
Vanilla
Scientific names: Vanilla planifolia, Vanilla fragrans, Myrobroma fragrans, Vanilla tahitensis
Family: Orchidaceae
Alternate names: Bourbon Vanilla, Common Vanilla, Madagascar Vanilla, Mexican Vanilla, Réunion Vanilla, Tahiti Vanilla, Tahitian Vanilla, Vainilla, Vanille, Vanille Bourbon, Vanille de Bourbon, Vanille de Madagascar, Vanille du Mexique, Vanille de Tahiti
Actions: Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antifungal, Antimutagenic, Antioxidant, Antisickling, Behavioral, Conditioning, Food preservative, Mosquito repellant, Nasal, Neurologic, Radioprotective, Salivation, Satiety
Background
Vanilla is a plant. The bean (fruit) is commonly used for flavoring, but it is also used to make medicine. Because vanilla extract can be expensive, lab-produced vanillin is usually used as a substitute for vanilla. Sometimes less expensive extracts, such as tonga bean extracts, are used to dilute vanilla extracts. Some of these extracts contain a chemical called coumarin, which is banned by the FDA.
People use vanilla for conditions such as intestinal gas, fever, tooth decay, to increase sexual desire (as an aphrodisiac), and to reduce anxiety, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. In foods and beverages, vanilla is a well-known flavoring. In manufacturing, vanilla is used as a flavoring in syrups for medications. It is also used as a fragrance in perfumes.
People use vanilla for conditions such as intestinal gas, fever, tooth decay, to increase sexual desire (as an aphrodisiac), and to reduce anxiety, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. In foods and beverages, vanilla is a well-known flavoring. In manufacturing, vanilla is used as a flavoring in syrups for medications. It is also used as a fragrance in perfumes.
Safety Safety definitions
When taken by mouth: Vanilla is LIKELY SAFE when taken by mouth in amounts commonly found in foods. However, some people are allergic to vanilla. It might also cause headache and sleep problems (insomnia), especially for people who manufacture vanilla extract.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if vanilla is safe. Skin contact with vanilla can cause irritation and swelling (inflammation) in some people.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if vanilla is safe. Skin contact with vanilla can cause irritation and swelling (inflammation) in some people.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Vanilla is LIKELY SAFE for pregnant and breast-feeding women when taken by mouth in food amounts. There isn't enough reliable information to know if vanilla is safe to use as a medicine when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.Effectiveness
Natural Medicines rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.
Insufficient evidence Effectiveness definitions
- Fever.
- Intestinal gas.
- Wrinkled skin.
- Other conditions.
Dosing & administration
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.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
It is not known if Vanilla interacts with any medicines. Before taking Vanilla, talk with your healthcare professional if you take any medications.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
There are no known interactions with herbs and supplements.
Interactions with foods
There are no known interactions with foods.
Action
Vanilla contains chemicals that are high in flavor and fragrance, but it is not known how it works for medicinal uses.
Products
View all productsPer bar (Coconut Chocolate):
- Vanilla planifolia (bean)
- Vanilla flavour
- Pea protein concentrate
- Oryza sativa (Rice syrup solids)
- Cocoa mass
- Sugar
- Theobroma (oil) butter (Cacao)
- Vaccinium macrocarpon
- Sunflower seed
- Linseed
- Mung bean (sprout)
- Oryza sativa (sprout) (Brown rice)
- Red lentil (sprout)
- Chickpea (sprout)
- Linseed (sprout)
- Millet (sprout)
- Quinoa (sprout) powder
- Chia (sprout)
- Fructooligosaccharides
- Chia (seed)
- Natural coconut flavour
- Euterpe oleracea (berry) puree (Acai)
- Beta vulgaris (root) powder (Beetroot)
- Arctic sea algae
- Lycium chinese (berry)
- Pink Himalayan crystal salt
- Mango (fruit)
- Coconut flesh (dried)
- Grape (dried) (Sultana)
- Coconut sugar
- Sesamum indicum (seed)
- Coconut oil
- Vaccinium corymbosum (fruit) powder
- Theobroma cacao (seed) powder
- Rubus idaeus
Per 35 g:
- Vanilla planifolia (bean) 70 mg
- Oryza sativa protein (sprout) bio-fermented (Brown rice)
- Golden pea protein (sprout) bio-fermented
- Coconut protein
- Pumpkin seed protein
- Natural flavours
- Acacia sp. (gum)
- Apple pectin
- Inulin (Dietary fibre)
- MCT powder
- L-glutamine
- Sunflower seed extract
- Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (Guar gum)
- Arctic sea algae
- Sea Salt
- L-leucine
- L-isoleucine
- L-valine
- Protease
- Amylase enzyme
- Lipase
- Cellulase
- Lactase
- Lucuma
- Bacillus coagulans (GBI-30) (GanedenBC30®) 1 billion CFU
- Stevia rebaubiana (Steviol glycosides)
- Cinnamomum spp.
Per 10 g (Pomegranate Coconut):
Per 5 g (Spiced Vanilla):
Per 30 g:
- Vanilla planifolia (bean)
- Oryza sativa (Brown rice protein isolate)
- Cinnamomum spp.
