Vanilla Has Versatile Uses Skin Soother to Bug Spray

4 Fresh Uses for VANILLA. Sure it is great for cooking in baked goods.
But check out all the other stuff this natural wonder can do for you.
by Leslie Barrie


Hunger Buster  


Dr. Alan Hirsch MD, found of the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation'says, "if you smell a delicious aroma before you take a bite of something indulgent, you'll lose the sensory excitement earlier."
He explains that this cues your body to feel content sooner, so you'll eat less.

Home Scent  

Make your living space smell inviting. You can mix your own nontoxic deoderizing spray by adding a few drops of pure vanilla extract oil preferably organic to a few cups of water in a spray bottle. Spray it in stinky spots throughout your house to make it smell like fresh baked sweets.


Skin Soother  

Vanilla is a potent skin saver, thanks to its antioxidants, which help soothe irritated skin. Try a reviving vanilla scrub:
In a bowl;
Squeeze juice of 1 lemon into a bowl, discard seeds
Slice 5 vanilla beans lengthwise and scrape out seeds with a spoon.
Add vanilla seeds
3 Tbls. brown sugar
3 drops vanilla essential oil to lemon juice
Mix ingredients well.
Apply scrub to your face avoiding your eyes, and gently massage in for one to two minutes, rinse with warm water, then splash with cold water to finish.


Healthy Bug Spray

Vanilla is your new natural pest deterrent as mosquitos can't stand the smell of it. Says Sara Snow, author of Sara Snow's Fresh Living.
Combine 2 ozs.vanilla extract
2 ozs. water in a small spray bottle,; spritz onto your exposed skin.
Bye to bug bites.
Credit: I shorted the article content in some of the tips.Contents of this article is property of Health magazine April 2011 issue. Photograph credit goes to http://indianfood.indianetzone.com/spices/1/vanilla.htm