Cassia Cinnamon
Cinnamomum cassia
Stimulant
Increases energy, alertness and activity
Increases energy, alertness and the pace of the body's processes, spanning the warming circulatory spices and the caffeine-bearing plants that sharpen the mind. The stronger stimulants can disturb sleep, raise heart rate and become habit-forming.
How it works
Stimulant is not one mechanism but several overlapping ones. Each of these is its own herbal action — follow a link for the herbs strongest in that mechanism.
Circulatory Stimulant Drives warmth and blood flow out to the hands, feet and skin — for cold extremities and sluggish circulation. Thermogenic Raises metabolic heat and energy expenditure. Dopaminergic Influences dopamine — the neurotransmitter behind motivation, reward, movement and prolactin control. Respiratory Stimulant Quickens and deepens the breath by exciting the respiratory centre and airways; sharp, and used only briefly.
Herbs with a stimulant action (26)
Key herbs
Herbs for which stimulant is a headline action.
Ceylon Cinnamon
Cinnamomum verum
Coffee
Coffea arabica
Ephedra
Ephedra sinica
Guarana
Paullinia cupana
Kratom
Mitragyna speciosa
Yerba Maté
Ilex paraguariensis
Refine ›
Asian Ginseng
Panax ginseng
Black Ant
Polyrhachis spp.
Cacao
Theobroma cacao
Calamus
Acorus calamus
Cannabis
Cannabis sativa/indica
Cassia Cinnamon
Cinnamomum cassia
Catuaba
Trichilia catigua
Ceylon Cinnamon
Cinnamomum verum
Coffee
Coffea arabica
Corydalis
Corydalis turtschaninovii
Eleuthero Root
Eleutherococcus senticosus
Ephedra
Ephedra sinica
Garlic
Allium sativum
Ginger
Zingiber officinale
Ginkgo
Ginkgo biloba
Guarana
Paullinia cupana
Hawthorn
Crataegus oxyacantha
Horopito
Pseudowintera colorata
Kratom
Mitragyna speciosa
Muira Puama
Ptychopetalum olacoides
Peony
Paeonia lactiflora
Rhodiola
Rhodiola rosea
Tea
Camellia sinensis
Wireweed
Sida acuta
Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Yerba Maté
Ilex paraguariensis
No herbs match this sub-action yet.