Orange Essential Oil, also called sweet orange oil, is extracted from the commonly cultivated orange variety, Citrus sinensis, which is of Chinese origin. The use of sweet orange oil, which is its more popular name, is to distinguish it from Bergamot Essential Oil that is produced from Citrus bergamia, a bitter orange variety. Top among its many health benefits are its wonderful effects on the emotional and mental systems of humans. It is a wonderful relaxant and mood enhancer. Furthermore, it contains several properties – anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antiseptic, diuretic, carminative and sedative. Orange Essential Oil supports almost the entire body holistically. It has several uses for the home as well.
Extracted from citrus rinds, Orange Essential Oil has citrusy sweet medium to strong scent and appears greenish orange in color. It is often used for stress, slow digestion, flu, flatulence, dull skin, constipation, colds, and effective in improving the health of the mouth and gums.
The tree, which is small, was previously only found in China but is now cultivated in Portugal, South and North America, France and several regions in the Mediterranean. The flowers are very aromatic and can be used for herbal tea, while the circular fruit is darker and rougher.
It is used extensively in aromatherapy, as a fragrant ingredient in lotions, creams, soaps, deodorants and room fresheners and flavoring for food and beverages. The major components of the orange oil are limonene, alpha pinene, geranial, citronellal, neral, linalool, myrcene and sabinene.
Orange Essential Oil Benefits
Various research have found out that Orange Essential Oil have several benefits including:
- Killing pathogens and bacteria
- Promoting circulation
- Wrinkle reduction
- Fighting cancerous tumors
- Improving skin health
- Relieving anxiety
- Reducing hypertension
- Improves immune function
Orange Essential Oil Uses
Here are the uses of Orange Essential Oil:
- Orange Essential Oil as an Antispasmodic: Spasms can either irritate or be a sign of more serious problems, such as extreme diarrhea, muscle cramps, convulsions and continuous coughing. Applying the essential oil topically can relax nervous and muscular spasms.
- Orange Essential Oil as a Sedative. It has sedative properties to help you relax. You can inhale its scent from the bottle or put some on your palms. You can also add a few drops to your diffuser to relieve your depression, anger or anxiety. If you have skin inflammation, dilute it with a carrier oil and apply topically to the affected part.
- Orange Essential Oil as Anti-inflammatory. The anti-inflammatory property of this essential oil provides effective and quick relief from inflammation, externally or internally. It can provide you relief from knee pain, ingestion of toxic substances, side effects of gas and antibiotics, infections, fever and excessive consumption of spices.
- Orange Essential Oil as Cholagogue. The essential oil promotes secretion from the endocrine and exocrine glands. Thus, it is often used to promote secretion of enzymes, hormones, bile and digestive juices. It also promotes lactation and menstruation.
- Orange Essential Oil as Antiseptic. It a good antiseptic to prevent wounds from turning septic, especially if the cut was caused by an iron object. Orange Essential Oil helps prevent tetanus and fungal infections.
- Orange Essential Oil as Antidepressant. The aromatic, citrusy scent of Orange Essential Oil is perfect to evoke feelings of happiness and relaxation. It can quickly lift your mood and lower your pulse rate.
- Orange Essential Oil as Diuretic. It helps expel toxins and gas from your body by promoting urination. When toxins are removed from your body, your appetite improves and your digestion gets a boost.
- Orange Essential Oil as Carminative. When gas is expelled from your intestines, it eliminates that heavy feeling of something pushing against your internal organs. The carminative effect of Orange Essential Oil helps to alleviate discomfort from indigestion and chest pains. It helps lower blood pressure, prevents stomachaches and relaxes anal and abdominal muscles.
- Orange Essential Oil as Insecticide. Several studies suggest that Orange Essential Oil is effective in eradicating housefly larvae and pupae.
Orange Essential Oil Side Effects
- Orange Essential Oil is phototoxic, meaning it can induce skin irritation if the person using it is exposed to sunlight. It’s caused by the chemical reaction of the oil to light and can make your skin look severely sunburned.
