Uses of Vanilla Oil
September 19, 2009
Vanilla is popularly associated with ice creams, chocolates, confectioneries and desserts. However, other than the food industry vanilla has considerable use in the health sector too. The essential oil extracted from the vanilla beans has several health benefits.
Vanilla planifolia is an herbaceous creeper found largely in Mexico and Central America. In Mexico, the humming birds help in the pollination of the flowers of this plant. The vanilla pods or beans plucked from the vanilla creepers are fermented and dried to obtain the brown vanilla bean. Through the solvent extraction method, a resinoid is extracted from the fermented bean to produce the vanilla essential oil. Vanilla oil has a sweet vanilla-like smell.
Reduces stress
Smelling vanilla oil can help to reduce stress. The sweet aroma of this essential oil is used in aromatherapy to relax the mind. The soothing action of the aroma of the vanilla essential oil could heal headaches. This oil can improve mood and reduce depression.
Vanilla oil also has a sedative-like property. By calming the brain and relaxing the nerves, vanilla oil could promote sleep. This soothing effect of vanilla oil could be utilized for reducing blood pressure. Several balms and massage oil have vanilla oil as one of their ingredients.
Vanilla essential oil could be used for skin care. It is a powerful antioxidant. Adding few drops of vanilla oil in any face pack would prevent damage of the skin cells due to the toxic action of pollutants and toxins.
Aphrodisiac
Vanilla essential oil is believed to contain aphrodisiac property. It is therefore added to perfumes to promote sexual drive. It could stimulate production of sex hormones such as estrogen and testosterone. Vanilla essential oil could be used for treating infertility. It might improve erectile dysfunction. Women suffering from problems of irregular menstrual periods could benefit from vanilla essential oil.
Fever remedy
Vanilla essential oil could be used for healing fever. The phytochemicals present in it could boost immunity and improve the germ fighting capability of the immune cells.


Comments
Got something to say? Join the conversation and leave a comment below.