- Natural flavours
- Stevia rebaubiana
Per serve (Chocolate):
- Egg albumen powder
- Natural flavours
- Stevia rebaubiana
- Theobroma cacao
Per serve (Honeycomb):
- Pea protein isolate
- Natural flavours
- Stevia rebaubiana
- Natural colour
Per 34 g (Organic Cinnamon & Vanilla):
- Vanilla planifolia (bean)
- Oryza sativa protein (sprout) bio-fermented (Brown rice)
- Golden pea protein (sprout) bio-fermented
- Garcinia cambogia
- Myristica fragrans (Nutmeg)
- Curcumin (Turmeric)
- Capsicum spp.
- Foeniculum vulgare (seed)
- Arctium lappa (root)
- Stevia rebaubiana (leaf)
- Taraxacum officinale (leaf)
- Eleutherococcus senticosus (root)
- Coleus forskohlii (root)
- Petroselinum crispum (leaf)
- Crataegus monogyna (berry)
- Juglans nigra (fruit hull)
- Zingiber officinale
- Fucus vesiculosus
- Stellaria media
- Apple pectin
- Cinnamomum spp.
- Laminaria digitara (Kelp)
Per 6 g:
- Vanilla planifolia (bean) extract
- Withania somnifera (root)
- Helianthus tuberosus ext. powder (Jerusalem artichoke root)
- Daucus carota powder (Carrot)
- Tapioca
- Mesquite (pod) powder
- Pink Himalayan crystal salt
- Lavandula angustifolia (bud)
- Matricaria chamomilla (flower)
- Passiflora incarnata (aerial parts)
Per 6 g:
- Vanilla planifolia (bean)
- Cinnamomum spp.
- Zingiber officinale
- Elettaria cardamomum
- Curcuma longa
- Beta vulgaris
- Myristica fragrans (Nutmeg)
- Piper nigrum
- Artichoke inulin
- Oryza sativa (Rice)
- Natural chai flavour
- Siraitia grosvenorii (Monk fruit)
- Hibiscus sabdariffa
- Rosa canina
Per 6 g:
- Vanilla planifolia (bean) extract
- Theobroma cacao
- Ceratonia siliqua (pod) powder (Carob)
- Lepidium meyenii
- Coconut medium-chain triglyceride (Coconut MCT)
- Pink Himalayan crystal salt
- Luo Han Guo (fruit) ext. (Monk fruit)
- Tribulus terrestris
- Epimedium sagittatum
- Turnera diffusa
- Sunflower lecithin
Per serve:
Per bar:
- Vanilla planifolia (bean)
- Golden pea protein (sprout) bio-fermented
- Oryza sativa (Rice syrup solids)
- Cocoa mass
- Sugar
- Theobroma (oil) butter (Cacao)
- Sunflower seed
- Linseed
- Fructooligosaccharides
- Chia (seed)
- Euterpe oleracea (berry) ext. (Acai)
- Beta vulgaris (root) powder (Beetroot)
- Arctic sea algae
- Lycium barbarum (fruit) (Goji)
- Pink Himalayan crystal salt
- Grape (dried) (Sultana)
- Coconut flesh (dried)
- Coconut sugar
- Mango (fruit)
- Sesamum indicum (seed)
- Vaccinium corymbosum (fruit) powder
- Vaccinium macrocarpon
- Theobroma cacao (seed) powder
- Rubus idaeus
Per 12 g (Lemon Lime):
- Hydrolysed bovine collagen peptides
- Bovine collagen peptides 3 g
- Citrus aurantiifolia (Lime)
- Siraitia grosvenorii (Monk fruit)
- Myrciaria dubia (fruit) powder (Camu Camu)
- Zinc
- Equisetum arvense (herb)
- Citrus limon (juice) (Lemon)
- Sunflower seed extract
- Natural lemon lime flavour
Per bar:
- Vanilla planifolia (bean)
- Hydrolysed bovine collagen peptides
- Bovine collagen peptides
- Oryza sativa (Brown rice malt syrup)
- Myrciaria dubia (fruit) powder (Camu Camu)
- Zinc
- Psidium guajava (Guava)
- Equisetum arvense
- Cocoa mass
- Sugar
- Theobroma (oil) butter (Cacao)
- Golden pea protein (sprout) bio-fermented
- Lepidium meyenii
- Oryza sativa milk powder (Brown rice)
- Pink Himalayan crystal salt
- Coconut flesh (dried)
- Coconut milk powder
- Phoenix dactylifera (Date)
- Theobroma cacao (seed) powder
- Cannabis sativa (seed) powder
- Cannabis sativa (seed)
vital.ly has licensed monographs from TRC Healthcare.
This monograph was last reviewed on 18/12/2020 01:55:50 and last updated on 29/10/2020 01:21:00. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
Natural Medicines disclaims any responsibility related to medical consequences of using any medical product. Effort is made to ensure that the information contained in this monograph is accurate at the time it was published. Consumers and medical professionals who consult this monograph are cautioned that any medical or product related decision is the sole responsibility of the consumer and/or the health care professional. A legal License Agreement sets limitations on downloading, storing, or printing content from this Database. No reproduction of this monograph or any content from this Database is permitted without written permission from the publisher. It is unlawful to download, store, or distribute content from this site.