Properties of vanilla essential oil and its uses

Practice shows that in most people, vanilla is associated exclusively with the field of cooking - as one of the most famous and aromatic spices. At the same time, this exotic plant has another use: from its fruits, valuable essential oil is obtained, which has a number of positive properties. Thanks to the many options for its use, the gift of nature under consideration can solve a variety of problems, improving a person's appearance and contributing to the return of his vitality.

Despite the fact that vanilla essential oil is a plant product, it can have a very strong effect on the human body. This is largely due to its constituent compounds having 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 liquid is its persistent aroma, primarily remembered for its spicy notes. Also, vanilla essential oil is characterized by a strong viscosity and a rich grayish-amber tint.An impressive concentration of the product is also worth mentioning, because of which its use is limited to extremely small doses.

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

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

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

There are a sufficient number of reasons that make the use of vanilla essential oil an entirely justifiable solution. In particular, this product has the following beneficial qualities:

• stabilization of the gastrointestinal tract, achieved by restoring the enzyme balance and normalizing the acid level;
• strengthening the body's defenses, which allows 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 a decrease in 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 effects;
• disinfection of infected tissues, characterized by a high degree of effectiveness;

• a complex effect on the hair, giving them softness and smoothness, eliminating dandruff and significantly strengthening their roots;
• saturation of cells with oxygen and nutrients, which is especially important for dry, irritated, hypersensitive or age-related skin;
• strengthening the health of nail plates, possible thanks to calcium and vitamins, which are part of vanilla essential oil.

In addition, the product in question is a powerful remedy for alcohol dependence: its regular use allows you to discourage cravings for hard liquors. He also has pronounced sedative properties, stabilizing the psycho-emotional 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 exception is only individual intolerance, leading to the development of an allergic reaction, a relatively rare problem, but worthy of mention.

To eliminate the likelihood of the troubles described above, you should conduct a simple test, which involves applying a few drops of vanilla essential oil to the skin. The main symptoms indicating the inadmissibility of the use of this tool are:

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

Regarding the use of vanilla essential oil during pregnancy, experts strongly recommend that you refrain from oral administration of this product. You should also be careful when using masks with this tool several weeks before giving birth: in such cases, it is advisable to consult 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 primary and secondary. Due to the wide palette of its positive qualities, it can equally well be used to care for the face and body, hair and nails. Also, this product plays the role of a natural aromatic component, due to 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 the prepared mask or massage base. Also, experts advise enriching this face cream daily cream 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 peeling, and therefore looks younger and more attractive.

The second option for using vanilla essential oil is 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. Such baths are recommended to be taken every other day for 2 decades, spending 15 minutes for each ongoing procedure. As a result, the skin of the body noticeably tightens, becomes more elastic and acquires a pleasant velvety.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the use of vanilla hair oil.

In particular, it can be:

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

No less effective is the internal intake of the drug in question - 1-2 drops no more than 2 times a day. Alternatively, it can be used as an additive to vegetable oil or by applying to biscuit and other food products. Experience shows that the described aromatic fluid copes with many pathologies of the cardiovascular and nervous systems, the consequences of injuries and pathogenic microflora.

There are also such uses for vanilla essential oil.

• Use in aromatic lamps, allowing you to create a peaceful atmosphere in the room. To achieve the desired effect, only 5 drops of oil are sufficient, which is explained by its accelerated evaporation as a result of heating.
• Gives an impressive flavor to pastries. To achieve the desired result, 1-2 drops of the product allow, while more of them are unacceptable.
• Application in medallions. Here, vanilla oil also plays the role of a powerful flavoring agent, 2 drops of which is more than enough to solve the task.
• Component for massage. The recommended amount is 1 drop per 4-5 ml of the base used.

In addition, this oil is reasonably used as a means of deterring annoying insects. It is especially effective in fighting mosquitoes that are unable to tolerate its strong odor: to achieve the desired result, a few drops of this liquid mixed with the same amount of warm water in an aromatic lamp are enough.An alternative solution is a regular cloth moistened with the solution described above and left near the bed for the night.

After reading the opinions of people who have used vanilla essential oil, it can be argued that for the most part they are quite happy with this tool. First of all, buyers note the following advantages of this product:

• the use of oil as a face mask gives the skin softness and elasticity, while simultaneously removing the feeling of fatigue and contributing to the return of 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 helps to relax after a hard day and moisturize the skin;
• digging the purchased product into the aroma lamp, most users note its relaxing and calming effect.

Also, some buyers are of the opinion that regular inhalation of the aroma of vanilla essential oil leads to a marked decrease in cravings for sweets. 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 acquisition of a product of dubious origin);
• a high concentration of oil, which not everyone likes (brute force of only a few drops can impair the perception of aroma);
• cost - even if justified, but by no means the most democratic.

Thus, vanilla essential oil can reasonably be considered not only fragrant, but also an extremely useful product. With an impressive number of advantages, it is a wonderful tool, using which you can win the battle for health, beauty and peace of mind.

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