But cinnamon's most popular work isn't as a kitchen spice. This herb has been used medicinally for thousands of years to fight tooth decay, clear up urinary tract infections and soothe stomach irritation. Ancient Chinese herbal references cite its uses as early as 2700 BC and Chinese herbalists still recommend it for relieving nausea, fever, diarrhea, and menstrual problems.
Most cinnamon comes from Asia and the West Indies.
To harvest the spice, collectors strip the aromatic bark form branches of trees no more than 3 years old. These strips are what we know as cinnamon sticks. Cinnamon also kills many disease-causing fungi and viruses. Cinnamon toothpastes can be found at supermarkets, drugstores and health-food stores. But a Japanese study of animals revealed that this spice may also help prevent ulcers.