Please do not use so called Chinese Cinnamon (cassia), it contains a hepatotoxic chemical called coumarin, and some people will get headaches and nausea if they take it in high doses or regularly.

Ceylon cinnamon is the best, it does not have this chemical, and is less pungent and strong in odour, having a less woody and more fragrant smell. If bought in stick form it is easy to tell the difference, Ceylon cinnamon will be thin and brittle withe several layers, and you can powder it easily in a small pestle and mortar. It is quite a lot lighter in colour with a more reddish-orange tone than cassia which is darker, browner, and more woody, it is difficult to break, let alone powder.

Saigon cinnamon is also cassia, it has a higher oil content, so more used in production of essential oil. Indonesian cinnamon is also cassia, is the cheapest, and used in the food industry.

If you come across a spice trade magazine article that tries to turn this info upside down, ignore it, it's a marketing ploy.

Here's a reference on dangers of cinnamon use, it's a very good study: http://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/349/high_d..._ruled_out.pdf

Use with caution, and whatever you decide do not be tempted to take high dose capsules sold in health food stores. People who traditionally used it in cooking in the east treated it with respect, using it sparingly. That is true for both cinnamon and cassia. The latter is an ingredient of five spice, a traditional Chinese condiment, which was also used sparingly.

Those of us with anosmia may not appreciate the difference in smell!

Oh, and make sure you don't eat too many leibkuchen stars at Christmas time, they likely have high cassia content.

Can you please expand more on the problem with using the high dose capsules.

I used to love the smell of cinnamon. Oh, the god old days pre- PD..........

The problem with higher doses, is that the capsules usually contain a mix of cassia and cinnamon, meaning that you will be ingesting a large amount, over the RDA, of coumarin. On the other hand if you can source Ceylon cinnamon that is pure you could fill capsules yourself. Personally I prefer to enjoy it cooked in something delicious!

Does anyone know if Pennseys Vietnamese cinnamon is cassia or Ceylon type..(it is what I use in baking and making fermented papaya...smells and tastes so wonderful) I buy it in bulk....and go thru it!

[QUOTE=lindylanka;1082028]The problem with higher doses, is that the capsules usually contain a mix of cassia and cinnamon, meaning that you will be ingesting a large amount, over the RDA, of coumarin. On the other hand if you can source Ceylon cinnamon that is pure you could fill capsules yourself. Personally I prefer to enjoy it cooked in something delicious![/QUOTE

Very informative, thank you. I stopped by an organic food store yesterday and noticed they had both Ceylon and cassia tablets. What is your opinion on taking the Ceylon tablets (outside of the price, since they're more expensive)?

Thanks for the information,

Gary

http://www.inquisitr.com/1348836/bre...s-progression/

http://www.ceyloncinnamonshop.com/or...medium=organic

http://www.swansonvitamins.com/swans...600-mg-90-caps

Product Description:
Full Spectrum True Cinnamon

"After extensive research,I found this product to be the real cinnamon. I take one capsule a day or I open the capsule to sprinkle it on my oatmeal. This cinnamon is the true cinnamon. The taste is very good. Google the benefits of cinnamon. You will be glad you did." ~ product review by memphis55

Most of the cinnamon you find at the grocery store isn't "true" cinnamon. True cinnamon comes from a different, though related, plant species known as Cinnamomum verum (aka Cinnamomum zeylanicum), which is native to Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon). Thus, this distinctive herb is often called Ceylon cinnamon. Other species of cinnamon—the most common being Cinnamomum cassia—share much in common but differ in important ways. True Cinnamon has less volatile oil than cassia cinnamon and contains different levels of key compounds. Our Full Spectrum capsules supply pure, powdered Cinnamomum verum direct from Sri Lanka.
Product Label:
Full Spectrum True Cinnamon
Supplement Facts

Serving Size 1 Capsule
Amount Per Serving % Daily Value
Ceylon Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) (bark) 600 mg *

here is another link a friend sent me:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/ar...ect-brain.html

It seems like if cinnamon were effective in PD it would have been included in Ayurvedic or TCM after all these centuries