Magical Herbal Ally: Cinnamon!
According to the lunisolar calendar, we have entered early spring. This is an exciting time of year associated with the wood element and its opening, spreading out, and activating energy. It is the energy of wind, movement, growth, and renewal.
The image is that of a dragon who resides deep down in the depths of the waters. As spring comes on, he wakes and rises, flying up into the heavens therefore moving and churning the skies, moving the seasons, kickstarting transformation.
With this energy, ice cracks, snow starts to melt, the days grow longer and everywhere, life springs into action.
Wood Season Layered with Cold & Dampness
As we enter this inspiring renewal phase—called “wood” in Chinese medicine—we emerge from the dark, cold energy of winter—called “Taiyang.” This means that pathological factors such as cold, dampness, and stagnation are being stirred up and wind is stirring and agitating the nervous system.
We see this present in our community as a prevalence of respiratory infections like colds, flus, and general allergies or congestion. We also see musculoskeletal issues like stiff necks, sprains and strains, joints out of place, pain. We see heaviness like brain fog, stuffy noses, lethargy. These are all manifestations of heavy, damp conditions layered with spring energy.
Add Cinnamon!
How do we shake off this cold winter funk and get our minds and bodies in gear for a healthy, inspired spring? Cinnamon!
Cinnamon is an excellent herb for this season. It invigorates the channels, opens the pores, and expels the stiffness of the cold winter. Cinnamon is a warm-natured herb with a spicy, sweet taste.
Its function has everything to do with warming and stimulating. Different types of cinnamon function in different ways, especially when combined with various other herbals.
Cinnamon moves at the deep interior level of our physiology to help nourish muscles and organs. It also moves at the surface to help the immune system.
We can understand this interior/exterior dynamic by examining the elemental taste of cinnamon. That spicy, active taste is the function of the fire and air. This means it activates the surface levels of our physiology, inducing sweat and opening the channels to expel infection.
The sweet nature of cinnamon indicates earth and water. Sweet ingredients nourish and support, bringing that warm, invigorating value to benefit the deeper organs: the heart, liver, digestion, the blood. Channels entered by cinnamon: heart, lung, liver, kidney, urinary bladder.
Using Cinnamon
Many of the formulas in both the Chinese and Tibetan formularies are built upon cinnamon. We call it Gui Zhi (for the twig) and Rou Gui (for the bark) in Chinese, Shing Tsa in Tibetan medicine, and Tvak in Ayurveda.
If you already a client in our clinic, you may even already be on a formula that uses cinnamon.
Otherwise, add it to your food and teas! Play with it and enjoy it!
Stew some apples or pears with cinnamon and cardamom!
Top your porridge!
Spice up your heavier meat stews.
Recipe below…
One-Skillet Cinnamon Chicken
A recipe we put together based on several versions of the classic Chinese recipe with a cinnamon twist.
Ingredients
4-6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
¼ teaspoon granulated garlic
1 teaspoon ginger, grated
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
Salt and pepper to taste
Green onions and sesame seeds for garnish
Instructions:
Salt the chicken and allow to sit for 15-30 minutes. In a bowl, mix together soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, cinnamon, salt, and pepper.
Heat a large skillet over medium—high heat and place the chicken thighs in a skillet skin side down and brown. When skin side is brown flip the chicken over and pour the sauce mixture over them. Add some water and cook the chicken thighs over medium heat for about 25-30 minutes or until fully cooked, basting with the sauce occasionally. You can serve like this or optionally, reserving sauce for serving and broil the chicken for a few minutes to crisp up the skin.
Serve over rice with veggies. Spoon sauce over the top and garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
Let us know…
What’s your favorite cinnamon application? To find out if a Gui Zhi formula is right for you, see us for telemedicine or visit us in clinic for an acupuncture and herbalism or Tibetan medicine visit!