Cinnamon

Research corpus coverage

Chemistry notes

• CHEMISTRY: Relevant reported constituents include cinnamaldehyde; procyanidins; low coumarin in C. verum; constituent presence alone does not establish clinical efficacy.

Traditional / historical use

Documented traditional use — not a claim of established efficacy.

• TRADITIONAL: Cinnamon has been used for digestive complaints; glucose control; flavoring; this records historical/traditional use and does not establish efficacy.

  MODERATE · evidence synthesis/fact sheet · NCCIH Herbs at a Glance

Modern evidence

• EVIDENCE: For the major use set (digestive complaints; glucose control; flavoring), the evidence assessment is limited/mixed: Limited/mixed meta-analyses for glycemic control; no clear evidence to replace standard diabetes care.

  MODERATE · systematic review/meta-analysis · NCCIH Herbs at a Glance

  Mixed findings, product heterogeneity, or indirect evidence are preserved in the detailed profile.

Forms used traditionally

A listed form does not imply it suits every plant part, or that one preparation is interchangeable with another — see the plant’s own notes below.

Cats

• High risk

  Cinnamon oil is known to cause poisoning in cats and may produce neurologic, respiratory, cardiovascular, thermoregulatory, gastrointestinal, and hepatic signs.

  Intrinsic toxicity · OTHER · cinnamon essential oil · HIGH · poison_control_database · Essential Oils and Cats

Dogs

• High risk

  Cinnamon oil is listed as poisonous to dogs in the context of essential-oil exposure.

  Intrinsic toxicity · OTHER · Cinnamon essential oil · HIGH · veterinary_hospital_guidance · Essential Oil and Liquid Potpourri Poisoning in Dogs

• High risk

  Direct ingestion of cinnamon powder can result in inhalation-related irritation in some dogs, with possible coughing, choking, breathing difficulty, and bronchospasm.

  Route-specific · INHALATION · Cinnamon powder · HIGH · poison_control_database · Nutmeg And Cinnamon Toxicity | Pet Poison Helpline®

Cats & dogs

• High risk

  Cinnamon oil is listed among essential oils associated with products that can be toxic in dogs and/or cats; the page does not provide oil-specific species, route, dose, or sign attribution.

  Intrinsic toxicity · OTHER · Essential oil, including as a component of herbal flea or tick treatments · MODERATE · veterinary_manual · essential, herbal, oil poisoning canine feline - Consultant

• High risk

  Cinnamon oil is included among essential oils described as toxic to dogs and cats; exposure may produce the general essential-oil effects reported by the page.

  Intrinsic toxicity · OTHER · cinnamon essential oil or liquid-potpourri product · MODERATE · veterinary_hospital_guidance · Steer clear of essential oils - VCA Animal Hospitals

• High risk

  Accidental inhalation of cinnamon can cause coughing, trouble breathing, and pneumonia in pets.

  Route-specific · INHALATION · Cinnamon; specific preparation not specified · MODERATE · poison_control_database · When Pumpkin Spice is Not So Nice - ASPCA

• High risk

  Cinnamon essential oil is identified as potentially hepatotoxic in companion animals.

  Intrinsic toxicity · OTHER · cinnamon essential oil · MODERATE · veterinary_manual · Toxicosis por aceites esenciales en animales - Toxicología

• High risk

  Cinnamon oil is listed among essential oils that are potentially hepatotoxic to animals.

  Intrinsic toxicity · INHALATION · cinnamon essential oil · MODERATE · veterinary_manual · Toxicoses From Essential Oils in Animals - Toxicology

• High risk

  Cinnamon essential-oil exposure can cause low blood sugar, liver disease, vomiting, diarrhea, and changes in heart rate; only a small amount is described as potentially problematic.

  Intrinsic toxicity · OTHER · Cinnamon essential oil · HIGH · poison_control_database · Nutmeg And Cinnamon Toxicity | Pet Poison Helpline®

• High risk

  Cinnamon oil is listed as an essential oil known to cause poisoning in dogs and cats after oral or dermal exposure.

  Intrinsic toxicity · OTHER · essential oil · HIGH · poison_control_database · Updates on Essential Oils

• Caution

  The page describes cinnamon as a potential hazard for pets; small exposures may cause mild stomach upset, while larger exposures may cause significant throat and stomach irritation, hyperactivity, and fast heart rates.

  Intrinsic toxicity · UNKNOWN · Cinnamon in baked creations; form not otherwise specified · MODERATE · poison_control_database · When Pumpkin Spice is Not So Nice - ASPCA

• Caution

  Cinnamon and cinnamon oils can cause irritation and sensitization; regular skin exposure may produce redness, irritation, or blisters, and oral exposure may irritate the mouth.

  Intrinsic toxicity · OTHER · Cinnamon or cinnamon oil · MODERATE · poison_control_database · Nutmeg And Cinnamon Toxicity | Pet Poison Helpline®

• Caution

  Cinnamon is generally well tolerated by pets, but adverse effects are exposure- and dose-dependent.

  Intrinsic toxicity · OTHER · Cinnamon tree, spice, sticks, powder, or essential oil · MODERATE · poison_control_database · Nutmeg And Cinnamon Toxicity | Pet Poison Helpline®

• Caution

  Large overdoses of cinnamon powder can cause low blood sugar, liver disease, vomiting, diarrhea, and changes in heart rate.

  Intrinsic toxicity · OTHER · Cinnamon powder · HIGH · poison_control_database · Nutmeg And Cinnamon Toxicity | Pet Poison Helpline®

Additional safety notes (general, unstructured)

Free-text safety notes carried from their source — not broken out by species, route, or hazard type, and not equivalent to the structured records above. Each note names the kind of source it came from.

