3. Cinnamon
An aromatic spice made from the peeled, dried, and rolled bark of a Southeast Asian
tree.
•There are different kinds of cinnamon: Ceylon cinnamon (which is safest) and Cassia
Cinnamon (which is most common)
•It contains a liver toxin called coumarin, which is known to be harmful to the liver
Coumarin is a hepatotoxic and carcinogenic phytochemical found in some plants, of
which cinnamon is a high source of.
• It initially had a TDI (Tolerable Daily Intake) of 2mg/kg bodyweight max, but was lowered to 0.5 and
currently stands at 0.1mg/kg bodyweight. Although a safety buffer is included in this last
recommendation, some subsets of the human population seem more susceptible due to less of a
capacity to metabolize it
• Let’s use 60kg as our average body weight. 6mg is all that is safely permitted at this weight.
For cinnamon to be effective in treating ailments internally it has to be taken in
quantities that exceed the TDI
•So, whilst you may be treating one condition, you are creating another!
•Cinnamon Oil, when ingested, can cause serious kidney damage
4. Cayenne Pepper
A pungent hot-tasting red powder prepared from ground dried
chilli peppers.
It stimulates the circulation and raises body temperature.
Capsaicin cream may cause an itching, burning sensation on the
skin. People who take medication for high blood pressure,
asthma, and blood thinning should not use cayenne pepper in
any form. Cayenne does not dissolve easily in water, so it is
hard to wash off. Use vinegar to get it off the skin.
Excessive and continual use may cause kidney and nerve
damage, heart conditions such as vasospasm leading to
myocardial infarction (heart attack), and cancer.
5. Nutmeg
Nutmeg is one of the two spices –
the other being mace – derived
from several species of tree in the
genus Myristica.
Consumption of nutmeg at 1 to 2
mg/kg body weight was reported to
induce CNS effects. Toxic overdose
occurred at a 5 g dose.
Eating as few as two nutmegs may
result in death. A single dose of 7.5g
or more may produce convulsions
and palpitations.
Large quantities are hallucinogenic
and excitant to the motor cortex,
and can produce stomach pain,
double vision, delirium and other
symptoms of poisoning
Nutmeg can be used with excellent
results as a poultice for chest colds.
A nutmeg paste, made by grinding
nutmeg seeds with water, and
smeared over red scaly patches of
eczema, significantly reduce the
eruptions.