Making Your Own Cinnamon Essential Oil

So this isn't technically essential oil, it's cinnamon oil or cinnamon extract. However, most people type "essential oil" into their search bar when what they are looking for is extract. The process for making real essential oil is complicated, and both the organic and synthetic versions can be dangerous in their own rights. It's easy enough to make my own and I don't have to worry about the cost.

I also make my own lemon, orange, mint, and other "essential oils" with real herbs from my back yard, and the peels from organic produce. I was making my own toothpaste this morning for our household, and I love cinnamon. But I didn't have any more cinnamon oil, so I thought I'd whip up a batch really quick to flavor my toothpaste. It can be used for so many other purposes though, cooking and otherwise. Being made with coconut oil, both of these ingredients are super good for you and your body!

After sharing my recipe, I'll walk you through the amazing nutritional benefits of both coconut oil and cinnamon, and then share all of the ways that I use this great item throughout my household. The smell alone cooking on my stovetop is enough to make me want to make some of this great oil. And you don't have to worry about it going bad or molding because the oil will be good as long as the lifetime of the oil, and coconut oil doesn't go bad. However, if you'd like to store it in the refrigerator to make sure of its continued freshness, you'll just have to warm it up when you'd like to use it.

Both of these are commonly known for their serious health benefits, but what exactly are they?

Cinnamon

Cinnamon has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. Cinnamon is made by cutting the stems of cinnamon trees. The inner bark is then extracted and the woody parts removed. When it dries, it forms strips that curl into rolls, called cinnamon sticks. These sticks can be ground to form cinnamon powder.

It contains powerful antioxidants, protecting your body from cell damage. It has anti-inflammatory properties, helping your body fight infections, repairing tissue damage, and lowering your risk of disease. It has also been shown to heal those with diabetes by stabilizing blood sugar and reducing insulin resistance while increasing insulin sensitivity. Just a small dose of cinnamon every day can lower bad cholesterol levels, and reduce your blood pressure.

This wonderful spice doesn't stop there. It has so many other benefits for you, including having positive effects on degenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Cinnamon can stunt cancer growth, reduce the growth of cancer cells, and lower your risk of cancer in the future. Wow! And it also fights respiratory tract infection, listeria and salmonella, tooth decay and bad breath. If you are not eating cinnamon every day, you are really missing out.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is one of the few foods that can be classified as a "superfood." Some of its benefits include fat loss, better brain function and various other impressive benefits. It is high in healthy saturated fats that have different effects than most other fats in your diet. These fats can boost your fat burning and provide your body and brain with quick energy. They also raise the good cholesterol in your blood, which is linked to reduced heart disease risk.

While some people think obesity is only a matter of calories, others (myself included) believe that the sources of those calories are important too. It is a fact that different foods affect our bodies and hormones in different ways. In this regard, a calorie is not a calorie. Coconut oil can literally increase how many calories you burn compared to the same amount of calories from other types of foods. And the fatty acids in coconut oil can kill harmful pathogens, including bacteria, viruses and fungi. This could help to prevent infections.

Coconut oil also has many uses that have nothing to do with eating it.

There are so many wonderful ways to use cinnamon oil. It can be used in your cooking, topically, or even around your house.

Cooking

• Add a tablespoon to chili for a richer flavor.
• Add a few drops to your stirfrys for added nutrients.
• Add a few drops to tea, coffee, or hot chocolate for a yummy treat.
• It can also be added to recipes like brownies, pancake or waffle batter, ice cream, smoothies, or anywhere else it sounds good.

On Your Body

• You can use it to scent homemade bath products like lotion, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, soap and even toothpaste.
• It can be applied directly to skin to soothe sore muscles.
• Add a few drops to your bath for a muscle relaxing soak.
• Add a few drops to a mug of hot water to reduce nausea, but not during pregnancy.
• Sniff it when you need a boost in cognitive function or memory.

Around Your House

• Combine a few drops with water and spray it around your home to eliminate odors.
• Add it to homemade cleaners for a nice scent.
• Add a few drops to a sock of cloves and peppercorns to repel moths in your closets.
• Use a few drops in your car to improve alertness and reduce anxiety.

This oil really comes in handy around here and gets used quite often. I hope you find plenty of ways to enjoy it in your household as well.