Uses of Orange Essential Oil
The essential oil of orange has a wide variety of domestic, industrial, and medicinal uses. Domestically, it is used to add orange flavor to beverages, desserts, and sweetmeats. Industrially, it is used in soaps, body lotions, creams, anti-aging, and wrinkle-lifting applications, and as a concentrate for soft beverages, room fresheners, sprays, deodorants, biscuits, chocolates, confectionery, and bakery items.
Orange Essential Oil- Composition and Extraction Process
This essential oil is obtained from the peels of orange by cold compression. Although most of you know the common name of oranges, you may not know the botanical name, Citrus sinensis. The liquid that comes in packets inside orange-flavored soft drink concentrate is sometimes composed of this oil. The main components of this oil are alpha-pinene, citronellol, geraniol, sabinene, myrcene, limonene, linalool, and neral.
Health Benefits of Orange Essential Oil
We are all familiar with its commercial and industrial uses, now let’s explore some of the health benefits that orange essential oil has for those who consume it regularly.
Treats Spasms
Spasms can result in many irritating or serious problems including continuous coughing, convulsions, muscle cramps, and diarrhea. To avoid these effects, spasms must be treated early or prevented entirely. This can be done with the help of orange essential oil, which relaxes muscular and nervous spasms.
Sedative Effect
When you need to unwind after a hard day at the office or you are suffering from inflammation, reach for a natural sedative that helps you relax. The artificial sedatives or drugs available in the market are mostly tranquilizers based on narcotics or other synthetic forms. These, in the long run, do immense damage to the heart and various internal organs. It is a much better choice to use a natural sedative like orange essential oil. It alleviates anxiety, anger, depression, and certain bodily inflammations. A study cited in the Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry journal confirms the anxiolytic-like effect of this oil.
Aphrodisiac Properties
Orange essential oil has mild aphrodisiac properties. Systematic and regular use can cure problems such as frigidity, erectile problems, impotence, loss of interest in sex, and decreased libido.
Relieves Inflammation
Orange essential oil provides quick and effective relief from inflammation, whether internal or external. Regardless of the reason, whether it is an excessive intake of spices, fever, infections, a side effect of antibiotics, gas, and ingestion of toxic substances or narcotics, orange essential oil can reduce the irritation and pain.
Acts as a Cholagogue
Orange essential oil promotes secretions from all appropriate glands including the exocrine and endocrine. Therefore, it is frequently used to regulate menstruation and lactation, and the secretion of digestive juices, bile, hormones, and enzymes.
Prevents Infections
Wherever there is a cut or abrasion, there is always a chance of the wound becoming septic due to a bacterial infection. This is even more likely when the wound has occurred from an iron object because there remains a chance of it becoming infected by tetanus germs. Essential oil of orange can help people avoid both, septic fungal infections and tetanus as they inhibit microbial growth and disinfect the wounds. A study conducted by Dr. Steven Ricke et al. At the University of Arkansas, US throws light on the anti-staphylococcal properties of the orange essential oil.
Relieves Depression
The very smell of orange essential oil reminds you of happy moments and brings pleasant thoughts to mind. That is why this oil is frequently used in aromatherapy. It creates a happy, relaxed feeling and works as a mood lifter, which is perfect for people who suffer from depression or chronic anxiety. Research published in the Advanced Biomedical Research journal suggests that natural essential oil of orange helps reduce pulse rate and salivary cortisol that is secreted when one is in a state of anxiety.
A study represented at the American Physiological Society’s annual meeting during the Experimental Biology 2017 conference, held in Chicago, shows the effect of orange essential oil in managing post-traumatic stress disorder in mice.
Stimulates Urination
Orange essential oil promotes urination, which eliminates toxins like uric acid, bile, excess salts, pollutants, and excess water in the urine. Urination increases appetite and promotes digestion. It contributes towards losing fats, which makes it good for the heart as well.
Acts as Tonic
The relation of a tonic to the body is quite similar to the overhauling and servicing a vehicle. A tonic tones up every system that functions throughout the body, keeps the metabolic system in proper shape and boosts the immunity.
Carminative Properties
Being a carminative means being an agent that helps in the removal of excess gas from the intestines. Gas forms in the intestines and moves upwards and can result in chest pain, indigestion, and discomfort. It can also cause a rise in blood pressure, negatively affect heart health, and cause acute stomach ache. Essential oil of orange can cope with many of these problems, since it relaxes the abdominal and anal muscles, thereby letting the gas escape. Furthermore, it does not let additional gas form.
Improves Cognitive Function
A study suggests that aromatherapy using orange essential oil may aid in improving cognitive function, especially in Alzheimer’s disease patients.
Insecticidal Properties
Research suggests that orange essential oil is effective against larvae and pupae of a housefly and may help in the elimination of houseflies.
Other Benefits
It serves as a detoxifier, boosts immunity, treats constipation and dyspepsia, and is very good for maintaining healthy, smooth, and glamorous skin. It also helps cure acne and dermatitis.
Word of Caution: Orange essential oil displays photo-toxicity. It tastes bitter and if ingested in large quantities, it may result in vomiting, nausea, and loss of appetite. People with sensitive skin are advised to dilute the oil with a carrier oil like coconut oil or jojoba oil for safe topical application.
Blending: Being a citrus oil, it blends well with other citrus essential oils. Orange essential oil blends well with essential oils of cinnamon, cloves, frankincense, ginger, black pepper, sandalwood, and vetiver.