Most of you would’ve known the common name of orange as it is widely used, literally everywhere from being fruits that you can eat, to being added in many beauty products such as lotions and shampoos as well as household products. However, did you know that the scientific name of orange is called Citrus sinensi? The essential oil of orange, like most oils that come from citrus fruits, are obtained through the cold-pressing of the rind or outer peel of the common orange fruit.

Orange oil has been a popular, traditional, all-natural folk remedy throughout various regions, such as India, China and the Mediterranean region, for thousands of years. It has been used to boost the immune system and to combat various health ailments, such as poor digestion, fatigue, colds, skin infections and many others.

Notably, what you should know about orange oil is that its main component, D-limonene, is a potent monoterpene that contains antioxidant activities, capable of combating and preventing cancer even! Overall, this main constituent is the one that makes orange oil so useful and potent in combating a range of diseases!

Read on to find out more about what kinds of ailments orange oil can combat, and why every household needs to have this potent, aromatic oil!

Health Benefits of Orange Essential Oil:

1. Prevents the Growth of Bacteria

Just like many essential oils that come from citrus fruits, orange essential oil is a strong antibacterial. It inhibits the growth of bacteria internally, as seen from research.

A 2009 research study, published in the International Journal of Food and Science Technology found that orange oil can prevent the growth of the E. coli bacteria, a harmful bacterial strain that causes food to be contaminated, resulting in food poisoning, kidney failure and even death if consumed.

Another 2008 study, published in the Journal of Food Science also found that the terpenes present in orange oil exhibited strong inhibitory activity against the Salmonella bacterial strain which can cause adverse gastrointestinal reactions and other severe side effects if the food contaminated with the bacteria is consumed.

As such, orange essential oil is a potent antimicrobial agent which is capable of preventing the formation of harmful bacteria.

2. Provides Pain Relief

Orange essential oil, with its anti-inflammatory properties, is able to offer much pain relief arising from a variety of conditions. It is able to alleviate muscle pain, stiff joints and aching bones. It can help to reduce swelling in these areas and it promotes increased blood flow to such places, which thus relieves the pain as well since there is much better, unobstructed blood circulation to the muscles, joints and bones.

A 2009 study, published in the European Journal of Medical Research found that orange oil is able to offer much relief from inflammation, pain and infections, out of several other anti-inflammatory essential oils out there such as lemon, pine and eucalyptus oil. This is due to the various chemical constituents in orange essential oil which has strong antioxidant potential.

3. Promotes Relaxation and Calm

Orange essential oil is also a great antidepressant and sedative as it is capable of uplifting your emotional spirits and creating a happy and relaxed state of mind. This is because when inhaled, it has a direct effect on the olfactory system of the brain, thus immediately stimulating such positive emotional effects.

It is able to calm tense nerves after a hard day at work, and bring on much relaxation as it rids your system of stress, anxiety and tension. It is also perfect for those who are suffering from bouts of depression, low self-esteem or self-doubt since it is a potent mood lifter. Its aromatic fragrance will no doubt bring you back to happier summer times, perfect for brightening up your mood and calming your senses.

In fact, a 2013 study published in the Journal of Advanced Biomedical Research illustrates how the essential oil of orange is able to reduce salivary cortisol and pulse rate levels in children who are in an anxious state of mind during dental treatments. This thus demonstrates how orange oil helps to induce feelings of calm and relaxation, keeping heart levels steady.

4. Promotes Skin Health

Orange essential oil is not just a potent antibacterial to prevent the growth of bacteria internally, but it can also be used as an antiseptic agent to fight wounds, cuts and scrapes externally on the skin! If you have incurred a wound or a cut, try dabbing diluted orange oil on the region. The antibacterial and antimicrobial properties of the oil will act to eradicate bacteria and virus on the wound, helping to clean it and thus prevent infections from setting in.

That being said, its antimicrobial properties also make it a good natural acne fighter! Coupled with its anti-inflammatory properties, orange oil can definitely help to soothe red, inflamed and painful pimples on the face and helps to alleviate the condition since it cleanses the area and makes it free from bacteria.

As you know, orange is a great vitamin C agent, capable of protecting and healing the skin. Together with its antioxidant constituents, orange essential oil is great for battling visible signs of ageing such as wrinkles, sagging skin and dark spots because it stimulates the production of collagen.

Therefore, it is able to fight off skin damages done by free radicals and ultraviolet rays, thereby helping to maintain that youthful, radiant glow on your skin! Not only can it help to promote better skin, these vitamin C extracts present in the oil helps to boost your immune system too.

5. Augments the Digestive System

Orange essential oil can greatly boost the digestive system because of the myriad of useful properties present in the oil. Being a carminative, it is able to expel out any excess gas that may be found within the stomach and intestines, as well as prevents the formation of such excess gas in the first place.

Its antispasmodic properties also help to soothe and alleviate spasms, cramps and convulsions in the stomach and intestinal muscles. This hence helps to offer much pain relief comfort from stomach cramps.

6. Promotes Detoxification

The essential oil of orange is also a great detoxification agent! This is because it is a diuretic, which means it is able to get rid of toxins from your body. These include urea, uric acid, excess salts, fats, bile and water through increased frequency and quantity of urination.

Therefore, orange oil is an excellent agent to flush out these harmful substances, thus purifying the blood and cleansing your livers as well as kidneys. By increased urination, it also helps to promote lower blood pressure levels, keeping it at a healthy range. It can also increase your appetite and promotes better digestion since toxic substances are readily flushed out.

