Yuzu essential oil is derived from the fruits of a tree, scientifically known as Citrus junos, or yuzu, as it is known in Japan. The fruits look like small oranges or tangerines. It is actually native to China but it is now mostly cultivated in Japan, where the essential oil is obtained. In fact, the yuzu tree is actually quite remarkable because it is able to withstand sub-zero temperatures! It is probably one of the most cold-resistant trees out there in the world.

Yuzu essential oil is mostly obtained through a process of steam distillation or cold pressing the rind of the fruit. The oil has a very sweet, citrus-like and tangy aroma which is similar to a blend of grapefruit and mandarin. Even though yuzu essential oil is quite unheard of in the Western world, it is commonly used in Japan in hot baths to get rid of common ailments such as cold and flu. In fact, yuzu has been used in ritualistic practices, such as on the day of the Winter Solstice in Japan!

Emotional Benefits of Yuzu Essential Oil:

Yuzu essential oil is great for emotional health and aromatherapy. In fact, a 2014 study, published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that 10-30 minutes of inhalation of the yuzu essential oil through a diffuser or vaporizer can greatly help to reduce negative emotional stress that accumulates throughout the day, and therefore stabilize the nerves within your body!

As such, when you are in need of something to unwind and relax after a stressful day, try this stress diffuser blend where you can blend 2 drops of yuzu essential oil with 2 drops of star anise essential oil and another 2 drops of vanilla oil into your diffuser for around 30 minutes!

Stress can also induce other negative effects on your emotional and mental health, where you can feel exhausted and burned out, mentally. As such, to rejuvenate and restore your mind and soul, you can try this blend into your diffuser to aid in mental and emotional revival! Simply blend 2 drops of yuzu essential oil with 2 drops of sweet orange and bergamot/geranium essential oil. You can mix this mixture with 1-2 tablespoons of carrier oil and proceed to inhale it. Alternatively, you can opt for a bath therapy too!

Yuzu essential oil also tremendously aids in relieving anxiety and tension, thus making it an excellent soothing and relaxation tool that never fails to lift your spirits. In fact, precisely because of its ability to calm tense nerves, alleviate stress and mental exhaustion, it helps to get rid of insomnia to induce a peaceful and restful sleep. You can actually diffuse it into a distiller or simply inhale it in small doses from cupped hands to get a well-deserved good night’s rest! Alternatively, you can blend 3 drops of yuzu essential oil with 2 drops of lavender and valerian essential oils each and proceed to massage it onto your temples, wrist and chests for a good night’s rest!

Due to its uplifting and rejuvenating nature, yuzu essential oil is also a great remedy for depression and to combat bouts of negative and low self-confidence, just by inhaling it directly from the bottle or through a diffuser.

Other Health Benefits of Yuzu Essential Oil:

Besides its obvious emotional health benefits, yuzu essential oil is also great for the skin! Yuzu is able to brighten and tone your skin as it combats ageing signs and wrinkles from forming! Moreover, it can promote smooth and radiant skin, maintaining the youthful glow on your skin.

In addition, yuzu contains three times more vitamin C than lemon, and therefore, it has high antioxidant properties. Coupled with its antibacterial and antiviral components, yuzu essential oil can greatly help the body combat various common ailments such as flu, cold and sore throat because it boosts the immune system greatly! When the immune system is strong, it can also protect the body from various types of chronic diseases as well, thus ensuring that it stays healthy constantly.

The yuzu fruit, where the essential oil is derived from, also contains high amounts of limonene. To be exact, yuzu essential oil contains 76-79% of limonene compound. A 2010 study published in the Journal of Food Science investigated the efficacy of limonene in yuzu essential oil and they found out that it has anti-inflammatory effects which can potentially be useful for the treatment of bronchial asthma.

Moreover, health experts have said that with its various beneficial compounds, yuzu essential oil can possibly inhibit the formation of cancer-causing chemical compounds within the body, thus preventing cancer within your body. However, more research needs to be done before it can be incorporated into cancer prevention and cancer treatment methods.

Thus, with these aforementioned benefits, yuzu essential oil is undoubtedly a great addition to your essential oils collection! It is definitely worth the investment to have such a rare essential oil on your cupboard shelves, given the range of health benefits. Now, below are some of the ways to utilize yuzu essential oil in the safest way possible!

Uses of Yuzu Essential Oil:

• The most effective and common way to use yuzu essential oil is by distilling it in a vaporizer as the tiny molecules get absorbed into your body quickly and efficiently.

• Alternatively, you can blend 6 drops of yuzu essential oil with 1 oz of carrier oil to form a massage blend that can be applied topically onto your wrists, temples and chest area.

• You can also make a steaming bath by adding 10-15 drops of yuzu essential oil into hot bathing water to relax and unwind.

• Yuzu essential oil actually blends well with other citrus essential oils such as grapefruit, sweet orange, lime, lemon or tangerine essential oils!

Safety Precautions:

• When distilling yuzu essential oil, ensure that you only diffuse it for 10-30 minutes per hour in a well-ventilated room otherwise you might get headaches, nausea or risk increasing blood pressure levels.

• Also, while diffusing, only add 5-10 drops. Avoid using too much oil at once. You can also combine it with other essential oils (as abovementioned) in your diffuser for economical reasons.

• Be sure to do a skin patch test before applying it topically onto your skin to ensure no allergic or sensitive reaction results.

• Yuzu essential oil that is extracted from the cold pressing method is actually phototoxic so ensure that you are not exposed to the sun for 24 hours after applying it onto your skin. However, you can still inhale it. Yuzu essential oil that is extracted from the steam distillation method is non-phototoxic.

• Do not use yuzu essential oil on small children, pregnant and breastfeeding women.

• As yuzu essential oil is still very rare, especially in the Western world, more research needs to be done so consult your doctor first for advice before using yuzu essential oil as a form of treatment.

References:

Tamaki Matsumoto, Hiroyuki Asakura, Tatsuya Hayashi, “Effects of Olfactory Stimulation from the Fragrance of the Japanese Citrus Fruit Yuzu (Citrus junos Sieb. ex Tanaka) on Mood States and Salivary Chromogranin A as an Endocrinologic Stress Marker”, Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (2014); 20(6)

Hirota R, et al., “Anti-inflammatory effects of limonene from yuzu (Citrus junos Tanaka) essential oil on eosinophils”, Journal of Food Science (2010); 75(3)