- The oil is bitter and if taken internally, it can cause loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting.
- Always dilute Orange Essential Oil before using it. Using it in full or high concentration will cause skin inflammation or dermatitis.
- People who have some medical problems, suffer from epilepsy or are pregnant should first consult a professional aromatherapy practitioner prior to using Orange Essential Oil. It can interact with some medications if you have existing health conditions such as skin disorders, liver damage, heart disease or cancer.
- The oil is very potent so it is advisable to do a skin patch test before using even a diluted form of this essential oil.
- If you are allergic to citrus fruits, it is not advisable to use Orange Essential Oil because it can cause adverse reactions externally and internally.
How to Use Orange Essential Oil
Orange Essential Oil can be safely used in these ways:
- You can inhale the oil directly from the bottle to calm your nerves if you are feeling anxious or you’re feeling low in spirit. You can also add a few drops to your diffuser and enjoy is wondrous scent for 30 minutes. To freshen your room, add a few drops to water in a spritz bottle and spray around the room.
- Ensure that you do a skin test patch first to know if you are allergic to it. Be sure to dilute full strength Orange Essential Oil with a carrier oil, such as jojoba or coconut oil. Use a 1:1 ratio. You can then safely apply it on your skin or add a few drops to your bath water, body wash or your skin lotion.
- It is not recommended that you ingest Orange Essential Oil by yourself. With the help of a professional herbalist or aromatherapist, you can take the essential oil internally, if your oil is organic, therapeutic grade and of very high quality. Add just one drop to seltzer or water or mix it with honey or when making a smoothie. The concoction can improve digestion, lower bloating and help in detoxification.
How to Make Orange Essential Oil
Traditionally, the common method to extract essential oils is through steam distillation. However, heat from the steam lowers the citral content of the oil. In producing Orange Essential Oil, the rinds or peels of the orange are used. The oil is extracted by cold pressing or expression. This is done by soaking the orange rinds in warm water. A sponge is then pressed against the orange rinds to extract and absorb the oil. The oil-soaked sponge is pressed over a container to collect the extracted oil. After the process is completed, the juice will be separated from the oil.
Orange Essential Oil Recipe
Citrus sinensis belongs to the sweet orange family, which includes navel, blood and sweet oranges. Here are the steps to make your own batch.
You’ll need:
- Orange peels
- Clean and sanitized glass jars with tight covers
- Grain alcohol (ethanol or purified ethyl alcohol) (you can also use vodka)
- Cheese cloth, paper towels and coffee filters
Procedure:
- Allow the orange peels to dry under the sun for about two days.
- Cut or grind the dry peels into smaller pieces and place inside the jars.
- Pour the alcohol or vodka to into the jars, ensuring that the peels are fully covered.
- Cover the jars tightly and shake them for about two minutes.
- Let the mixture sit for two to three days, shaking the bottles occasionally to extract as much oil as you can.
- Strain the mixture to remove the orange peels with a cheesecloth or coffee filter.
- Put the oil back into the jars and cover them with cheesecloth to allow the alcohol to evaporate completely.
- Cover the jars with the Orange Essential Oil tightly and store in a cool dry place.
Where to Buy Orange Essential Oil
The easiest place to buy Orange Essential Oil is from Amazon. Other reputable online stores like Plant Therapy and Edens Garden carry it as well. You can also go to whole food and natural health stores where you can find high quality essential oils. Aromatherapists and herbalists also sell Orange Essential Oil.
Other Information about Orange Essential Oil
- Food grade Orange Essential Oil is used for flavoring to baked goods, confectionery, biscuits, chocolates, sweet meats and beverages.
- It is also used as an ingredient in creams, body lotions, soaps, deodorants and room fresheners.
- Aromatherapists extensively use Orange Essential Oil for people who feel depressed as it can promote warmth and a feeling of happiness.
- It is capable of soothing tense muscles.
- The fallen flowers of sweet orange are dried and used as herbal tea in Spain.