• SAFETY: Major issues include Contact allergy; concentrated oils irritant. Contraindications/cautions include Cinnamon allergy; liver disease caution particularly for cassia products.

  MODERATE · evidence synthesis/fact sheet · NCCIH Herbs at a Glance

• SAFETY: Clinically relevant interaction concerns include Possible additive glucose lowering and anticoagulant effects.

  MODERATE · evidence synthesis/fact sheet · NCCIH Herbs at a Glance

  Some interactions are theoretical or based on case reports/pharmacokinetics rather than outcome trials.

• SAFETY: Pregnancy/lactation reference: Food use common; medicinal-dose pregnancy/lactation data insufficient.

  MODERATE · regulatory monograph or evidence synthesis · NCCIH Herbs at a Glance

  Absence of evidence is not evidence of safety.

• Cinnamon oil is listed among essential oils associated with products that can be toxic in dogs and/or cats; the page does not provide oil-specific species, route, dose, or sign attribution.

  MODERATE · veterinary_manual · essential, herbal, oil poisoning canine feline - Consultant

  The page says cinnamon oil without specifying Cinnamomum verum versus another cinnamon species; signs are not attributed specifically to the oil.

• Cinnamon oil is included among essential oils described as toxic to dogs and cats; exposure may produce the general essential-oil effects reported by the page.

  MODERATE · veterinary_hospital_guidance · Steer clear of essential oils - VCA Animal Hospitals

  The page names cinnamon oil but does not provide cinnamon-specific constituent, dose, or clinical-sign data.

• Accidental inhalation of cinnamon can cause coughing, trouble breathing, and pneumonia in pets.

  MODERATE · poison_control_database · When Pumpkin Spice is Not So Nice - ASPCA

  The page does not distinguish cats from dogs or identify the cinnamon preparation involved.

• The page describes cinnamon as a potential hazard for pets; small exposures may cause mild stomach upset, while larger exposures may cause significant throat and stomach irritation, hyperactivity, and fast heart rates.

  MODERATE · poison_control_database · When Pumpkin Spice is Not So Nice - ASPCA

  The page refers to pets generally and does not distinguish cats from dogs or identify a toxic constituent.

• Cinnamon essential oil is identified as potentially hepatotoxic in companion animals.

  MODERATE · veterinary_manual · Toxicosis por aceites esenciales en animales - Toxicología

  The page separately names cassia bark and cinnamon oil but does not specify whether the cinnamon oil corresponds to Cinnamomum verum or another Cinnamomum species.

• Cinnamon oil is listed among essential oils that are potentially hepatotoxic to animals.

  MODERATE · veterinary_manual · Toxicoses From Essential Oils in Animals - Toxicology

  The page names cinnamon oil but does not establish botanical identity; the canonical mapping is to Cinnamomum verum.

• Cinnamon and cinnamon oils can cause irritation and sensitization; regular skin exposure may produce redness, irritation, or blisters, and oral exposure may irritate the mouth.

  MODERATE · poison_control_database · Nutmeg And Cinnamon Toxicity | Pet Poison Helpline®

  The page notes that these effects are less commonly reported on pets’ lips than on human skin but can occur inside pets’ mouths.

• Cinnamon essential-oil exposure can cause low blood sugar, liver disease, vomiting, diarrhea, and changes in heart rate; only a small amount is described as potentially problematic.

  HIGH · poison_control_database · Nutmeg And Cinnamon Toxicity | Pet Poison Helpline®

  The page does not specify cat- versus dog-specific signs or an exact amount.

• Cinnamon is generally well tolerated by pets, but adverse effects are exposure- and dose-dependent.

  MODERATE · poison_control_database · Nutmeg And Cinnamon Toxicity | Pet Poison Helpline®

  The page does not specify cat versus dog for most cinnamon exposures.

• Large overdoses of cinnamon powder can cause low blood sugar, liver disease, vomiting, diarrhea, and changes in heart rate.

  HIGH · poison_control_database · Nutmeg And Cinnamon Toxicity | Pet Poison Helpline®

  The page states that problems generally require a larger amount of powder and does not provide cat- or dog-specific outcomes.

• Cinnamon oil is listed as an essential oil known to cause poisoning in dogs and cats after oral or dermal exposure.

  HIGH · poison_control_database · Updates on Essential Oils

  The page does not name a cinnamon-oil toxic constituent.

• Cinnamon oil is known to cause poisoning in cats and may produce neurologic, respiratory, cardiovascular, thermoregulatory, gastrointestinal, and hepatic signs.

  HIGH · poison_control_database · Essential Oils and Cats

  The page names cinnamon oil but does not identify its toxic constituent or distinguish route.

• Cinnamon oil is listed as poisonous to dogs in the context of essential-oil exposure.

  HIGH · veterinary_hospital_guidance · Essential Oil and Liquid Potpourri Poisoning in Dogs

  The page names cinnamon oil but does not specify a toxic constituent, route-specific outcome, or clinical signs for this oil.

• Direct ingestion of cinnamon powder can result in inhalation-related irritation in some dogs, with possible coughing, choking, breathing difficulty, and bronchospasm.

  HIGH · poison_control_database · Nutmeg And Cinnamon Toxicity | Pet Poison Helpline®

Taxonomic identity note

• Cinnamon is treated here as Cinnamomum verum J.Presl in the family Lauraceae; recorded older names include Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume.