On the Use of Cinnamon in Certain Exanvples of Menorrhagia— By
T. H. Tanner, M. D.—Licentiate of the Koyal College of Physicians;
Physician to the Hospital for Women, &c.—Amongst the numerous
cases of menorrhagia which come under my notice in hospital and pri-
vate practice, instances are not unfrequently met with where no satisfac-
tory explanation can be given for the increased catamenial flow. Of
course, amongst these, patients suffering from ‘general plethora, from
hsemorrhage caused by polypi either within or without the uterus, or
from that dependent upon fibrous tumours, uterine hydatids, ulceration
(simple or malignant), or upon a watery condition of the blood, are not
included. In the instances alluded to, I have almost always been un-
able, after careful examination, to say upon what the menorrhagia de-
pended, since no physical alteration could be detected in either the uterus
or ovaries; it has only therefore been practicable to assert what were not
the causes.
The syptoms usually presented are briefly these : the'catamenia appear
regularly every twenty eight days, and are at first only of the proper
quantity • but, instead of ceasing after a duration of three or four days,
they continue unabated for ten or fourteen, and occasionally even for
three weeks. The general symptoms which arise from this debilitating
discharge are just as might be expected. There is general weakness,
langour, mental depression, with pains in the head, loins, and so on ;
the patient suffering, it is to be remembered, not from any diseased con-
dition, giving rise to the haemorrhage, but merely from the loss of blood
itself. In other instances the discharge continues a less time, but the
flow is more abundant, clots being frequently discharged ; this variety
is generally followed by leucorrhoea. My own experience tends to show
that these forms of menorrhagia occur more frequently in unmarried
than in married women ; but, for many reasons, and especially because
of the class of patients from whom my observations are for the most part
deduced, I would not say positively that such is the case.
Ailments of this class are at all times troublesome to cure, but those
I am considering are particularly so, from the absence of any special in-
dications for treatment. In some of them, indeed, it appears, at first
s'ght, only necessary to keep the patient quiet, toadminister astringents,
especially such as act particularly upon the uterus, and to regulate the
diet, in order to give the desired relief. But it will often be found that
these means are quite inefficient, and that the acetate of lead, gallic acid,
the ergot of rye, oxide of silver, sulphuric acid, tincture of sesquichloride
of iron, and similar remedies may be employed without any avail. In
thinking over these cases I was led, from a remark made by Dr. Pereira,
to try the use of cinnamon. In the last edition of the “ Elements of
Materia Medica,” this gentleman says, when speaking of cinnamon, that
“ some writers regard it as acting specifically on the uterus,” (vol ii. p.
1307,) and reference is then made to the writings of Sundelin and Wib-
mer. As far as I know, these are the principal authors who have re-
commended the use of this agent; for I am not aware that mention is
made of it by gentlemen who have written on obstetrics and the diseases
of women in this country. Having thus been led to try the effects of
this agent, and having derived the most beneficial effects from its em-
ployment, I have felt desirous of making its value more generally known,
that its utility may be tested on a large scale.
That its beneficial action is really due to some specific effect which
cinnamon exercises upon the uterus, and not any astringent property
it may possess from the tannic acid which the bark and leaves of it con-
tain in common with all the lauraceae order of plants, is, I think, certain;
and partly in confirmation of this view, it may be mentioned, that in a
case of labor in which I employed it, it appeared not only in a marked
manner to increase the severity and rapidity of the pains, but the patient,
who had in her previous labours suffered severely from flooding after the
birth of the placenta, on this occasion lost only a very small quantity of
blood. That this fortunate circumstance was due to the administration
of the cinnamon I do not of course pretend positively to assert; the case
is merely mentioned to give some color to the opinion expressed that
this agent acts specifically upon the uterus. Much clearer evidence of
its value in such cases of menorrhagia as I have described, is, however,
easily obtained. The principal points I would now refer to are, that it
acts after the failure of other astringents; that it is most efficacious given
alone, uncombined with other medicines; that if its employment be dis-
continued too soon, the discharge of blood returns ; while, in a few in-
stances it has been found necessary, after an apparent cure, to re-
sort to its employment for the two succeeding catamenial periods, when
the menstrual flow after continuing for three or four days, has not given
any signs of abatement, and when the patient has begun to suffer from
mental depression and the early symptoms of general debility. The
form usually employed, and which appears to be the best, is that of the
tincture, in drachm doses, using cinnamon water as the vehicle ; it
should be taken about every six hours, but not more frequently, as it is
apt to give rise to nausea and vomiting. It is also better to continue its
administration for about fourteen days after the symptoms which called
for its employment have disappeared ; and even then, if the case has
been an obstinate one, a draught composed of it should be taken once
daily for a month.
In concluding these brief observations, I trust I shall not be under-
stood as recommending cinnamon as an infallible remedy in all examples
of menorrhagia. All I would wish to assert is, that in a certain class
of cases I have found it to possess properties of great value; and though
I might have waited until I had been enabled to test its properties on a
larger scale, yet I preferred giving the results of my experience at once,
in order that the readers of The Lancet might have the opportunity of
employing this agent, and ascertaining its value for themselves. If they
will do so, and record the result, we shall soon possess satisfactory data
for determining the action of cinnamon upon the uterus.—London
Lancet.