11/16/2025
Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice
When summer slides into fall, the colder weather, changing colors of the leaves and pumpkin spice comes to mind. September 1st arrives and pumpkin spice can be found everywhere…pumpkin spiced flavored coffee and tea, ice cream and in various food and dessert. Dr. Chandra Cunningham of Chambers Medical Group, one of the highest rated car accident medical doctor teams in Kentucky, discusses Pumpkin Spice and everything nice.
With the name Pumpkin Spice, you would think Pumpkin would be a major component of the ingredients in the spice mix, but it is not even in it at all! Pumpkin Spice is a blend of different spices, with the major ingredient in the spice being Cinnamon then Ginger and Nutmeg and then Cloves and Allspice. Some add Cardamom and some add Black Pepper to the mix. The Pumpkin Spice name comes from the blend of these ingredients used when making pumpkin pie and therefore is also known as ‘Pumpkin Pie Spice.’
• Cinnamon spice is the main component and comes from the inner bark of Cinnamomum trees. Cassia cinnamon is the more common and affordable type of cinnamon and has a spicier flavoring. Even though cinnamon has different health benefits, consuming large amounts can be harmful to the liver since it contains Coumadin.
• Ginger spice comes from the root of the Zingiber officinale plant and gives a fragrant, spicy flavoring.
• Nutmeg spice comes from the seeds of the Myristica fragrans trees. It has a sweet and slightly nutty flavoring.
• Cloves come from the dried flower buds of the clove tree, Syzygium aromaticum. It has a sweet, bitter, woodsy type of flavoring.
• Allspice comes from the dried berries of the pimento tree and has similar flavor profiles of cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.
Pumpkin spice can be found with all of the different spices blended together but making your own is easy to do and easier to personalize it more to your liking.
The phrase ‘Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice’ was modified from the 19th century rhyme where girls are described as being made of ‘sugar and spice and everything nice’. The modern phrase has been used to evoke feelings the fall season brings…feelings of warmth, coziness, home, and togetherness.
-- This article is written by Chandra Cunningham, DC, one of the members of Chambers Medical Group’s team of car accident chiropractors who offer a variety of treatments and therapies ranging from diagnostic testing to various soft tissue therapies for car accidents and injuries in Kentucky.
