My friend's wife's ENDO, advised her to make a tea from,

[HysteryDiagnosis]

cinnamon bark and fresh ginger, boiled, then add lemon, (fresh preferred) and honey. Her blood sugar stays below 100 while she employs this protocol, twice daily.... and I am in before the lock... how weird is that?

[Warpy]

1. What is she not drinking, instead?

There's your answer.

[Big Blue Marble]

2. It is not weird at all.

Research is showing the benefits of cinnamon to reduce blood sugar. Ginger is an excellent anti-inflammatory.
Inflammation is correlated with insulin resistance. Sounds like it is working for her. That's great.

[Merlot]

5. So true: Ginger is an excellent anti-inflammatory.

I used to have joint stiffness and after drinking lemon ginger juice and tea every day, I feel better than ever. It was a gradual thing, one day I just noticed my hands weren't stiff anymore.

Also, ginger is great for stomach aches.

[grasswire]

17. lemon ginger juice?

You mean the juice from lemons and from ginger?

[HysteryDiagnosis]

18. Pretty sure on that point. I use/take Yogi Ginger tea, put chunks

of lemon in the cup... eat the lemon chunks afterward. Yum.

[sandnsea]

3. Cinnamon is good for blood sugar

My doctor told me to take it, I didn't listen. Interested in this tea recipe.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

14. Wallyworld sells it in capsules now. People must wonder how they

get the capsules in their confections.

[uppityperson]

4. Endocrinologist or endoscopist?

[HysteryDiagnosis]

15. Can't say. I have to leave a large margin of ambiguity here so

the locksmith stays at bay. Your mileage may vary.

[tabatha]

6. All these things are chemicals.

Herbs, drugs, pharmaceuticals.

Therefore, to say, that spices, foods and herbs cannot have medicinal value is just dumb.

They are all chemicals that interact with the body in different ways, some good and some bad.

Using food as a healing substance is better, where applicable. It is often slower than drugs that provide fast and concentrated action.

But if you eat right all of your life, you may never get to the point of having to have drugs.

In fact some chemicals used in cancer therapy, are derived from plants - such as the yew tree for breast cancer.

(I have not had flu for 10+ years and have taken nothing to prevent it. The only big problem I have had was from the over-dosing for a tick bite. The tick was on me for less than 10 minutes, but the doctor double-dosed me for 12 weeks, when there should have been no treatment at all, according to a second doctor. It has played havoc with some aspects of my health that I am slowly overcoming.)

[frazzled]

11. Which also means they can be dangerous if taken without medical supervision

There are some questions about the safety of cinnamon in doses larger than those used to season food. To wit:

there has been concern that a chemical called coumarin that is naturally found in cinnamon may be toxic. There are varying opinions on this subject, but after some studies were performed to determine its safety when ingested, it was determined that if used in small quantities (such as the amounts that you would find in foods) it is safe. Cinnamon's odor and flavor are tied to a chemical called cinnamaldehyde, it is the major 'oily' component that is found in the plant. It can be toxic in large doses, a regular use of substantial amounts (e.g. 1/2 teaspoon amounts) of ground cinnamon may be unsafe. This problem can be avoided by using a water-soluble cinnamon extract in which the active polyphenolic compounds are retained but the oil constituents are removed (such as is found in some supplements). Cinnamon also contains a plant chemical called coumarin, which has also raised some concerns as to the herbs safety. Recent information provided by the Federal Institute of Risk Assessment "states that coumarin may damage the liver of particularly sensitive individuals. However, this is not permanent damage. Isolated coumarin by itself may not be added to foods by law. If coumarin containing parts of the plant are added to flavor foods, then the amount of coumarin is limited to two milligrams per kilogram (2.2 pounds) of food. Food manufacturers and importers are responsible for ensuring compliance with maximum levels. They may not place harmful foods on the market.

Cinnamon has been granted GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status as a food additive by the FDA. GRAS substances are considered safe by the experts and not restricted as is the case with other food additives. NOTE: Pregnant women are advised to avoid taking cinnamon oil or large doses of the bark, since high doses can induce abortion. Other information provided by a USDA study on Cinnamon showed it can?t harm you if taken small doses.

The bottom line is that if you are using the herb to flavor food, in the amounts used the government states it is safe. For those who are sensitive to certain plant chemicals, they may have a problem and if they stop consuming it any possible damage is reversible. If you want to take the herb to help control blood sugar, which means that you will be taking larger doses than normally would be used on foods, then take a product that has been certified to have had the potentially harmful plant chemicals removed.

http://health-compendium.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=30&Itemid=9


Also:

Precautions

Cinnamon bark may cause an allergic reaction in some individuals.
Cinnamon bark is not recommended for pregnant or nursing women.
Do not take essential oil of cinnamon bark internally unless under professional supervision. Internal ingestion may cause nausea, vomiting, and possible kidney damage.
Essential oil of cinnamon bark is one of the most hazardous essential oils and should not be used on the skin. External application of the oil may cause redness and burning of skin.
Cinnamon bark should not be given to children under two years of age.
Cinnamon bark is considered toxic if taken in excess.
Cinnamon bark should not be given to persons with inflammatory liver disease; in large quantities, it can irritate the liver.

http://www.answers.com/topic/cinnamon-bark-2

[tabatha]

21. There is also a problem with peanuts.

Some people react badly to them.
Some say they should not be eaten because of a fungus.
Others say that peanuts, like wine and mulberries, contain resveratrol.

