Cinnamon and Candida

A Chinese study in 2012 looked at the effect of cinnamon oil on Candida Albicans both in the laboratory and in patients suffering from intestinal Candida. The results were dramatic. When the researchers examined the Candida cells after they were treated with cinnamon oil, they noted that “Irregular hollows appeared on the surfaces, inside organelles were destroyed and the cells burst after treatment”.

In the second part of their study they took 60 patients infected with intestinal Candida. The patients were suffering from chronic digestive problems, had already been treated with antibiotics, and were eventually been diagnosed with Candida using a stool test. They were treated with a capsule containing both cinnamon oil and pogostemon oil (an Asian herb). After 14 days of treatment, 72% of the patients were found to have no Candida at allin their stool, and the remaining 28% had seen a significant reduction.

Another study in 2011 looked at the use of cinnamon oil in hospitals. Candida infection can be extremely dangerous among those with severely weakened immune systems, and it is becoming increasingly common in hospitals. This study looked at the effectiveness of sixteen different essential oils against another type of Candida yeast, and found that “The most active essential oil was cinnamon oil, which showed anticandidal activity”.

More research needs to be done, but all the signs so far are suggesting that cinnamon is a useful antifungal agent. Integrating it into your diet will not just make your food taste better – it will help with your Candida treatment too.

Other benefits of cinnamon

There is another great reason for Candida sufferers to take cinnamon, besides its antifungal properties. Several research studies have shown that it regulates blood sugar, and can prevent the spikes in blood sugar that can lead to a Candida overgrowth. In fact, cinnamon is gaining acceptance as a possible treatment for Type 2 Diabetes, as part of a broader set of lifestyle changes.

 A Korean study in 2011 found that cinnamon extract suppressed the cytokines that regulate inflammatory responses and have been linked to arthritis. So adding cinnamon to your diet could provide some relief from your aches and pains