They may sound unappetizing, but blood oranges can surely change your mood. And they can also help you in other ways – especially the blood orange essential oil, that comes with a host of benefits.
Curious to know more? Read on and find out how the by-product of this citrus fruit can help you out!
Favourite oil in aromatherapy, the blood orange oil is used to treat several ailments. It has a warm, sweet, citrus scent like that of an orange and is prepared from organic oranges by a cold compress method. In fact, the orange peel is cold pressed, giving us the commercially available extracts. Blood oranges have a distinctive red color in their pulp, rendering the essential oil a vivid deep red colour.
Blood orange essential oil is more intensely aromatic with its fruity, tangy smell compared to regular orange essential oil. Insoluble in water, it blends well with other oils such as lemon, sage, lavender, myrrh, clove and cinnamon.
Extracted from the peel of the blood orange fruit, the essential oil is more intensely aromatic than the sweet orange we are familiar with.
The therapeutic properties and health benefits of blood orange essential oil are many. Some of these include:
Widely known for its uplifting properties, the use of this oil calms the nervous system and helps relieve stress. The aroma of the oil is soothing to the mind, improves the mood, literally placing happy thoughts in the mind. Because of these properties, the oil is used in the treatment of anxiety. It is advised to smell a few drops of the essential oil directly to feel relief from stress-related symptoms.
Aromatherapy is a popular and safe alternative therapy to treat stress (2). Inhalation of these gentle, vibrant scents brings about the desired responses without any side effect associated with pharmaceutical medication.
Inhaling essential oils, particularly blood orange essential oil, gives you a deep sense of well-being. It brings down stress. The oils are best for those prone to chronic anxiety and depression.
According to research, blending aromatherapy oils and using them for a massage reduced pulse rate and skin temperature in anxious people, while stimulating the nervous system (3).
Blood orange essential oil is also known for its aphrodisiac properties. It can cure problems such as decreased libido, impotence, erectile dysfunction and even loss of interest in sex. Long-term use of aromatic oils can increase sexual desire (4). It works work by enhancing feelings of wellness in the brain.
Anyone with a migraine would be happy to know that blood orange essential oil can relieve the symptoms of a migraine such as pain and nausea. A simple inhalation of three drops of the oil provides instant relief. Rubbing the oil on the lower lip provides a remarkable difference to the migraine patients.
Blood orange essential oils are anti-spasmodic, offering relief from body spasms. Spasms can result from nervous twitches, muscular cramps, convulsions and continuous coughing. The relaxing effect of essential oils calms the muscles and nerves, ensuring a reduction in these symptoms.
Researchers say, giving aromatherapy to patients before a surgery is an effective way to control preoperative anxiety (5). This prevents many complications from nervous reactions during the surgery.
Blood orange essential oil can be used as a wonderful disinfectant for wounds as it is a natural antiseptic. Essential oils, especially citrus-based oils are potent antimicrobials. Their application on the wounds can prevent bacterial and other infections. This property makes them good for treating mouth ulcers and sore throat.
Considering its stress relieving benefits and antiseptic properties, the addition of blood orange essential oil to your collection of the therapeutic oils can be a great idea. Did this post help you? Please let us know in the comments section below.