Sweet Orange Essential Oil Benefits and Uses in Aromatherapy

"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. Emotionally, sweet orange essential oil benefits are to encourage joy, upliftment, lightheartedness, regeneration, creativity, positivity, and self-confidence.

Different types of orange essential oil are available. Sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) is common, and probably the one to use if you see an aromatherapy recipe calling for orange without specifying the type. 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 essential oil is cold 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 sweet orange safe to use during pregnancy? Yes, according to IFPA Pregnancy Guidelines.

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

Cautions: Distilled orange oil may cause photosensitivity but the expressed oil (the most common one) is not phototoxic. (Note that some sources don't make that distinction and incorrectly state the expressed oil causes photosensitivity.)

Oxidized orange oil may cause skin sensitization. Store the oil in a tightly closed bottle in a cool, dark place (refrigeration OK) to prevent oxidation.

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

Sweet Orange Essential Oil Benefits

Physically, sweet orange balances dysregulated and relaxes hypertonic/tense terrain conditions, according to Aromatica: A Clinical Guide to Essential Oil Therapeutics, Vol. 2. The oil has an affinity for the nervous, cardiovascular, digestive, urinary, and respiratory systems.

Physical benefits commonly attributed to sweet orange include:

• Digestive support: helps relieve indigestion, nervous stomach, nausea, constipation, and intestinal gas, cramps, and spasms.
• Respiratory support: helps calm allergies, clear mucus and congestion, and relieve colds, flu, and other respiratory conditions.
• Circulatory support: helps relieve fluid retention, cellulite, congested lymph, and high blood pressure.
• Skin support: tones all skin types, especially beneficial for acne, dull complexion, or dry, oily, and combination skin types. Also for oily hair.
• Other: calms inflammation and reduces insomnia.

Sources

• Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art
• The Complete Aromatherapy & Essential Oils Handbook for Everyday Wellness
• The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy
• The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (updated edition)
• The Heart of Aromatherapy

Sweet Orange Mental and Emotional Benefits

Psychologically, sweet orange promotes emotional stability, mild euphoria, optimism, and joy, according to Aromatica. Use the oil to help relieve:

• Emotional instability with irritability, moodiness, mood swings, agitation
• Distraction, emotional confusion with conflict
• Pessimism, negative or distressed emotions, discouragement
• Mild depression, especially with anxiety or grief

The other sources note that sweet orange can encourage joy and help you feel relaxed, restored, and uplifted. The oil may help relieve anxiety, depression, hysteria, nervous tension, shock, and stress-related conditions.

Sweet Orange Spiritual Benefits

Orange nourishes the soul, feeding it with feelings of joy, according to Subtle Aromatherapy. The Blossoming Heart elaborates, "Orange will help you to loosen up and find your sense of humor when you are feeling gloomy and unable to see the light at the end of the tunnel."

This essential oil also promotes spiritual strength and self-confidence, helping you develop your spiritual gifts, according to The Essential Guide to Aromatherapy and Vibrational Healing. The oil helps you focus and think clearly and creates a sense of calm and relaxation.

Orange brings in joy and positivity, uplifts and rejuvenates, and cleanses and clears energy blocks, according to Aromatherapy Anointing Oils. Chakra uses:

• Seventh (crown) chakra: represents the joyous light of heaven and expands spiritual joy and a trusting spiritual connection.
• Sixth (third eye) chakra: clears, refreshes, uplifts, and revitalizes the mind and imagination.
• Fifth (throat) chakra: supports joyful communication, encourages laughter, and promotes creative expression.
• Fourth (heart) chakra: encourages joy, love, trust, generosity, gratitude, and contentment. Uplifts a heavy heart.
• Third (solar plexus) chakra: promotes enthusiasm and optimism.
• Second (sacral) chakra: promotes positivity, truthfulness, and cooperation in relationships. Encourages creativity, spontaneity, playfulness, and emotional healing.
• First (root) chakra: renews, revitalizes, and promotes a positive approach to earthly life.

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 in TCM and Ayurveda

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, sweet orange regulates the Qi, settles the Heart, and harmonizes the Shen, according to Aromatica.

• Movement: circulating
• Warmth: neutral
• Meridian tropism: Liver, Heart, Stomach
• Five-element affinity: Wood, Fire, Earth

Aromatherapy For Healing the Spirit: Sweet orange unblocks and circulates stagnant Qi-energy, especially in the Liver, Stomach, and Intestines. The oil is 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.

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 cup 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 essential 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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Carol Wiley is a retired massage therapist and freelance writer. She uses her deep interest in aromatherapy and essential oils to research their benefits and uses and bring you summaries and blends with links to more resources.

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