Orange oil

Orange oil is typically extracted from the remains – the peels – of the oranges (Citrus sinensis) used to make orange juice. The extraction itself is usually done by cold pressing.

Although there is no scientific evidence of the health benefits of orange oil, it has long been used medicinally and in aromatherapy.

In recent years, it has also become a popular organic remedy for ant control. This article gives you an overview of all the properties and uses of orange oil.

Properties oforange oil

Undocumented properties

Although proponents of aromatherapy and natural medicine believe that orange oil can be used to prevent or treat the following health problems, there is no scientific evidence to support this:

In addition, it is also claimed that orange oil has the following effects on the human body:

• Detoxifying effect
• Antiseptic effect (bactericidal)
• Anticoagulant (reduces the blood's ability to clot)
• Carminative effect (against flatulence)
• Sedative/anesthetic effect
• Diuretic effect (diuretic)
• Promote glandular secretion (hormones, bile, enzymes, etc.)
• Expectorant effect
• Strengthening of the immune system
• Sex drive stimulant (aphrodisiac)
• Fungicidal

It should be emphasized that there are no scientific studies that prove the above claims. If you are ill or have any of the above health problems, you should consult a doctor.

Researched properties with lack of evidence

A few scientific studies have indicated that orange oil may have some effect on anxiety and food poisoning respectively:

• Anxiety: An Australian study from 2000 showed that the smell of oranges can reduce anxiety and improve mood in women waiting in the dentist's waiting room

• Food poisoning: A 2006 UK study and a 2008 US study indicated that orange oil has an inhibitory effect on the bacteria that cause food poisoning (Campylobacter, E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, etc.)

Please note that the above properties are not scientifically proven and therefore orange oil cannot be used to prevent or treat any of the above. If you are ill, you should always consult a doctor.

Uses of orange oil

Cleaning and cleansing

Limonene is the organic compound that gives citrus fruits their well-known aroma. This aroma is one of the reasons why they are used in perfumes, cleaning products, etc.

In addition, limonene is also an effective, environmentally friendly and safe solvent, making it a preferred ingredient in a number of cleaning products (stain removers, cleansers, etc.) and for certain cleaning tasks (removing stickers, tape, etc.).

Biological control

In the garden, orange oil can be used for biological control (biological control) of pests such as ants. In fact, orange oil is very effective against ants because it destroys the ants' scent trails (pheromones), which not only helps to eradicate the ants, but also prevents them from re-infesting the garden.

Because orange oil is non-toxic and at the same time environmentally friendly, it can also be used against ants in the home (e.g. in the kitchen) and for the same reason, the use of orange oil is also gaining ground in organic farming.

Aromatherapy

Although orange oil is not usually considered a base oil (which simply means it can be blended with a variety of other oils), it does go well with the following:

Precautions to be taken

• Phototoxicity: Orange oil is phototoxic – meaning that the oil can damage human skin if applied to the skin and exposed to sunlight. In other words, do not apply it to the skin and then stay in the sun. Some medications also increase the skin's sensitivity to light; orange oil should not be used in combination with these.

• Limonene: Orange oil consists of 90-97% limonene, which can mildly irritate the skin by dissolving the skin's natural protective oils. However, this is almost exclusively a problem for people who are exposed to limonene on a daily basis (e.g. industrial workers involved in degreasing, painting etc.). Limonene is also flammable.

• Consumption: When buying orange oil for gastronomic purposes, you should always make sure that the oil in question is suitable for consumption (this is stated on the packaging). In addition, orange oil has a very strong, bitter taste, which can cause vomiting or reduce appetite if it's too strong (for example, if you're making a salad dressing with orange oil, it's a good idea to mix it with oil, vinegar, etc. and taste it before pouring it over the salad).