17 Benefits Of Vanilla Essential Oil For Health & Beauty

health benefits of vanilla

Vanilla, also called Vanilla Planifolia as a scientific name, is a creeper mainly growing in Mexico and some nearby countries. When mentioning to vanilla flavors, you may firstly think about some sweet things like ice creams, cakes, biscuits, custards, chocolates, confections, and soft drinks but it has been really much more used. This flavor is obtained from the essential vanilla oil that is extracted from fermented vanilla beans that have been sun dried pods and described soft, sweet flavor and fragrance making this oil specific flavor like that.

Besides the benefits of vanilla for culinary aspects, the vanilla extract has been popularly used for the health benefits in common. With a wide range of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients along with some groups of acids, vanilla oil is believed as an antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, aphrodisiac, febrifuge, sedative, antidepressant, tranquilizing and relaxing substance that gives effects on the overall system including the skin and hair health as well.

At present, VKool would like to show you health benefits of vanilla essential oil for system, hair & skin in common. All of the suggested benefits will make it clear that why vanilla extract and oil has deserved to be added to the daily diet. For those who don’t know or wonder how beneficial vanilla is, just spend a few minutes reading our article to have more information!

17 Benefits Of Vanilla Essential Oil For Health, Hair & Skin

1. Treat Cancer

benefits of vanilla - treat cancer

Preventing and treating cancer are considered as important benefits of vanilla. The main reason is the presence of up to 200 compounds in this essential oil possessing antioxidant properties that are helpful for almost your problems.

In fact, oxidation is known as one of the main causes of your health troubles and diseases because it directly or indirectly leads to many diseases caused by organic infections and malfunctions. Oxidizers that are also called free radicals or actually the waste products of metabolic processes can cause oxidation of living tissues and cells then induce them died or effect on their DNA structure creating cancerous cells. These processes gradually result in a weakening immune system, organic and nervous malfunctioning, macular degeneration, loss of memory, mental instability, loss of vision and hearing, more diseases the body is prone to. Fortunately, antioxidants presented in this herb help fight free radical damages and repair their effects, so they make important changes to a cellular level.

Among the benefits of vanilla on cancer treatment, it has been indicated to be beneficial for breast cancer and lung cancer. For breast cancer treatment, in a study conducted on mice, vanillin essential oil showed antimutagenic activity in order to prevent chemical carcinogenesis. In addition, this oil gives inhibitory effect on cancer cells in vitro and decreases their invasiveness thereby possessing anti-metastatic potential indeed. For lung cancer, vanillin has shown through recent studies its ability to prevent cell migration of lung cancer cells as the results of hepatocyte growth factor and inhibit angiogenesis.

Moreover, the vanilla essential oil is helpful for the treatments of prostate and colon cancer, which depends on its anticarcinogenic property, one of the antioxidant properties. These properties help prevent the growth of cancerous cells then partly slow down and cure these cancers.

2. Treat Anxiety And Depression

Treating anxiety and depression is another of the health benefits of vanilla. According to some neurological studies, the vanilla extract can give positive effects on people with depression and anxiety disorders due to its very specific and helpful scent. This is the reason why sipping water or milk flavored vanilla helps people reduce anxiety in certain cases.

For example, if you are troubled by depression and someone gives you a vanilla-flavored beverage or a vanilla ice cream, your spirits may be lifted after consuming them. By taking something flavored vanilla, you will start feeling more pleased and satisfied then get into a better mood, which is also considered as one of the best advantages of a powerful aroma of vanilla. Moreover, the efficiency will be clearer if you take it from real vanilla though synthetic vanilla and artificially synthesized Vanillin also work as well. And this flavor is so pleasingly sweet and soothing making it suitable for everyone from toddlers to adults.

In fact, essential oils are usually used for their antidepressant and uplifting abilities just by very simple applications but quick results. Just smelling a great fragrance can also quickly and positively reach and stimulate the brain, which is the reason why aromatic spice is believed to help the nervous system. The research has indicated that the benefits of vanilla also include the ability to alleviate the symptoms of claustrophobia when exposing to its aromatherapy indeed.

