by Tamara Mctee—Chartered Herbalist

The festive season brings the familiar, comforting scent of cloves and cinnamon from spicy apple cider or Mom’s holiday baking.

Cinnamon essential oil has a powerful effect on micro-organisms. When treating bronchial infections with essential oils in an infuser, cinnamon, cloves, and lavender oil together stimulate the immune system.

Try dropping some cinnamon or clove oil onto your vacuum cleaner’s bag before vacuuming. (Caution: never apply essential oils directly to skin; only lavender oil is safe to use in this way.)

Cloves’ Latin name, Eugenia caryophyllata, barely hints at what this aromatic herb can do. A stimulant, antispasmodic, antioxidant and antiseptic, this spice draws its intense flavor and reputation for fast relief from teeth and gum pain from the chemical eugenol. A few drops of clove oil in water can relieve nausea or constipation, stop vomiting, and curb flatulence and bloating.

The evergreen clove grew only on five small Indonesian islands, the Moluccas, before its introduction to east Africa, the West Indies, and China. The buds of the clove flower are picked before they open; then dried. The clove resembles a short nail (clavus in Latin). Whole cloves can be used in stewed fruit, hot spiced drinks, and marinades. In baking, ground cloves can be added to breads, cookies, spice cakes, curries, and meat dishes. For extra holiday fun, keep in mind that cloves are an aphrodisiac!

Cinnamonium zeylanicum and cinnamonium cassia, varieties of cinnamon, come from the inner bark of an evergreen, peeled, cut, rolled and dried. Whole sticks are of superior quality to the powder. Sticks can be grated, or ground in an electric blender: do not use a coffee grinder. (I broke mine trying that!)

When infusing whole sticks, simmer in a covered pan for 10 to 20 minutes. Mixing cinnamon with other herbs and sweet stevia helps to make the taste of bitter herbs, such as Oregon grape root, more palatable to children, as my own are living proof.

Cinnamon, like cloves, is safe to use during pregnancy. To help with vomiting during pregnancy, simmer an ounce of spearmint for ten minutes; then pour in 1 tsp. powdered cinnamon and one of cloves. Leave it covered until cold; then strain, and take two tablespoons every half hour.

Mixed with oatstraw and shepherd’s purse, cinnamon makes an excellent post-partum brew for the day and night after birthing.

New studies show that cinnamon can augment the action of insulin, and that consuming as little as 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon daily may reduce blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels by as much as 20% in Type II diabetes patients not taking insulin. Chinese herbalists advise clients in their 70s and 80s with a phlegmatic cough to chew and swallow a pinch of powdered cinnamon, to help warm nocturnally cold feet and hands and ease appetite loss or indigestion. Cinnamon relieves nausea, vomiting, and infantile diarrhea. Its essential oil is a potent antibacterial, anti-fungal, and uterine stimulant.

Festive herbs can be used to make unique a seasonal gift for friends. Make a potpourri with crushed by leaves, lemon balm, broken cinnamon sticks, and orange peels, cloves, ground nutmeg. Put it all into a fancy box and…make merry!