinnamon daily with great results, then increased it to 1.5 teaspoon cinnamon daily and within a week I developed cold/flu-like symptoms (stuffy node, nasal drip, low energy levels). When I stopped the cinnamon for a week the sold/flu symptoms disappeared. I'm now back on 0.75 teaspoons a day and it definitely helps!

Despe profile image
Despe

PB,

Quite a job posting on cinnamon! Questions:

You wrote people with edema shouldn't consume cinnamon. Hubby has lower extremeties lymphedema. He has been using cinnamon ever since you first posted on cinamon, but his bradykinesia hasn't improved at all, rather it got worse. Could his lymphedema and cinnamon injestion be the reasons for his worsening of bradykinesia? We have been using bark cinnamon DRUERA, imported from Ceylon. I couldn't find any analysis on their cinnamon.

park_bear profile image
park_bear in reply toDespe

I wrote that people who experience edema after starting cinnamon should discontinue. If someone with pre-existing edema starts cinnamon and the edema is not aggravated, then the cinnamon is not to blame for that condition.

My initial version of this post was 4 years ago. If his bradykinesia has progressed slowly over that time, it may be natural progression. Be that as it may, if the cinnamon is not helping him there's no need to continue. On the other hand, in my case, going off the cinnamon may have allowed progression to occur. So there's no easy answer. All we can do is observe and respond to what we see as best we can.

Despe profile image
Despe

Thanks, PB. There two or three causes I believe caused worsening of his bradykinesia:

1) Most important: Venous wound, lower left leg, which worsened under his wound care doctors treatment! Treatment by these doctors started August 2023. He was getting worse and was admitted, diagnosed with pseudomonas infection! The infection was caused by the "good doctors'" protocol. :( He was on very strong IV antibiotics for 10 days, with no visible improvement of the wound. Discharged, I took matters in my hands, and searched for a treatment. I found after reading PubMeds on the subject that pseudomonas are very resistant to antibiotics. Best for healing such wounds is WHITE VINEGAR AND DISTILLED WATER soaks. Started this protocol October 2023 on a daily basis under a dermatologist's supervision. This simple, inexpensive treatment has almost healed a huge wound which worsened his motor symptoms. I am still treating the wound every single day, an 1 1/2 hour protocol! Yes, the wound started on the rear of his left leg, but it expanded to the whole lower left leg--under "doctors'" supervision!!! He was in extreme pain, making his movements very difficult and slow.

2) I suspect I have to lower his cinnamon dose from 1 tsp to 1/2. Trial/error the name of the PD game.

3) Could be progression.

So, yes, his edema was diagnosed years ago, cinnamon didn't cause it. Actually, his glucose level is great (don't remember value) and so is mine. I JUST HAVE LOVED CINNAMON all my life and injesting it as long as I can remember, without knowing its health benefits. Of course, I found out later on in my life cinnamon's benefits.

PS. Ironically, he was/is allergic to most antibiotics. After his prostate surgery July 2023, he had to take antibiotics. He developed an allergic reaction, red spots all over his body. Started scratching his left lower leg, causing minor damage to his skin. Due to his edema, the wound got bigger and bigger. . .so the cause of his wound was enforced again by his wound care doctors to treat what caused the wound in the first place.

park_bear profile image
park_bear in reply toDespe

Very interesting regarding pseudomonas. Thanks for the information!

With a leg wound like that he would not exactly be doing a lot of walking exercise. Enforced lack of exercise could be a major reason for progression. I know when my walking exercise is interrupted for a while, such as by extended bad weather, It takes me some time to get back to where I was.

Despe profile image
Despe

Wish never happens to you or anyone. If knock on wood happens to anyone, lots of white vinegar for topical treatment and avoid wound care doctors' involvement.

Rubiron profile image
Rubiron

Thank you for the above info. I am very interested in my husband trying this (he doesn’t currently take any prescribed meds but is trying HDT (B1) and mucuna with some success. We are based in the UK, would you or anyone recommend anywhere that ships to here?

park_bear profile image
park_bear in reply toRubiron

Plenty to choose from at Amazon UK:

amazon.co.uk/s?k=ceylon+cin...

🙂

bone77 profile image
bone77

I have been taking 325 mg Ceylon cinnamon for less than two weeks and have noticed significant improvement in my rigidity dominant PD. Less weakness, pain, light headedness, less extreme blood pressures, more energy. I may go to 650 mg but have concerns about too much oxalate.

park_bear profile image
park_bear in reply tobone77

I searched on cinnamon and oxalate and found this:

sciencedirect.com/science/a...

"The percentage of oxalate that was water soluble differed markedly between cinnamon (6%) and turmeric (91%), which appeared to be the primary cause of the greater urinary oxalate excretion/oxalate absorption from turmeric. The consumption of supplemental doses of turmeric, but not cinnamon, can significantly increase urinary oxalate levels, thereby increasing risk of kidney stone formation in susceptible individuals....Subjects were given a supplemental dose of 3.0 g (6 capsules) cinnamon"

Smittybear7 profile image
Smittybear7

thank you!

alaynedellow profile image
alaynedellow

hello PB. Its about time i took your cinnamon.

Hope yourbhealth improves with it again

Like you i plan to go early at a time of my choosing. I dont know how but i find the decision has given me peace 🙏

park_bear profile image
park_bear in reply toalaynedellow

Yes I am improving! Most definitely worth a try.

Exit International maintains a website for when that time comes.

Alock2020 profile image
Alock2020

I've taken 2,700 mg of Wild Harvest True Ceylon Cinnamon (lowest amount of lead) per day for at least 5 years, and the PD has still progressed. I guess it's possible that it progressed less quickly than it would have without the cinnamon, but I have no way of knowing.

park_bear profile image
park_bear in reply toAlock2020

Some people are helped and some people are not. No idea what makes the difference.

Smudge28 profile image
Smudge28

Thank you for your quick response l have only just been able to source ceylon cinnamon at a local organic food shop and have started taking it hopeful of a beneficial outcome.

Babanalover profile image
Babanalover

definitely feel better. Take 1 flat tsp a day in apple purée. The taste is overpowering otherwise. This has been around many years but not much research (no pharma profit?) r

Axter profile image
Axter

Thanks for all the information, my doubts are these: with cinnamon powder, one gram, which is the quantity I would like to take now, corresponds to 1 coffee or tea spoon?

having gastritis problems do you think cinnamon can damage the stomach?

Do you know good quality products cinnamon extract in pill form?

park_bear profile image
park_bear in reply toAxter

If you are going to be doing this sort of thing I strongly recommend getting a sensitive scale. They are available inexpensively from Amazon and elsewhere. For the cinnamon that I use, 1 G occupies about half a teaspoon.

I'm not aware of any reports of cinnamon damaging the stomach, but I cannot provide any guarantee.

I've seen encapsulated cinnamon available but have no recommendations. Personally I prefer to mix it with porridge or yogurt.

park_bear profile image
park_bear

Lead, cadmium, and glyphosate content per Mamavation. Sorted by ascending lead content. The lowest lead that was Ceylon cinnamon and available by the pound rather than the ounce was Anthony's. Frontier and True Organic had lower cadmium but higher lead.

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