Most of us appreciate the delicious taste and nutritional qualities of oranges, but we may not realize how many benefits derive from orange oil. According to the Healthy Healing Oils website, orange essential oil is produced by glands inside orange rinds and extracted through steam distillation or cold-pressing. The resulting oil, which has a sweet aroma despite its bitter taste, can provide a variety of benefits, from better health to a cleaner, pest-free home.
Skin and Muscle Care
The Organic Facts website describes orange oil's beneficial anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic and antiseptic qualities. Applying orange oil to the skin not only helps to reduce inflammation and soothe sore muscles. It can also improve the skin tone and texture and combat acne and dermatitis. The natural disinfectant qualities of orange oil also make it useful for cleaning and treating scratches, scrapes and other minor wounds. Always take care when applying orange oil to your skin, especially when undiluted, as it can cause irritation and increase your skin's sensitivity to light.
Aromatherapy
The strong, appealing scent of orange essential oil makes it a popular choice for aromatherapy applications. The Organic Facts site suggests that the smell of orange oil may improve one's overall mood, promote relaxation and peace of mind, reduce anger and anxiety and even act as a natural aphrodisiac. In addition to using orange oil in isolation, the Healthy Healing Oils website recommends blends incorporating a variety of other essential oils and substances used in aromatherapy.
Digestive Issues
According to the Organic Facts website, orange oil can act as a carminative. This means that ingesting a few drops of orange oil may help to reduce or prevent gas or indigestion. The site also describes orange oil as a diuretic, meaning it can promote urination, cleanse your body of harmful toxins and salts and increase your appetite. In addition, orange oil may help to improve overall health by enhancing your immune system and metabolism. Before consuming orange oil or any other unregulated herb or supplement, however, you should consult a physician or other trusted medical professional familiar with your health situation.
Pest Control
The Bird Mites website reports that d-Limonene, which is a primary ingredient in orange oil and other citrus oils, is an effective natural insect repellent. Orange oil can help to keep away mites, fleas, lice and ticks, and it is generally not toxic to people, pets and other mammals. In addition to using pure orange oil to discourage insects, the site suggests wiping down surfaces with a mixture of equal parts vinegar and orange oil. If you have already been bitten, applying orange oil to the affected area may help to relieve itching and irritation.
Household Cleaner
The Housekeeping Matters website outlines many uses of essential oils and other natural substances as effective alternatives to commercial, synthetic cleaning products. The site suggests mixing orange oil with olive oil to clean wood cutting boards, soaking a cotton ball in orange oil to use as an air freshener, mixing the oil with other ingredients to create a sweet-smelling furniture polish or diluting it to remove stains on fabric.
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