I don't think it is possible for doctors to medicate all food.

Moderation is the key.

[uppityperson]

24. "I don't think it is possible for doctors to medicate all food."? What?

"Moderation is the key" is a good rule of thumb, but recognize that just because a substance is a plant or food does not mean it is safe. There are plants that most people can eat safely in moderation, and many that can not be eaten safely at all.

Being an amateur mycologist, I am very aware of which I pick and eat and do not assume that any mushroom is safe, even in moderation. Some have beneficial qualities for most people, some harmful to some, some toxic even in moderation.

What do you mean by "I don't think it is possible for doctors to medicate all food"? Who is talking about medicating food?

[tabatha]

25. Well, you did say "under medical supervision".

I am well aware of the safety and non-safety of various plants - and do not go anywhere near mushrooms, safe or otherwise.

Did you not read what I said earlier. They are all chemicals - some are good and others are bad for the body. That means I am well aware that some plants cannot be eaten - point to one person who does not know that.

[uppityperson]

26. Wasn't me who said "under medical supervision". I asked

What do you mean by "I don't think it is possible for doctors to medicate all food"? Who is talking about medicating food? since I don't understand the doctors medicating all food thing and don't want to assume I do.

There are posters on DU who say all natural is all good. One is a reincarnating poster, though there are others who say there is no harm in eating plants. So I pointed out what I did and gave a personal anecdote.

I think we are in agreement here.

[Why Syzygy]

27. I've never seen anyone

post that "all natural is all good". TS'er doesn't count. She isn't here!
Some skeptics like to use that color, but it just isn't true.

[grasswire]

22. ?

"....then take a product that has been certified to have had the potentially harmful plant chemicals removed."

A capsule?

[uppityperson]

23. "They are all chemicals that interact with the body in different ways, some good and some bad"

I agree very much with this. Just because it is from or is a plant does not mean it is safe.

[TNDemo]

7. Where do you get cinnamon bark?

I know you can buy cinnamon sticks but I heard they weren't true cinnamon or something?

[Sanity Claws]

9. I thought they were the same thing

Time to do some googling.

[uppityperson]

10. Cinnamon is the bark of tree.

I think there are different varieties of cinnamon trees though. Like different varieties of eucalyptus.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

16. A post above discusses the difference between the inner and

outer bark and the oil contained or not.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=222&topic_id=57457&mesg_id=57470

[HysteryDiagnosis]

12. Cinnamon tree?? I jest.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g2603/is_0000/ai_2603000034/ <---- More at link

Important quote: >>The medicinal value of the herb is attributed to the oil extracted from the inner bark and leaves. The cinnamon bark harvested from the young branches is primarily used for culinary purposes. In fact, the cinnamon sticks commonly used in cooking are actually pieces of rolled outer bark.<<

Cinnamon bark (Cinnamomum verum, C. zeylanicum, C. cassica) is harvested from a variety of evergreen tree that is native to Sri Lanka and India. The tree has thick, reddish brown bark, small yellow flowers, and its leathery leaves have a spicy smell. It grows to a height of approximately 20-60 ft (8-18 m) and is found primarily in tropical forests. Cinnamon bark belongs to the Lauraceae family. Related species are Cinnamomum cassia and Cinnamomum saigonicum (Saigon Cinnamon).

Cinnamon bark is cultivated in tropical regions such as the Philippines and the West Indies. It is not grown in the United States. Every two years the trees are cut to just above ground level. The bark is harvested from the new shoots, then dried. The outer bark is stripped away, leaving the inner bark, which is the main medicinal part of the herb.

The use of cinnamon dates back thousands of years to at least 2700 B.C. Chinese herbals from that time mentioned it as a treatment for fever, diarrhea, and menstrual problems. Indian Ayurvedic healers used it in a similar manner. Cinnamon was introduced around 500 B.C. to the Egyptians, who then added it to their embalming mixtures. Hebrews, Greeks, and Romans used it as a spice, perfume, and for indigestion. Moses included cinnamon in an anointing oil that he used. By the seventeenth century, cinnamon was considered a culinary spice by Europeans. American nineteenth century physicians prescribed cinnamon as a treatment for stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, colic, and uterine problems.

[SidDithers]

28. Bet you can buy it at LEF...nt

Sid

[TNDemo]

8. How much cinnamon and ginger per cup?

Like in teaspoons.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

13. This post is not intended to diagnose, treat, mitigate blah blah

any disease. I cannot answer this question cuz I hear the jingle of the locksmith, and I truly do not know. You would have to ask a medical professional about this sort of thing.

[Why Syzygy]

19. Technically,

the rule is not to ASK for medical advice. Nothing about giving it.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

20. Do it.... and watch the locksmith do his thing. The double edge

sword is, how do you tell someone how to increase their health status without telling them how to reduce/reverse/mitigate,cure a disease process?? It's a fine line and the medicine nazis are only right to protect those who may harm themselves by following advice that is less than proven and potentially dangerous.

[Mamacrat]

29. What doctor?

An endocrinologist? That would make sense. I am now pre-diabetic (taking Glucophage), so I'm interested in this tea. I also read that not all cinnamon supplements are the "real" thing. Which brand do you buy?