Guide to Orange Essential Oil Benefits and Uses

"Orange is imbued with the energy of the sunlight and the radiance of the stars," writes aromatherapist Valerie Ann Worwood in Aromatherapy For the Soul. The emotional benefits of orange essential oil (Citrus sinensis) are to encourage joy, upliftment, lightheartedness, regeneration, creativity, positivity, and self-confidence.

You will also hear this oil called sweet orange because it's made from fruit of the sweet orange tree. Blood orange, also used to make essential oil, is a variety of sweet orange. Other essential oils are produced from the bitter orange (Citrus aurantium) tree.

Basic Sweet Orange Facts

Plant family: Rutaceae

Production: Most orange oil is mechanically expressed from orange peels. Although it's possible to steam distill the peels, only a few distilled orange oils are on the market.

Aroma: Fresh, sweet, citrus, fruity.

Perfume/Aromatic note: Top.

Is orange safe to use during pregnancy? Yes, according to IFPA Pregnancy Guidelines.

Is orange essential oil safe for children? Yes. Children tend to love the scent.

Cautions: Distilled orange oil may cause photosensitivity but the expressed oil is generally believed not phototoxic—although some sources don't make that distinction. Oxidized orange oil may cause skin sensitization. Store the oil in a tightly closed bottle a cool, dark place (refrigeration OK) to prevent oxidation.

Main components: (+)-Limonene is the key constituent. It makes up about 83% to 96% of orange essential oil, depending on the geographic growing location of the oranges, according to Essential Oil Safety, 2nd Edition. Other components include beta-myrcene and alpha-pinene.

Sweet Orange Aromatherapy Benefits

Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art: Orange essential oil skin benefits include helping to reduce acne and the oiliness of skin and hair. This essential oil may help relieve colds, flu, congested lymph, indigestion, and high blood pressure. Emotionally, the oil may help reduce anxiety, depression, hysteria, shock, and nervous tension.

Essential Oils & Aromatherapy for Dummies: Orange may repel ants and flies. Add the essential oil to a massage blend to help ease indigestion or mild insomnia or depression. The scent also reduces anxiety and slightly lowers high blood pressure brought on by stress.

The Heart of Aromatherapy: Use sweet orange to support the respiratory system, sooth allergies, clear mucous and congestion, calm inflammation, support digestion, ease nausea, make natural cleaning blends, and feel relaxed, restored, and uplifted.

The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy: Orange may help relieve constipation, intestinal spasms, fluid retention, cellulite, insomnia, depression, anxiety, tension, and stress-related conditions.

The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (updated edition): Use orange essential oil for skin that's dull and oil. The oil may also help relieve mouth ulcers, water retention, respiratory conditions, constipation, indigestion, digestive spasms, colds, flu, nervous tension, and stress-related conditions.

The Complete Aromatherapy & Essential Oils Handbook for Everyday Wellness: Orange oil tones all skin types and also tones the digestive system, helping relieve intestinal gas, cramps, and spasms as well as indigestion and a nervous stomach. The oil has a cheerful disposition, helping relieve depression and encouraging joy.

Aromatherapy For Healing the Spirit: In Traditional Chinese Medicine, orange unblocks and circulates stagnant Qi-energy, especially in the Liver, Stomach, and intestines. The oil one of the best for the digestive system, while also relieving tension and frustration and promoting joy and positivity.

Ayurveda and Aromatherapy:

• The rasa (taste) of orange is pungent and bitter, the vipaka (aftertaste) is pungent, and the virya (energy) is heating.
• The oil decreases vata and kapha and increases pitta.
• The oil affects all tissues. Indications for this essential oil include weak digestion, gallbladder blockage, bladder and kidney disorders, fever, gingivitis, cellulite, dry skin, aging skin, anxiety, sadness, and self-consciousness.

Subtle Aromatherapy: Orange nourishes the soul, feeding it with feelings of joy.

The Essential Guide to Aromatherapy and Vibrational Healing:  Orange promotes spiritual strength and self-confidence, helping you develop your spiritual gifts. Mentally, the oil helps you focus and think clearly. Emotionally, the essential oil brings joy and also creates a sense of calm and relaxation.

Aromatherapy and Subtle Energy Techniques: Orange uplifts, brings in joy and positivity, and clears and cleanses. The oil is especially useful for the second chakra to promote joy and positivity in relationships.

Mixing Essential Oils for Magic: Sweet orange supports following your unique path while stimulating creativity and increasing self-awareness. This essential oil gives energy to positive thinking and emotional clarity and also helps manifest peace, love, and fidelity. Use the oil to boost the success of spells for happiness, abundance, and money and to support dreamwork, divination, and communication with spirits.

Sweet Orange Essential Oil Uses and Blends

Uses for orange essential oil include aromatherapy diffuser blends:

• Calm and focus: 5 drops orange and 5 drops lavender essential oil
• Stress relief: 3 drops orange, 2 drops cedarwood essential oil, and 2 drops frankincense essential oil
• Energizing: 5 drops orange and 12 drops peppermint essential oil
• Pick-me-up: 6 drops orange, 4 drops peppermint essential oil, and 2 drops balsam fir essential oil
  

Positive Mind Mist

• 4 drops orange essential oil
  
• 4 drops bergamot essential oil
• 2 drops eucalyptus essential oil
• 1/2 distilled or purified water

Add ingredients to a spray bottle. Shake well before each use.

Or make the essential oil blend (without the water) and use it in a diffuser.
Source: Aromatherapy and Subtle Energy Techniques

Orange Clove Room Spray

• 2 tablespoons distilled water
• 5 drops orange essential oil
  
• 2 drops clove essential oil

Add the water and essential oils to a 1-ounce (30 ml) glass spray bottle. Cap. Shake well. Spritz the blend around the room.

Shake before each use and use within a few weeks. Source: Aromahead Newsletter

Orange Belly Butter for Digestion

Use this blend after a big meal or when feeling digestive discomfort.

• 1 tablespoon beeswax
• 2 tablespoons jojoba oil
• 2 tablespoons cocoa butter
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 17 drops orange essential oil
  
• 10 drops Roman chamomile essential oil
• 7 drops ginger essential oil
• 7 drops patchouli essential oil
• Two 2-ounce (60 ml) glass jars or one 4-ounce (120 ml) glass jar

1. Put the beeswax in the top of a double boiler and let melt.
2. Stir in jojoba oil, cocoa butter, and coconut oil until melted.
3. Remove the blend from heat.
4. Stir in the essential oils.
5. Pour the blend into the glass jar(s) and let set until solid.

To use: Massage a little belly butter into your abdomen and low back. Adapted from Aromahead

Sweet Orange Essential Oil Recipes for Cleaning

Orange makes a good addition to essential oil cleaning blends.

All-Purpose Spray Cleaner

• 4 cups distilled water
• 3 tablespoons baking soda
• 16 drops orange oil

1. Add the water to a large spray bottle.
2. Add the baking soda and orange oil.
3. Place the top on the spray bottle. Shake well.

Use on non-delicate surfaces. Shake well before each use.

Wood Polish

• 1 tablespoon beeswax
• 2 tablespoons jojoba oil
• 10 drops sweet orange essential oil
• 2-ounce glass jar

1. Melt the beeswax in a double boiler over low heat.
2. Blend in the jojoba oil.
3. Remove from heat.
4. Stir in the orange oil.
5. Pour the mixture into the jar. Let cool until solid.

To use: Use a soft cloth to rub a small amount onto wood surfaces. Buff for a natural shine.

Source: Aromahead Spring Cleaning

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