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It could be a sensitivity to synthetic perfumes. Lots of these things, even the ones that are made out of real actual cinnamon, are sprayed with synthetic scents to make them smell stronger. A real actual cinnamon stick doesn't really have much of a smell unless you stick your nose right against it, OR stick it in steamy hot water, or grind it into powder to release the oils.
If the item is reeking, it's been sprayed artificially. And if it's sprayed with synthetics, it can trigger a migraine.
It could be a sensitivity to synthetic perfumes. Lots of these things, even the ones that are made out of real actual cinnamon, are sprayed with synthetic scents to make them smell stronger. A real actual cinnamon stick doesn't really have much of a smell unless you stick your nose right against it, OR stick it in steamy hot water, or grind it into powder to release the oils.
If the item is reeking, it's been sprayed artificially. And if it's sprayed with synthetics, it can trigger a migraine.
Yup, exactly. And I notice that the ones that have imposed their stench upon me recently smell as much like clove as cinnamon. A little clove goes a LOOONG way - these things smelled *strong*.
Sometimes cassia is used as a cheap way of getting a cinnamon scent. If the cones are scented with cassia instead, that might be why you get a migraine from them but are fine eating cinnamon.
I used to be sensitive to the scent, back when the only place it was common was craft stores just before the holidays. Since I can't stay out of the craft stores for months at a time, I bought a little vial of cinnamon and one of cassia and started smelling them about once a week. I only did it for a couple of months and then didn't have problems with the scent anymore...I actually use cassia oil in my kitchen to get rid of ants in the summers.
Usually when I get migraines from a smell, it's from a smell that's unfamiliar to me and that there's a lot of, or that I can't get away from for a couple of hours. My daughter gets them too, and has had to come home from school because of migraines a few times. It's different from a sinus headache.
They do give me a headache!! My husband loves them. I am really into aromatherapy, and using essential oils, which do not bother me one bit--I DO get a headache though from any strong artificial scents...
Sometimes cassia is used as a cheap way of getting a cinnamon scent. If the cones are scented with cassia instead, that might be why you get a migraine from them but are fine eating cinnamon.
I used to be sensitive to the scent, back when the only place it was common was craft stores just before the holidays. Since I can't stay out of the craft stores for months at a time, I bought a little vial of cinnamon and one of cassia and started smelling them about once a week. I only did it for a couple of months and then didn't have problems with the scent anymore...I actually use cassia oil in my kitchen to get rid of ants in the summers.
Usually when I get migraines from a smell, it's from a smell that's unfamiliar to me and that there's a lot of, or that I can't get away from for a couple of hours. My daughter gets them too, and has had to come home from school because of migraines a few times. It's different from a sinus headache.
Hmm.... I never thought of trying to build up a resistance thru limited exposure. That might work better than trying to avoid them all together since they seem like they are everywhere now...
Cassia IS cinnamon. Not all cinnamon is cassia, but cassia is a subspecies of cinnamon. In the USA, it is the most commonly used cinnamon, especially in food. Ceylon cinnamon is generally not used in food in the USA, at all. If you buy cinnamon bark at the supermarket, you're buying cassia bark. If you buy powdered cinnamon from McCormick, you're buying powdered cassia bark.
The "cassia" that's giving you a headache, is most likely synthetic perfume. Or, it might be an undiluted essential oil (which would be pure cassia) and you're just so used to -not- having access to such a potent fume, that it gives you a headache. Oil of cinnamon, whether cassia or ceylon, is extremely concentrated and the fumes are highly aromatic (as are the fumes of all essential oils).
But if only the cinnamon is causing the migraines, my bet's on synthetic.
Grrr... my local grocery store put those darn things out with their seasonal autumn display stuff (in the flower dept) a couple weeks ago. Seriously, the last week of July in Southern California and it's time for th frackin' pinecones already??????
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