Used in dishes from Indian curry to all-American apple pie, the once rare bark of the cinnamon tree is now ubiquitous. As this sweetly scented spice helps curb high blood sugar, it can be used to treat diabetes. Moreover, cinnamon's anti-inflammatory properties can alleviate the symptoms of arthritis. Among its many other uses, cinnamon also inhibits the growth of food borne bacteria, thereby not only acting as a food preservative, but aiding digestion and preventing some stomach ulcers as well.