VANILLA Overview Information
Vanilla is a plant. The bean (fruit) is commonly used to make flavoring, but it is also used to make medicine.
People take vanilla to treat intestinal gas and fever. They also use it to increase sexual desire (as an aphrodisiac).
In foods and beverages, vanilla is a well-known flavoring, but it is also added to foods to reduce the amount of sugar needed for sweetening. Some people add vanilla to food to help stop tooth decay.
In manufacturing, vanilla is used as a flavoring in syrups used in making medications. It is also used as a fragrance in perfumes.
Vanilla extract can be pricey. So lab-produced vanillin is often used as a substitute for vanilla. Sometimes vanilla extracts are diluted with less expensive extracts. Vanilla extracts from Mexico have been diluted with tonga bean extracts, but these contain a chemical called coumarin. Since 1954, the FDA has prohibited the use of coumarin in food.
How does it work?
Vanilla contains chemicals that are high in flavor and fragrance, but it is not known how it works for medicinal uses.
VANILLA Uses & Effectiveness 
Insufficient Evidence for:
- Fever.
- Intestinal gas.
- Other conditions.
VANILLA Side Effects & Safety
Vanilla is safe, but there are some side effects. Skin contact can cause irritation and swelling (inflammation). It might also cause headache and sleep problems (insomnia), especially for people who manufacture vanilla extract.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Vanilla is safe for pregnant and breast-feeding women in food amounts. But larger medicinal amounts should be avoided until more is known.VANILLA Interactions
We currently have no information for VANILLA Interactions
VANILLA Dosing
The appropriate dose of vanilla depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for vanilla. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
