All About Orange Essential Oil
Essential Oil of Orange (Citrus sinensis) is a fun cheery oil that is one of my all-time favorites and one that is perfect for someone just being introduced to essential oils. Essential orange oil has many uses both physiologically and emotionally.
Orange essential oil helps prevent the growth of bacteria and stops free radicals (orange essential oil has a 7500 score on the ORAC scale – Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity…making it a very good anti-oxidant)
Orange essential oil also enhances the absorption of vitamin C in the body. It is high in vitamin C and carotene (vitamin A). Orange essential oil is also very high in limonene, a super-nutrient that has been studied extensively for its ability to prevent cellular mutations and combat cancer tumor growth in over 50 clinical studies.
It benefits the heart by lowering the heart rhythm and helping to regulate the heartbeat. It is beneficial for hypertension and arteriosclerosis, is anticoagulant, stimulates the bladder and kidneys, is a diuretic and is great for relieving fluid retention, it also softens the epidermis, reduces the appearance of cellulite, stimulates blood circulation and lymph fluids and is very helpful in treating swollen tissue.
Orange essential oil is very beneficial and soothing to dry, irritated, or acne-prone skin conditions. Its regenerative properties make it good for aging as well as rough or calloused skin. Avoid applying to skin that will be exposed to sunlight or UV light within 24 hours.
It is a very warming oil both physically and emotionally.
Orange essential oil is uplifting and anti-depressant. A 1995 Mie University study found citrus fragrances boosted immunity, induced relaxation and reduced depression
For geographical locations that lack sunshine on a regular basis or rooms without much light, diffusing orange essential oil is great for helping with depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Orange helps to stimulate joy, optimism and playfulness…it harmonizes feelings and awakens creativity. It’s wonderful to use for children and for adults too who want to laugh and play or for times when you may feel tense, nervous and withdrawn and need help to relax and open up.
Physiologically orange essential oil creates warmth and pleasure in the body and stimulates sensuality and pleasure…especially when combined with ylang ylang essential oil. Orange helps connect us to our five physical senses and also helps to remove inhibitions. Diffusing orange essential oil in the bedroom might be highly beneficial in certain ways.
Some More Great Uses for Orange Essential Oil:
Orange oil is great for wood care and furniture. It is gentle yet it powerfully protects wood from insect damage and easily cleans fingerprints and grime off of the furniture without damaging it.
Use orange essential oil for cleaning oil and grease from your cook top and surrounding areas in the kitchen.
Add a few drops of orange essential oil to hand soap to clean dirt, grease and even paint off of dirty hands.
Mix a couple drops of orange essential oil with some baking soda to make a paste and brush your teeth for natural teeth whitening instead of chemical bleaches that are absorbed sublingually into the bloodstream.
Massage orange essential oil over cellulite problem areas for smoother looking and feeling skin.
Massage over callouses on the bottoms of feet for smooth and pretty feet.
Orange oil is also a perfect oil to add to your culinary favorites. It stimulates the appetite and digestion. I love adding a heaping tablespoon of raw cacao powder and about 8-10 drops of orange essential oil to my morning protein shake for a wonderful chocolate orange flavor that is super high in anti-oxidants too.
Believe it or not it is excellent on salads. Once I accidentally picked up a bottle of orange essential oil instead of the lemon essential oil and put it all over my salad…when I realized I had used the wrong oil and thought I had ruined my salad I almost threw it out and started over but when I tasted it, it was amazing…even better than lemon…now I use it all the time on salads.
I also add a few drops of orange essential oil to a honey and balsamic vinegar reduction…after it cools down of course so I don’t destroy the essential oil…and use this as a wonderful glaze over duck breast.
It’s great in deserts too like cheesecake, cookies, and mulled wine and anything chocolate. Add a drop to orange spice tea with a little coconut milk for a wonderful alternative to coffee with cream.
This is a great beginner oil that everyone loves and should always have on hand.
PLEASE NOTE: The information in this article is based solely on the use of 100% Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils due to their high quality and tested purity. The use of a brand of uncertain quality and/or purity will provide you with potentially dangerous, if not lethal, results. The author assumes no responsibility for your improper use of this information.
The statements about these oils have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These oils are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
The Author:
R. Noel is the author of The Essential Oils and Aromatherapy Info Blog where you can find out everything you want to know about essential oils and their uses with topics ranging from treating insect bites to making an awesome pesto to which oils to use for colds and the flu to making your own scented aromatherapy cards to aromatherapy accessories and much more.