So the next time you find yourself going to the toilet often as a result of orange oil, do not complain, for it is very good for your health and your immune system overall!

7. Promotes Better Circulation

As has been insinuated earlier, orange oil is also a great circulation booster! It greatly improves blood flow and circulation to the various parts of the body, which is perfect for those who are suffering from high blood pressure. This is because increased blood flow to vital organs helps to lower such blood pressure levels.

It can also fight hypertension, therefore mitigating the risks of cardiovascular diseases and provides pain relief from headaches and menstrual cramps since it induces blood flow to these areas, therefore lowering pressure. It can also help to improve low libido!

8. Has Cancer-Fighting Abilities

Finally, much research has been carried out to investigate orange oil’s capabilities of fighting cancer cells. For example, a 2010 research published in the Journal of Molecular Nutrition and Food Research illustrates how the presence of hydroxylated polymethoxyflavones (PMFs) present in orange oil is able to inhibit growth of colon cancer cells!

In another 2002 study published in the Indian Journal of Experimental Biology, it was found that orange oil is able to suppress tumor growth since it stimulates detoxification of the liver (as seen in how the rats tested had decreased liver weights), boosts the central nervous system and promotes healthy cellular rejuvenation.

Therefore, these research studies demonstrate how the essential oil of orange undoubtedly has much beneficial compounds that can possibly combat cancer! Even though more research needs to be done before orange oil can be incorporated in mainstream chemopreventive treatments, these initial experiments yield much positive results, making prospects much exciting!

How to Use Orange Essential Oil?

Now that you have read about the numerous benefits of orange oil, here are some of the ways you can use it in your homes to reap its full benefits! Orange oil is a highly versatile oil that blends really well with a myriad of other essential oils, such as cinnamons, anise, basil, bergamot, clary sage, eucalyptus, frankincense, geranium, sandalwood, jasmine, ginger and clove essential oils!

• Topically: You can apply orange essential oil topically onto your skin, especially to promote a much healthier, youthful complexion and to heal external wounds or cuts as well as to provide pain relief to painful muscles and joints. However, be sure to dilute it with a carrier oil first, such as coconut, jojoba or almond oil in a 1:1 ratio. You can also add orange oil into your daily skincare products, as part of your skincare regimen.

• Aromatically: You can also diffuse the oil in your home or office by using a diffuser, vaporizer or distiller, especially if you are looking for something to destress and soothe your tangled mind. Let the aromatic wafts engulf you to promote a soothing atmosphere. You can also add about 10 drops of the oil, with 3 drops of peppermint oil in a spritz bottle containing water, shake well and then spray it all over your house and surfaces for a natural air freshener and cleaning agent.

• In the Bath: You can also add about 4-5 drops of the oil in a tub of warm, bathing water in the evening to soak inside after a tiring, exhausting day. This will greatly help to calm your mind and even induces the detoxification benefits within your body!

• Internally: To reap the internal benefits of orange essential oil, such as improving digestion or inducing detoxification within your body, you can consider adding 1 drop of orange oil to a glass of water. Mix it well to ensure proper dilution and proceed to drink it. However, this should only be done after you have consulted your doctor about ingesting essential oils and have professional medical advice beforehand. Also, be sure to purchase only top-quality, high-grade, 100% pure orange essential oil from a reputable and reliable seller before proceeding to ingest orange oil.

Safety Precautions:

• Always remember to dilute orange oil with a carrier oil prior to topical application onto the skin as its highly concentrated nature can cause serious allergic reactions on the skin. Do perform a skin patch test first to ensure no sensitive or allergic reactions crop up.

• Orange essential oil is a citrus oil, so it is potentially phototoxic. It is best to avoid going into direct sunlight for 12 hours after applying the oil onto your skin, even if it’s diluted.

• If you are allergic to oranges, be sure to not use orange essential oil.

• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is always wise to consult your doctor before using orange oil.

• Only use small doses on children.

• If you have a preexisting medical condition and are under drugs prescription, it is always wise to consult your doctor and seek for his/her professional health advice before using essential oils as a form of treatment, especially if you are looking to take orange oil internally.

References:

C.A. O’Bryan, et al., “Orange Essential Oils Antimicrobial Activities against Salmonella spp.”, Journal of Food Science (2008); 73(6)

Annalisa Lucera, et al., “Food applications of natural antimicrobial compounds”, Frontiers in Microbiology (2012)

U Rantzsch, et al., “Anti-inflammatory effects of myrtol standardized and other essential oils on alveolar macrophages from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease”, European Journal of Medical Research (2009)

Mehdi Jafarzadeh, Soroor Arman, Fatemeh Farahbakhsh Pour, “Effect of aromatherapy with orange essential oil on salivary cortisol and pulse rate in children during dental treatment: A randomized controlled clinical trial” Advanced Biomedical Research (2013)

Peiju Qiu, et al., “Inhibitory effects of 5-hydroxy polymethoxyflavones on colon cancer cells”, Molecular Nutrition and Food Research (2010); 54(52)

Bodake HB, et al., “Chemopreventive effect of orange oil on the development of hepatic preneoplastic lesions induced by N-nitrosodiethylamine in rats: an ultrastructural study”, Indian Journal of Experimental Biology (2002); 40(3)