Vanilla essential oil properties and uses

Practice shows that most people associate vanilla exclusively with the culinary field - as one of the most famous and aromatic spices. Moreover, this exotic plant has one more application: a valuable essential oil is obtained from its fruits, which has a number of positive properties. Thanks to the many options for its use, the considered gift of nature can solve a variety of tasks, improving the appearance of a person and contributing to the return of his vitality.

Despite the fact that vanilla essential oil is a plant product, it can have a very powerful effect on the human body. This is largely due to its constituent compounds with unsaturated carbon bonds.

The raw materials for obtaining the oil in question are pods - the fruits of vanilla, ripening on vines for 9 months. Most often they are grown in Madagascar, as well as in Indonesia and China - countries that account for about 90% of the world production of this aromatic spice. As for the yield of essential oil from the fruit, it is very small, and this naturally affects the final cost of the product.

One of the main features of the presented liquid is its persistent aroma, which is first of all remembered for its spicy notes. Also, vanilla essential oil is characterized by a strong viscosity and a rich grayish-amber hue.The impressive concentration of the product also deserves mention, due to which its use is limited to extremely small doses.

It is possible to distinguish natural vanilla essential oil from fake not only by its cost, but also by the specifics of the aroma. If the liquid is of artificial origin, then it has a sharper and much less persistent odor.

The composition of the described oil deserves a separate consideration. It provides for the presence of one and a half hundred ingredients, the main of which are:

• vanillin;
• hydroxybenzaldehyde;
• furfural;
• anisic aldehyde;
• cinnamon esters;
• eugenol.

There are many reasons why vanilla essential oil is an overwhelming choice. In particular, this product has the following beneficial properties:

• stabilization of the work of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, achieved by restoring the enzyme balance and normalizing the acid level;
• strengthening the body's defenses, which makes it possible to increase the resistance of the latter to the action of negative factors and prevent the development of many dangerous pathologies;

• normalization of carbohydrate metabolism, which is of paramount importance for patients with diabetes mellitus;
• stabilization of the menstrual cycle and reduction of soreness of menstruation (if any);
• getting rid of postpartum stretch marks and extra pounds (including those that were gained in a short time period);

• elimination of inflammatory processes resulting from mechanical or chemical exposure;
• disinfection of tissues affected by infection, characterized by a high degree of efficiency;

• complex effect on hair, making it soft and smooth, eliminating dandruff and noticeably strengthening its roots;
• saturation of cells with oxygen and nutrients, which is especially important for dry, irritated, hypersensitive or aging skin;
• strengthening the health of the nail plates, possible thanks to the calcium and vitamins that make up the essential oil of vanilla.

In addition, the product in question is a powerful remedy for alcohol addiction: its regular use allows you to discourage cravings for strong alcoholic beverages. It also has pronounced sedative properties, stabilizing the psychoemotional state and normalizing sleep.

Generally, using vanilla essential oil does not lead to any health problems. Given this circumstance, this product can be considered safe and used without restrictions in the vast majority of cases. The only exception is individual intolerance, leading to the development of an allergic reaction - a relatively rare problem, but deserving of mandatory mention.

To eliminate the likelihood of the trouble described above, a simple test should be carried out, involving the application of a few drops of vanilla essential oil to the skin. The main symptoms indicating the inadmissibility of using this remedy are:

• noticeable redness of the oil-treated area;
• the appearance of rashes;
• itching, burning and other discomfort.

As for the use of vanilla essential oil during pregnancy, experts strongly recommend that you refrain from taking this product orally. You should also be careful when using masks with this remedy a few weeks before giving birth: in such cases, it is advisable to consult with your doctor.After applying vanilla essential oil to the skin, you should avoid being in direct sunlight: being a photosensitizer, it increases the sensitivity of biological tissues to light.

Most often, vanilla essential oil is used as a component of cosmetics: both main and auxiliary. Due to the wide palette of its positive qualities, it can be used with equal success for face and body care, hair and nails. Also, this product plays the role of a natural aromatic component, which is explained by its excellent smell, and a means to combat many diseases of internal organs.

Using the described oil for facial skin involves adding a few drops to a prepared mask or massage base. Also, experts advise to enrich the face cream used daily with this fragrant product to achieve maximum effect. To achieve noticeable results, in most cases 4 weeks are enough, after which the skin is cleansed, becomes more elastic and gets rid of flaking, and therefore looks younger and more attractive.

The second option for using vanilla essential oil is in baths prepared with its addition. A good example is a mixture of 5-6 drops of this product with sea salt, cream and milk, dissolved in warm (but not hot) water. It is recommended to take such baths every other day for 2 decades, spending 15 minutes for each procedure. As a result, the skin of the body is noticeably tightened, becomes more elastic and acquires a pleasant velvety texture.

We should also mention the use of vanilla oil for hair.

In particular, you can:

• add to shampoos, balms and other care products, the recommended dosage is up to 15 drops per container;
• use as one of the components of the hair mask; to solve this problem, 3 drops of oil are enough, thoroughly mixed in the prepared cosmetic;
• apply for combing in the amount of a few drops, evenly distributed with a comb.

No less effective is the internal intake of the agent in question - 1-2 drops no more than 2 times a day. Alternatively, it can be used as a vegetable oil additive or applied to biscuits and other foods. Experience shows that the described fragrant liquid copes with many pathologies of the cardiovascular and nervous systems, the consequences of injuries and pathogenic microflora.

There are also such options for using vanilla essential oil.

• Use in scented lamps to create a serene indoor atmosphere. To achieve the desired effect, only 5 drops of oil are enough, which is explained by its accelerated evaporation as a result of heating.
• Gives an impressive aroma to baked goods. 1-2 drops of the product allow you to achieve the desired result, while more of them is unacceptable.
• Application in medallions. Here vanilla oil also plays the role of a powerful flavoring agent, 2 drops of which are more than enough to solve the task at hand.
• A component of a massage product. The recommended amount is 1 drop per 4-5 ml of the base used.

In addition, it is reasonable to use this oil as a repellant of annoying insects. It is especially effective against mosquitoes that cannot bear its strong odor: a few drops of this liquid mixed with the same amount of warm water in an aromatic lamp are enough to achieve the desired result.An alternative solution is a regular napkin soaked with the solution described above and left by the bed overnight.

Having familiarized yourself with the opinions of people who happened to use vanilla essential oil, it can be argued that for the most part they are quite satisfied with this tool. First of all, buyers note the following advantages of this product:

• using oil as a face mask gives the skin softness and elasticity, while simultaneously relieving the feeling of fatigue and helping to return the integument to its natural shade;
• the pronounced, pleasant and persistent aroma of the product reminds many of the smell of perfume with a complex composition;
• after masks with the addition of the product in question, the hair looks noticeably healthier and silky;

• massage with vanilla essential oil promotes relaxation after a hard day and moisturizes the skin;
• By burying the purchased product in the aroma lamp, most users note its relaxing and calming effect.

Also, some customers have expressed the opinion that regular inhalation of the aroma of vanilla essential oil leads to a noticeable decrease in sugar cravings. There are much fewer negative reviews about this tool, and the following points are mentioned in them:

• the development of allergic reactions (observed in some cases, often due to the purchase of a product of dubious origin);
• a high concentration of oil, which not everyone likes (busting just a few drops can impair the perception of aroma);
• cost - albeit justified, but by no means the most democratic.

Thus, vanilla essential oil can reasonably be considered not only aromatic, but also extremely useful product. Possessing an impressive number of virtues, it is an excellent weapon, using which you can win the battle for health, beauty and peace of mind.

How to make vanilla extract at home, see the video.