3. Improve Sleeping

benefits of vanilla - improve sleeping

As a result of depression relief, vanilla essential oil plays an important role in improving a good night’s sleep, which also depends on its sedative and relaxing properties. The benefits of vanilla help lower the blood pressure and give tranquilizing effects on the brain making it easier to fall asleep. Just a small amount of vanilla extract or essential oil then you will care more about your pillows and dreams.

4. Treat A Cough And Fever

Treating a cough and fever is also one of the health benefits of vanilla extract. In fact, cough syrups usually abuse vanilla extract to mask the bitter taste as a flavoring. Although more research should be done to make this point clear, the mild anesthetic properties presented in the vanilla extract can really relieve some symptoms like pain from headaches or a sore throat.

In addition, vanilla essential oil is also used as a febrifuge substance as it can fight infections and reduce fevers. This essential oil contains certain components such as Eugenol and Vanillin Hydroxybenzaldehyde that help fight infections. And as a sedative, it aids in reducing inflammation from fevers, which makes it also considered as an antiphlogistic.

5. Relieve Nausea

The benefits of vanilla also contain the ability to relieve nausea. The reason is that the extract of vanilla can relieve digestive problems when used as an herbal tea, so it helps calm the stomach when you are suffering from nausea. You just have to add a few drops of this extract to a cup of warm water and slowly sip it. The amazing vanilla scent and it’s certain compounds will help ease the feeling of nausea. In addition, water boiled pouring into vanilla beans is also considered as a traditional remedy for stomach upsets including vomiting as its rich aroma is helpful for easing queasiness. In brief, vanilla extract is a natural nausea medicine indeed.

6. Benefits Of Vanilla – Improve Wound Healing

Vanilla extract has been used for healing wounds since ancient times indeed. The reason is that it has anti-inflammatory properties that calm and soothe inflamed areas on the skin, which also makes it an excellent home remedy for the healing process. However, it is inhibited to use vanilla extract directly on open wounds and burns so as to avoid exaggerating the problems.

7. Cure Impotence

benefits of vanilla - cure impotence

Curing impotence is another of the health benefits of vanilla. According to the studies before, vanilla essential oil can help patients with impotence, frigidity, erectile dysfunction, and loss of libido relieve their problems. It is because this oil encourages the secretion of some certain hormones such as testosterone and estrogen thereby bringing about normal sexual behavior as well as promoting sexual arousal. In fact, vanilla extract has been used as an aphrodisiac to boost testosterone levels in men and increase sexual desire. Using vanilla in any forms is believed to be effective in curing impotency as its powerful aroma can lead to the feelings of pleasure and satiation.

8. Treat Menstrual Problems

Despite using vanilla on a regular basis, you may not know that its extract is helpful in regulating menstruation. Or in other words, women with irregular periods can use this extract to regulate their cycles. Though there are several medications available on the market essential for the treatment of the problem, you can use vanilla extract in your daily diet as a natural treatment of these slight problems indeed.

9. Aid In Weight Loss

Aiding weight loss is also one of the health benefits of vanilla extract, which has been proved through certain studies before. In fact, exercise and diet play a very important role in weight losing process, the intake of vanilla extract will give the users greater benefits indeed. However, there needs more research to substantiate this claim.

10. Improve Dental Health

 

Similar to capsaicin found in chili peppers or eugenol in spices like cinnamon, vanillin presented in vanilla gives positive effects on the nervous system. While capsaicin is used as a pain reliever, and eugenol are abused as topical anesthetics, Vanilla extract possesses both the properties since then effective for fighting toothache and infection.

11. Antibacterial Effects

Antibacterial properties found in vanilla make some certain benefits of vanilla as well. In a test conducted on vanilla oil to find out its efficiency on inhibiting certain bacteria, the herb was considered able to prevent the development of bacteria.

Nowadays, essential oils with antibacterial effects are extremely useful and appreciated. While it is the period of chemical synthetics and overuse, people may find more harm than benefit from using commercial products, so you can alternatively abuse natural products to stop the growth of dangerous bacteria while not risking your health. For example, you can add vanilla oil to a homemade soap for its pleasant-smelling and powerful antibacterial benefits. In addition, you can pair with citrus to boost a more refreshing blend of scents.

