Cinnamon in pregnancy and breastfeeding

What NCCIH says about safety

Cinnamon is likely safe when consumed in the amounts commonly used in foods as a spice or flavoring agent. When used in larger amounts or for long periods of time, cinnamon is sometimes associated with side effects, most commonly gastrointestinal problems or allergic reactions. Never consume cinnamon powder as part of the “cinnamon challenge,” an unsafe internet dare. Serious harm is possible. Cinnamon products may not clearly indicate which species (e.g., Ceylon, cassia) or parts (e.g., bark, leaves, roots) of cinnamon have been used in the making of a product. Research indicates that the types and parts of cinnamon have important differences in chemical composition, and these differences can affect the product’s impact on people. Interactions between coumarin, a chemical found in cassia cinnamon, and the liver have been reported. Consuming cassia cinnamon doesn’t usually include enough coumarin to cause significant problems; however, some cassia cinnamon products contain high levels of coumarin. Prolonged use of cassia cinnamon could be an issue for sensitive people, such as those with liver disease. Ceylon cinnamon may contain a trace amount of coumarin. Some types of topical cinnamon oil or powder may cause skin irritation or contact dermatitis, according to reports. According to research partially funded by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, there are theoretical reasons to suspect that some components of cinnamon may interact with an anticancer medicine or nicotine. If you take any type of medicine, talk with your health care provider before using cinnamon or other herbal products; some herbs and medicines interact in harmful ways. Some studies of the use of Ceylon and cassia cinnamon during pregnancy suggest it is safe in amounts commonly found in foods, but Ceylon cinnamon in larger amounts during pregnancy is considered unsafe. Little is known about whether it’s safe to use Ceylon or cassia cinnamon in larger amounts while breastfeeding.

Quoted in full from NCCIH so nothing is lost in summarising. Where they say “little is known”, that means the studies do not exist — not that the herb is known to be safe, and not that it is known to be harmful.

How much is actually known

There have been many studies of cinnamon, especially for diabetes. However, the results of the studies are difficult to interpret because it’s often unclear which species or part of the cinnamon plant was tested.

What the research has found

Research doesn’t clearly support using cinnamon for any health condition. It’s unclear whether cinnamon supplementation is helpful for diabetes or weight loss. Higher quality research would be needed to clarify any benefits. Preliminary research indicates that a nasal spray containing Ceylon cinnamon extract might improve symptoms of allergic rhinitis (hay fever), but more reliable evidence is needed to confirm this initial result. It’s unclear whether cassia cinnamon is effective as a mosquito repellant.

Before you take this

Dose and form change the answer completely. A culinary amount of a spice, a cup of tea, and a concentrated supplement extract are three different things, and most research is done on the last of them.

Supplements are also not regulated like medicines, so strength and purity vary between products. Bring the actual bottle to your midwife, doctor or pharmacist — that conversation is worth more than any page, including this one.