Common cold or flu is caused by viral infections. Symptoms of cold vary from person to person which include runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough congestion, sneezing and mild fever.
Most antiviral treatments including natural remedies treat symptoms to reduce suffering. A typical outbreak of cold infection will run its course anyway.
You can use cinnamon for treating symptoms of cough and colds. Cinnamon is traditionally used with honey to get the best results.
Table of Contents
- How Cinnamon Treats Cough and Colds Symptoms?
- How to Use Cinnamon for Cough and Colds?
- Cinnamon Side Effects
- Other Tips and Precautions
How Cinnamon Treats Cough and Colds Symptoms?
Cinnamon is a delicious spice made from the inner bark of a tree scientifically known as cinnamomum. It has been used for both culinary and medicinal uses for thousands of years.
Cinnamon is loaded with antioxidants particularly polyphenols. cinnamon also has high anti inflammatory capabilities to fight infections and repair damaged tissue.
Cinnamon does not have antiviral property therefore it cannot kill the virus of colds but due to its anti-inflammatory capabilities it fights with infections and reduces the symptoms to give relief.
Cinnamon is widely used with honey in which it possesses antiviral and antifungal and antibacterial properties along with anti inflammatory abilities.
How to Use Cinnamon for Cough and Colds?
You can use cinnamon alone or along with honey and lemon to make it more effective to treat cough and colds.
Following are 3 popular methods of using cinnamon to deal with cough and colds.
1. Cinnamon and Honey for Colds
Kids love this remedy for cold. But it is as effective for adults as it is for kids.
Items Required
¼ teaspoon of ceylon cinnamon powder
1 teaspoon honey
Method
- Mix 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon powder to a teaspoon of honey well
- lick it slowly or
- just keep it in the mouth to slowly melt with saliva and go down your throat
- do it 2.3 times a day until cold is gone
You can add honey cinnamon to fruits salads or spread it on toast or use any other method to consume it.
Another method to use honey and cinnamon together to fight cold is to make tea as under
2. Honey Cinnamon Lemon Tea for Colds
Items Required
¼ teaspoon of ceylon cinnamon
½ lemon’s juice
1 teaspoon honey
1 cup water
Method
- Bring water to a boil
- Remove from heat and pour into a glass
- Add cinnamon, honey and lemon and stir well
- Let it cool down to palatable temperatures
- Drink 2 times daily
- Do it for 3 days
3. Honey Cinnamon Cough Syrup Recipe
Cold usually accompanies cough. Honey cinnamon cough syrup is as powerful if not more as most of the OTC cough syrup.You can make honey cinnamon cough syrup for colds and store it in a sealed container for daily use as under:
Items Required
1 Tablespoon of ceylon cinnamon powder
1 lemon
1 Cup honey
Method
- Extract juice of one lemon
- Add 1 tablespoon of cinnamon powder and mix well
- Add this mix to honey. This three step method helps to mix everything well.
- Store in a sealed container
- Take 1 teaspoon at a times 3 times a day
- Do it until cough and cold are gone
Cinnamon Side Effects
Although cinnamon offers so many health benefits, too much consumption may cause some of the following problems.
Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar - Cinnamon is good for lowering blood sugar levels therefore too much consumption can cause low blood sugar.
- Mouth sores - Cinnamaldehyde in cinnamon can be allergic to some people and can mouth ulcer if consumed in large quantities. If you are not allergic to cinnamaldehyde then nothing to worry.
- Liver damage - Cassia type of cinnamon contains high amounts of coumarin which can damage the liver. Ceylon cinnamon is relatively safer as it only contains traces.
- Cancer risk increase - Coumarin also increases risks of cancer according to some animal studies.
- Breathing difficulties - Cinnamaldehyde can irritate your throat and cause breathing difficulties.
- Interacts with certain medication - too much can interact with medication of diabetes, high blood pressure and liver disease.
Bottomline is cinnamon is a healthy and tasty spice. So, use it in your cooking and for treating cough and colds and other health conditions but make sure that you do not consume too much of it.
Other Tips and Precautions
- Avoid sudden cold exposure to prevent common cold
- Morning and evening walks can really keep you away from cold
- Stay away from other people who are infected with cold
- Wash your hand frequently as your hands touch many surfaces that may carry cold viruses
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
Cinnamon is a great remedy for cough and cold and many other conditions. Use it to your advantage but make sure that its consumption is limited to avoid side effects.