12. Anti-inflammatory Effects

benefits of vanilla - antibacterial effects

Not only being antibacterial but vanilla is also anti-inflammatory, which is similar to the effects of antioxidants. This is the reason why it has been popularly used as other antioxidant substances to repair damaged cells. In fact, the application of vanilla essential oil is good for executing this effect and you just have to massage it deep into the joints and muscles that are inflamed then you can gradually feel the relief of inflammation. To achieve better soothing benefits of vanilla essential oil, you should dilute and warm it with a carrier oil such as coconut, almond, or jojoba oil additionally.

13. Improve Healthy Skin

Improving the skin health is another of the important benefits of vanilla. It is because Vanilla is very rich in B-vitamins such as vitamin B6, niacin, thiamin, and pantothenic acid that are all necessary for the maintenance of skin health. As mentioned above, the antioxidant properties found in vanilla helps prevent the skin from damage as a result of environmental pollutants and toxins.

In fact, you can make a scrub on your own to revive your skin with vanilla and some additional ingredients. All you have to do are slicing 5 open vanilla beans as a way to scrape out them, adding them along with 2 drops of vanilla essential oil and 3 tablespoons of brown sugar to freshly squeezed lemon juice, mixing them all, and applying it onto your face. In addition, you should massage the skin for a few minutes before rinsing off with warm water and splashing some cool water on your face.

14. Prevent Aging

The benefits of vanilla on the skin also include the ability to prevent aging. The reason is that antioxidants found in vanilla oil can prevent and reverse damages caused by free radicals on the skin thereby slowing down signs of aging such as wrinkles, fine lines, and age spots. In addition, it has been used in the cosmetic aspects because of its aroma and anti-aging benefits. You can apply raw vanilla beans in combination with organic oil to make a great chocolaty fragrance along with imparting smooth and soft skin.

15. Treat Acne

benefits of vanilla - treat acne

The benefits of vanilla on treating acne depend on its antibacterial properties indeed. And these antibacterial effects also help cleanse the skin thereby reducing the appearance of acne and pimples.

Not only does Vanilla help treat acne but it also aids in healing heal burns, cuts, and wounds as a natural home remedy. However, vanilla extract or essential oil should not be applied directly to recent burns, which had better be consulted by your doctor thoroughly before taking.

16. Create Silky Hair

Improving the hair health and making hair silky are other benefits of vanilla. It is advised to mix vanilla oil with other ingredients as a hair mask to make your hair smooth, silky, and shiny. You can make a hair pack by melting 4 oz of shea butter in a boiler then adding 5 drops of vanilla oil along with 2 tablespoons of almond, castor, and jojoba oils. After this mixture cools, blend it until achieving a softer consistency and apply it onto your hair for at least 10 minutes then wash it off with a mild shampoo. By this way, your hair will be soft and manageable without a sticky feature. You should then store this mixture by refrigerating or at room temperature.

17. Promote Hair Growth

In fact, both of carrier and essential oils are beneficial in promoting hair growth and they can be mixed with vanilla oil for a better oil treatment. To promote hair growth, you should follow these steps:

  • Use a wide-toothed comb to detangle your hair and rinse it with warm water
  • Warm up ¼ cup of any carrier oil like coconut, almond, virgin olive, or jojoba oil over high heat for 30 seconds.
  • Pour in 10 drops of each vanilla and lavender essential oils and mix thoroughly
  • Apply this mixture onto your hair from its roots to the ends while consecutively massaging the scalp in circular motions for about 3 minutes; remember to apply the mixture along with the hair length and concentrate more on dry areas.
  • Use a hair clip to fasten your hair then wrap a towel around your head and keep for 15 minutes.
  • Wrap a warm towel again for another 15 minutes
  • Rinse your hair off with a mild shampoo.

Recommended article: Health and nutritional benefits of artichoke

After reading the article on health benefits of vanilla essential oil for system, hair & skin in our main Health page, hope that you can know how beneficial this herb is so that effectively using and applying it to your diet. Please let us know if you have any question by leaving them below and share with us other health benefits of vanilla if you really get.

Want More Content Like This In Your Inbox?

Join The Discussion

JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Comments JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Advertising Disclosure

Displayed content is offered by businesses which have been compensated. There is a potential effect on how, what, and where products may appear. All effort is made into providing full transparency, not all available products or companies are highlighted. Published material is offered without any slant or bias no matter what affiliation there is with sponsorship or association.