There's definitely science behind it. In addition to being a fungicide,
it's a pretty good bactericide as well. I read (many moons ago) that it was
shown to reduce the stomach bacterium sometimes associated with certain
types of ulcers.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Books, Artwork, and Lots of Free Info!

.. . . . . . . . . . .
"tbell" wrote in message
...
Thanks for the dissertation. I've used cinnamon, but I've wondered
whether it had been scientifically proven or was just folklore. Smells
good,
anyhow.
Tom
Walnut Creek, CA, USA
(To reply by e-mail, remove APPENDIX)


From: (Aaron Hicks)
Organization: Nyx Net, Free Internet access (www.nyx.net)
Newsgroups: rec.gardens.orchids
Date: 24 Feb 2004 15:08:59 -0700
Subject: what ...long roots (Cinnamon)

With regards to cinnamon, this *seems* to have originated with
cactus and succulent growers. If anybody has information to the
contrary,
I'd be interested in hearing it. Anyway- the concept was that rotting
cacti and similar plants may sometimes be salvaged if the wound is
aggressively treated, usually through excision of the affected area,
followed by packing with cinnamon. An alternative that has been
discussed
is talcum powder, for reasons mentioned below. Talc is harder to get
than
it has been, due to either economic reasons or the fact that talc and
asbestos are geochemically similar, and usually found in close
association; as a result, talc sometimes contains small amounts of
asbestos.

ANYWAY. Cinnamon seems to be the more effective of the two, or (at
least) is certainly the more popular option. Either compound has at
least
one mechanism of action- desiccation. Fungi and bacterial infections are
often facilitated by the presence of moisture- wet, sometimes smelly
infections are characteristic of either fungal or bacterial
contamination.
Packing the wound with cinnamon or talc serves to remove moisture, and
hamper spread.

Cinnamon is considered to be stronger for whatever reason- to the
human nose, at the very least, it is aromatic, which has certain
associations with potency. Whether this is merited or not is
speculative.
However, cinnamon is the bark of one of several small trees (the "true"
cinnamon is quite rare; commercial cinnamon is derived from a species,
the
name of which eludes me right now), and tree bark is a wonderful thing
for
keeping out pests, pathogens, insects, and so forth. Oak bark, for
example, is full of tannins. These will do nasty things to proteins,
which
discourages microbial growth.

So, anyway- cinnamon seems to work. We don't know why. Other stuff
may work just as well. The folks that use cinnamon argue that fresh
cinnamon is better than stale- keep the container closed tightly, and
buy
new stuff regularly. I've used it several times. No idea if it made any
difference or not.

Cheers,

-AJHicks
Chandler, AZ