Cassia Bark Essential Oil (Cinnamomum cassia)
Overview
Cassia Bark may also be referred to as Chinese cinnamon or cassia. It is typically processed using steam distilled as a method for extracting oil from the bark.
Summary
Resembling Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil in aroma, Cassia Bark Essential Oil is sometimes used as an economical substitute within fragrancing applications.
It is my understanding that most of the "Ground Cinnamon" that we purchase in grocery stores, and even most of the "Cinnamon Sticks" that are sold are not true cinnamon, but are really its more affordable cousin, Cassia, Cinnamomum cassia.
Essential Facts
- Aroma Description:
- Common Name(s): Chinese cinnamon or cassia
-
Synonyms(s) for Cinnamomum cassia: Camphorina camphora, Camphorina cassia, Cinnamomum medium, Cinnamomum officinarum, Laurus malabathrum, Persea cassia
- Botanical Family: Lauraceae
- Botanical Genus: Cinnamomum
- Major Compounds: (E)-Cinnamaldehyde, (Z)-Cinnamaldehyde, (E)-Cinnamyl Acetate, Benzaldehyde, 2-Phenylethyl acetate
- Perfumery Note: Middle
- Consistency: Medium
- Strength of Initial Aroma: Sharp/Strong
- Color: Golden Yellow/Brown
- Indigenous Country: Middle
- Processing Methods: Steam Distilled
- Part Typically Used: Bark
Earthy
Spicy
Sweet-
Vegan
Essential Details
Cautions & Safety
Cautions when using Cassia Bark:
Tisserand and Young caution that there is a high risk of skin sensitization when using Cassia Oil (the bark or leaf oil) and recommend a dermal maximum of 0.05%. They indicate that it may inhibit blood clotting and that it is contraindicated in pregnancy/breastfeeding. Avoid use with children under 2. Reading Tisserand and Young's full profile is recommended. [Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 235.]
This essential oil poses a higher risk of causing irritation and sensitization when used in the bath. Avoid using it in the bath, even if it is solubilized/diluted.
Safety Precautions for Cassia Bark:
Do not take any oils internally and do not apply undiluted essential oils, absolutes, CO2s or other concentrated essences onto the skin without advanced essential oil knowledge or consultation from a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. If you are pregnant, epileptic, have liver damage, have cancer, or have any other medical problem, use oils only under the proper guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Use extreme caution when using oils with children and be sure to first read there commended dilution ratios for children. Consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner before using oils with children, the elderly, if you have medical issues or are taking medications. For in-depth information on oil safety issues, read Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young.
Articles
Cassia Bark Articles or Publications:
- PubMed: The traditional herbal medicine, Ge-Gen-Tang, inhibits pacemaker potentials by nitric oxide/cGMP dependent ATP-sensitive K(+) channels in cultured interstitial cells of Cajal from mouse small intestine.
- PubMed: Efficacy of Cinnamomum cassia Blume. in age induced sexual dysfunction of rats.
- PubMed: Evaluation of six plant species used traditionally in the treatment and control of diabetes mellitus in South Africa using in vitro methods.
- PubMed: The extract of Cinnamomum cassia twigs inhibits adipocyte differentiation via activation of the insulin signaling pathway in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.
- PubMed: Water extract of Cinnamomum cassia Blume inhibited human respiratory syncytial virus by preventing viral attachment, internalization, and syncytium formation.
- PubMed: 2-methoxycinnamaldehyde from Cinnamomum cassia reduces rat myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury in vivo due to HO-1 induction.
- PubMed: The ability of an ethanol extract of Cinnamomum cassia to inhibit Src and spleen tyrosine kinase activity contributes to its anti-inflammatory action.
- PubMed: Anti-gastric actions of eugenol and cinnamic acid isolated from Cinnamomi Ramulus.
- PubMed: Protective effects of Cinnamomum cassia Blume in the fibrogenesis of activated HSC-T6 cells and dimethylnitrosamine-induced acute liver injury in SD rats.
- PubMed: Inhibitory effects of cinnamic acid on melanin biosynthesis in skin.
- PubMed: Protective effects of Guizhi-Fuling-Capsules on rat brain ischemia/reperfusion injury.
- PubMed: Stimulatory effects of extract prepared from the bark of Cinnamomum cassia blume on the function of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells.
- PubMed: Repellency of Cinnamomum cassia bark compounds and cream containing cassia oil to Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) under laboratory and indoor conditions.
- PubMed: Toxicity of spray and fumigant products containing cassia oil to Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Acari: Pyroglyphidae).
- PubMed: Antimicrobial activities of cinnamon oil and cinnamaldehyde from the Chinese medicinal herb Cinnamomum cassia Blume.
- PubMed: Cinnamaldehyde and 2-methoxycinnamaldehyde as NF-kappaB inhibitors from Cinnamomum cassia.
- PubMed: In vitro stimulation of granulosa cells by a combination of different active ingredients of unkei-to.
- PubMed: Inhibitory effect of Sihoga-Yonggol-Moryo-Tang on matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 activities and invasiveness potential of hepatocellular carcinoma.
- PubMed: Measurement of plasma procyanidin B-2 and procyanidin B-3 levels after oral administration in rat.
- PubMed: Growth-Inhibiting Effects of Cinnamomum cassia Bark-Derived Materials on Human Intestinal Bacteria.
- PubMed: Extract prepared from the bark of Cinnamomum cassia Blume prevents glutamate-induced neuronal death in cultured cerebellar granule cells.
- PubMed: Insecticidal and fumigant activities of Cinnamomum cassia bark-derived materials against Mechoris ursulus (Coleoptera: attelabidae).
- PubMed: Inhibition of human tumor growth by 2'-hydroxy- and 2'-benzoyloxycinnamaldehydes.
- PubMed: Synthesis and in vitro cytotoxicity of cinnamaldehydes to human solid tumor cells.
- PubMed: 2'-Hydroxycinnamaldehyde from stem bark of Cinnamomum cassia.
- PubMed: [Salmonella and fecal coliforms in cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia Blume and Cinnamomum zeylanicum Nees) sold in the city of Florian polis, Santa Catarina, Brazil].
- PubMed: Alterations of pulse by Chinese herb medicine.
- PubMed: A reticuloendothelial system-activating arabinoxylan from the bark of Cinnamomum cassia.