What are the benefits of orange peel essential oil?

This is an automatically translated article.

1. What are the therapeutic effects of orange essential oil?

Orange essential oil is no longer strange to some people and has many uses. These may include:
Psychological support and stress relief Treating acne-prone skin Reducing pain or inflammation Reducing abdominal discomfort Making a natural, eco-friendly household cleaner Used as a flavoring in products such as perfumes and detergents Add to foods and beverages for scent Although orange essential oil has many uses, it is important to remember that many of them are support based on anecdotes or folk experiences. This means that the benefits of orange essential oil have not been proven by scientific studies.

2. What is the effect of orange peel essential oil?

The ways to use orange peel essential oil are quite popular, but its uses and benefits need to be confirmed by scientific evidence. Below are some studies on the effects of orange essential oil that have been done.

2.1. Antibacterial activity

The first and most interesting effect of orange essential oil is its antibacterial activity. A 2012 study looked at the antibacterial effects of orange essential oil on strains of E. coli bacteria from beef, which can cause food poisoning. The results indicated that after 24 h, a lower concentration of less than 1% of orange essential oil inhibited bacterial activity at cold temperatures.
The effect of orange essential oil on other bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, which is resistant to antibiotics, has also been investigated. Another study found that when added to infected human cells in a laboratory setting, low concentrations of orange essential oil killed the bacteria and did not harm cultured host cells.
Orange essential oil can also prevent the growth of fungi that spoil food. One study found that orange oil provided some defense mechanism against four species of fungi.
Another study has also described the ability to inhibit the activity of eight types of molds on fruits and vegetables. However, scientists suggest that other essential oils such as clove and garlic are more effective than orange essential oil in this respect.

2.2. Reduce anxiety and depression

Using orange essential oil as a scent agent is effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression. In a 2013 study, orange essential oil used as a scent reduced heart rate and stress hormone levels in children during dental procedures.
In a 2015 study conducted on pregnant women, women who inhaled orange essential oil reported less anxiety than women in the control group who inhaled only distilled water.
A 2019 study on rats found that rats that inhaled orange essential oil exhibited less depressive-like behavior.

2.3. Pain relief

A 2017 study of people with broken bones looked at whether inhaling orange essential oil could help relieve pain. Compared with the control group, those who inhaled orange oil experienced less pain.
In 2008, a study was conducted to evaluate whether a mixture of ginger and orange essential oil could help relieve knee pain when applied directly to the skin. Compared to a control group, those who used the essential oil blend reported experiencing less pain in a shorter time, but the essential oil didn't seem to help with long-term pain relief.

2.4. Anti-cancer and antioxidant activity

Limonene, a component of orange essential oil, has been studied for its therapeutic effects on cancer. A study from 2012 found that limonene-rich orange oil both inhibited the growth and promoted the death of colon cancer cells during culture.
In 2017, another study concluded that orange essential oil was able to inhibit the growth of lung and prostate cancer cell lines in a laboratory setting. In addition, an increase in cell death was observed in lung cancer cell lines.
Besides, orange essential oil is also considered to have antioxidant activity. However, all of these studies were done in the laboratory and not in the human body, so additional studies on the antioxidant effects of orange essential oil are needed.

2.5. Improve exercise performance

A small 2016 study evaluated the effects of inhaling orange essential oil in physical education students during exercise. The researchers found that people who inhaled orange essential oil experienced a significant reduction in their running time as well as an increase in lung function. Since the study was conducted on a small sample, more large-scale studies need to be conducted.

2.6. Weight loss

A 2019 study in rats began to evaluate the weight loss effects of orange essential oil. Researchers have found that obese mice fed capsules containing orange essential oil no longer gained weight as before, as well as reduced blood cholesterol levels. However, more research is still needed to determine if orange essential oil has the same effects on humans.

2.7. Insecticidal activity

A 2012 study also examined orange essential oil's ability to fight housefly larvae and pupae. It was found that orange essential oil has insecticidal properties by contact and heating.

3. How to use orange essential oil

3.1. Diffusive

If you want to improve your mood a bit or maybe you want to add the fresh scent of oranges to the room?
Diffusers use heat to allow essential oils to evaporate, which will help you do that. As the essential oils evaporate, your room will be filled with scents.
There are many types of diffusers you can buy through e-commerce platforms or at specialty aromatherapy stores. Each type of diffuser will have its own instructions for use. Be sure to follow all instructions for use carefully.

3.2. Spray

Spray is another way to spread the scent of orange essential oil into the surrounding space. Is this another use when you want to use orange essential oil as a natural cleanser? You can make orange essential oil spray by following these steps:
Add orange essential oil to the water, preferably in a glass bottle. The National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA) recommends using 10 to 15 drops per 30ml of water. Dispersants such as solubol can be added to the cleaning solution which can help the essential oil to better disperse in the water. Shake the bottle well to mix the contents. Spray spray as desired.

3.3. Massage oil

Looking to relieve pain or inflammation? Making your own massage oil from orange essential oil can be a good idea. To do this, you need to dilute orange essential oil with a base like coconut oil or jojoba oil. The NAHA recommends using 20 drops of essential oil per 30ml of carrier oil to create a massage oil blend with a 3% solution.

4. Safety and side effects of orange essential oil

Any essential oil has the potential to cause local irritation when applied directly to the skin. If you're concerned about a possible reaction, try applying a little diluted orange essential oil to the inside of your elbow before using it.
Avoid using old or oxidized orange essential oil, which can cause skin sensitization. This is a form of allergic reaction that may not appear immediately after the first use, but it can cause a serious reaction in subsequent uses.
Some essential oils from citrus fruits are optically toxic. They can cause a painful skin reaction if you are exposed to direct sunlight after applying them.
Orange essential oils have a low risk of light toxicity, but you should still exercise caution if you plan to go outside after using them on your skin.
As with other essential oils, note the following to use orange essential oil safely:
Do not apply pure essential oils directly to the skin. Keep essential oils away from eyes. Store essential oils out of the reach of children and pets. If you use oil for scent, make sure the space you are in is well ventilated. If you're pregnant and nursing or must take prescription medication, talk to your doctor before using orange essential oil.

5. Note when choosing orange essential oils

You can buy orange essential oil on online shopping apps or at a natural products store. Here are some tips to help you buy good quality orange essential oil.
Check the label for the scientific name of orange essential oil: Citrus sinensis. Bitter orange essential oil is another oil with a similar name: Citrus aurantium. You should not confuse these two. Verify product purity. You should buy products that contain 100% orange essential oil. Otherwise, the orange essential oil content needs to be stated on the label. Choose a dark bottle. Essential oils can be damaged by the sun and dark bottles help prevent this. Smell the essential oil before you buy it, if possible. If it doesn't smell orange, don't buy it. Stay away from any product that claims on the label or through advertising that orange essential oil can treat a specific health condition. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not recognize essential oils as drugs. Orange essential oil can be used for a variety of uses, from improving mood and reducing stress to adding a refreshing citrus scent. Research has somewhat demonstrated some of the benefits of orange essential oil, including antibacterial activity, pain relief, and anticancer properties.
Always make sure to use orange essential oil safely. If you are considering using orange essential oil but have health concerns, talk to your doctor before using it.
Follow Vinmec International General Hospital website to get more health, nutrition and beauty information to protect the health of yourself and your loved ones in your family.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.