Essential Oil Profile: Sweet Orange
Thursday, June 21, 2018
Latin Name: Citrus sinensis
Plant Family: Rutaceae
Plant Part Used: Rind of the fruit
Extraction Method: cold-pressed, steam distillation
Scent: Sweet,
fresh and tangy
Color: Yellow
to orange
Viscosity: Thin
Shelf Life: 1 to 2 years
Max Dermal Use Level: 5%
Notes (Perfume): Top
Phototoxic: No
Safe for Kids: Yes
Safe for Pregnancy: Yes
Safe for Breastfeeding: Yes
Safe for Ingestion: Yes
Chemical Families: monoterpenes, aldehydes, monoterpenols
Primary Chemical Constituents: limonene, beta myrcene, linalool, decanal, alpha
pinene
Blends well with:
(Worwood, 2016, p. 609 - 610)
basil
linalol, bay (west indian), bay laurel, bergamot, black pepper, cananga,
cardamom, chamomile roman, clary sage, clove bud, coriander seed, cypress,
fennel (sweet), frankincense, geranium, ginger, grapefruit, jasmine, juniper
berry, lavandin, lavender, lemon, lime, linden blossom, mandarin, marjoram
(sweet), may chang, mimosa, myrtle, neroli, nutmeg, patchouli, petitgrain,
pine, rose absolute, rosemary, rose otto, rosewood, sandalwood, spearmint,
spikenard, thyme linalol, valerian, vetiver, ylang ylang
General Information
Sweet
orange essential oil is an oil extracted from the peel of the sweet orange
fruit of the Citrus sinensis tree.
Sweet orange is a small tree that bears small round fruits with sweet pulp and
non-bitter membranes. The tree itself was believed to originate from Southeast
Asia, India and China. In the early 16th century, Italian and
Portuguese merchants brought sweet orange into Europe, which eventually reached
the American soil through various European explorers. Currently, Brazil is
known as the largest producer and exporter of sweet orange essential oil.
Therapeutic Properties
(Worwood, 2016, p. 609 - 610)
Antibacterial – prevents and kills bacteria
Antiseptic – prevents and kills microorganisms which
include bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa
Calmative – has
calming (sedative) effect
Cholagogue – stimulates the release and secretion of bile
from the gall bladder
Depurative – has purifying and detoxifying effect; helps
cleanse waste products and toxins from our body
Diuretic - promotes
the removal of excess water from the body as urine
Sedative –
relaxes mind and body in order to promote calmness and induce sleep
Stimulant – increases
alertness and energy
Stomachic –
promotes appetite and aids digestion
Tonic – invigorates,
refreshes and restores the body
Uses and Benefits
Relieve Stress and Anxiety
Because
of its refreshing citrus aroma, sweet orange essential oil can uplift the mood
when you’re feeling down, it’s like a natural anti-depressant medicine. Its mild
sedative properties can also help reduce stress and anxiety. Also, if you have
trouble sleeping, then sweet orange oil can be blended with lavender and
chamomile to promote a good night sleep.
Help Improve Digestion
If
you are experiencing digestion problems like constipation or stomach spasm, you
can create a massage oil with sweet orange essential oil and rub it onto your
stomach.
Disinfect the Room
Using
orange essential oil in room spray will not only add a refreshing smell to your
house, it can also cleanse the air, thanks to its antibacterial and antiseptic
properties.
Skin Care
Sweet
orange essential oil has an ability to prevent and fight pimple-causing
bacteria, so you can combine it with lavender or tea tree essential oil to
create a facial serum for people with oily and/or acne-prone skin.
I
know there are blog articles claiming that sweet orange oil is good for
anti-aging formulation since it is rich in vitamin C. To tell you the truth,
that claim is impossible since vitamin C is water soluble and all essential
oils don’t contain water soluble elements.
Lip Care
Since
sweet orange essential oil is regarded as safe for ingestion, it can be used in
making lip care products (e.g. lip balm, lip scrub).
Lower Blood Pressure
Because
orange essential oil is a natural diuretic, it can help lower blood pressure by
flushing out extra salt and water out of your body through urination. The best
way to treat high blood pressure using essential oils is through inhalation
(e.g. diffuser) or massage.
Safety Information
- No known contraindication with any medical drugs, procedures and conditions.
- Has been given GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status by US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This means that it is safe for ingestion (depending on the safe dosage). It is highly recommended to consult first a health professional before ingesting any essential oil.
- Oxidized sweet orange essential oil should not be used as it can cause skin sensitization (Tisserand & Young, 2014).
References:
Orange
Essential Oil (Sweet) Information. Retrieved from http://essentialoils.co.za/essential-oils/orange.htm
Orange
Essential Oil. Retrieved from https://www.anandaapothecary.com/orange-essential-oil
Tisserand, R. and Young, R.
(2014). Essential Oil Safety (2nd
ed.). London: Elsevier.
Worwood, V.A. (2016). The Complete Book of Essential Oils and
Aromatherapy. Novato, CA: New World Library.
P.S.
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