Some of the most interesting discoveries are due to serendipity. That applies not only to scientists working in a lab whose lucky accident opens a new line of research. (Imagine Alexander Fleming and the bacterial cultures ruined by a penicillin-producing fungus.) At times, ordinary people doing ordinary things notice something quite out of the ordinary about a home remedy. Here is what one reader discovered about cinnamon and honey.
Cinnamon and Honey as an Unexpected Help for Heartburn:
Q. About six years ago, a friend sent me an email about cinnamon and honey lowering cholesterol. I was taking a statin and looking for non-medicinal ways of lowering my LDL, so I thought I would try it.
After a few weeks I noticed I didn’t have any heartburn, so I started taking my PPI every other day instead of daily. Still no symptoms, so I went to three times a week. Nothing. I decided to stop taking the PPI altogether. Still nothing.
I was symptom-free until I went on a four-night trip without taking any cinnamon and honey. My reflux came back. As soon as I got home I resumed it, and the symptoms went away again.
I have not been without cinnamon and honey for more than 48 hours in all these years, and have had no further symptoms. I eat it on toast or mix it in granola or yogurt. I have it for breakfast every day.
It may not work for everyone, but it sure works for me. And as for my LDL number, it is now 46.
What Does Cinnamon and Honey Do?
A. An analysis of the medicinal properties of Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) has found that this spice can help control blood sugar, lower cholesterol and normalize blood pressure (BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, online Oct. 22, 2013). A New Zealand study found that honey treated with cinnamon, chromium and magnesium lowered LDL cholesterol, raised HDL cholesterol and lowered blood pressure (European Journal of Nutrition, April, 2016).
We could find no research at all on cinnamon and honey for heartburn. We hope others will report whether it helps them as it helped you.
