Step into Citrus
- The English Herbalist
- Mar 18, 2024
- 3 min read
The latter part of January seemed to drag. We’d experienced a lot of rainfall and it seemed dismal, damp and dreary. Because I had to venture out every day and often stand in waterlogged fields treating animals, I found myself on a citrus quest; I needed uplifting.
Essential Oils
As a Herbalist and therapist I use essential oils every day, either in body oil or the face cream I apply. However, due to the low light levels and because our cottage faces east, I often need an additional lift in my environment at this time of year. I have a diffuser, a little electrical gadget that you fill with 100ml of water and a few drops of essential oil. The diffuser then emits steam into the room and often permeating the whole of the cottage. After 3 days of using a combination of lemon and sweet orange essential oils, my mood lifts considerably and my house smells fresh and clean too – without the use of man-made chemicals.
Oils For All Ailments
Sweet Orange
This is one of the cheapest essential oils to purchase, usually less than £4.00 for 10ml. Sweet Orange essential oil offers a magnitude of health benefits and therapeutic properties. Some of these include:
Anti-depressant Well-known for its uplifting properties, sweet orange is soothing to the mind and helps to relieve stress. It is refreshing and relaxing and commonly used for the treatment of anxiety.
Anti-inflammatory It provides relief from both internal and external inflammation caused by infections. It is helpful in treating swollen tissue by stimulating blood circulation – I enjoy this oil used during massage.
Antiseptic Sweet orange inhibits microbial growth and can help ease a sore throat if used in a gargle. It is also said to heal mouth ulcers when used in a mouth wash.
Improves Digestion It’s known to promote digestion, ease constipation and increase the absorption of vitamin C. Great when used in a massage oil over the abdominal area.
Anti-Cancer D-limonene is a super-nutrient that occurs in Orange Essential Oil. It has been studied extensively for its ability to prevent cellular mutations and combat cancer tumour growth.
Encourages Detoxification Sweet Orange essential oil encourages detoxification by acting as a diuretic. It also stimulates the lymphatic system, the bladder and kidneys. Increased urination assists in the elimination of toxins like uric acid, bile and excess salts and helps relieve fluid retention. Detox and cleansing properties help breakdown and eliminate cellulite.
Skin Treatment Orange is shown to promote the production of collagen as well as increase the blood flow to the skin. It is helpful at soothing dry, irritated skin as well as acne-prone skin. It is excellent for rubbing on calluses on the feet, I have had amazing results with this especially after wearing wellies for prolonged periods.
How To Use Orange Essential Oil I used it primarily in my diffuser, but as essential oils are absorbed into the body via the nose and the pores of skin and hair follicles you can apply it to your skin in a base oil. From there it will enter the bloodstream and circulate throughout the body. You can also:
Add a few drops of sweet orange to a warm bath.
Add a few drops of to a body wash.
Use as a room freshener: put a few drops of oil with water in a spritzer bottle, or use in a diffuser as I did.
To relive a sore throat: Add a drop of orange essential oil to warm salt water and gargle.
Precautions
Always do a 24 hour patch test to determine if you are allergic. Orange Essential Oil shows photo-toxicity, so do not apply before going out in the sun. If ingested in excess quantity, it can result in vomiting and nausea. If you are pregnant, epileptic, have liver damage, have cancer, or have any other medical problem, use essential oils only under the guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Avoid using essential oils in the room where there are cats, dogs and other domestic pets.
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