Side Effects of Cinnamon Capsules

Any medicine, be it herbal or allopathic needs to be taken in the right dosage in order to cure the disease. However, if this simple principle of medical science is not followed do not expect any positive results.

This rule is very much applicable to cinnamon capsules. Known for its high medicinal value, cinnamon is a popular condiment and often added in recipes to enhance flavor. Cinnamon available in the form of cinnamon sticks or ground powder is derived from the brown bark of the cinnamon tree.

Cinnamon is also high in essential minerals like iron and calcium and so one can derive plenty of health benefits by using it as a condiment. Although cinnamon commonly used in powdered form to spice up food, it is also available in the form of capsule.

Studies suggest its benefits regarding managing diabetes and lowering cholesterol, but health experts warn about the potential dangers when the supplement is taken in excess.

High doses of cinnamon capsules can trigger kidney dysfunction. To be precise, kidney damage is the likely outcome if cinnamon dosage is high. An important compound found in cinnamon is coumarin, which is responsible for giving this condiment a strong flavor.

Too much of coumarin can be detrimental to the kidneys. In fact, usage of cinnamon capsules in the prescribed dosage for an extended duration of time (prolong use) may also deteriorate kidney function. There have been cases where in people were diagnosed with poor kidney function from cinnamon capsules.

Patients with pre-existing liver problems also need to think twice before taking cinnamon supplement as high concentration of coumarin can aggravate liver conditions. A healthy liver may also get damaged with too much exposure coumarin. Therefore, taking a higher strength cinnamon capsule everyday may eventually ruin the liver.

The onset of skin problems is an indication of allergic reaction to cinnamon capsules. So, no matter what the dosage is, skin issues are likely to occur if the person is allergic to cinnamon. The allergy towards cinnamon capsules manifests in the form of itchy skin rash.

Rosacea patients may experience their skin problems getting worse with supplemental cinnamon. Reddening of the skin accompanied by tingling sensation has been associated with cinnamon capsules.

Cinnamon has been effective in keeping blood clots at bay, thanks to its anti-clotting actions. However, this ability to prevent blood clots can be troublesome for those who are already put on prescription anticoagulants. As we all know anticoagulants are medicines that stop blood from clotting.

Thus, use of both cinnamon capsules and anticoagulants can cause excessive bleeding at the time of a physical injury.

With side effects reported from usage of this herbal medicine, one must think twice before opting for this remedy to control chronic ailments. The compound coumarin detected in cinnamon can be harmful to health. A better alternative is to use cinnamon capsules that do not contain coumarin.

Cinnamon extracts available under the brand name Cinnulin PF is free from coumarin and can be helpful to improve cholesterol and manage blood sugar.

One can also go for ceylon cinnamon which contains meager amounts of coumarin and is the purest form of cinnamon. However, before including this extract in your diet consult a doctor to know about the optimum dosage that would work in your favor.