Orange oil: features and uses
The aroma of orange brings fresh notes and a sense of celebration to life. Orange oil, which is the source of this smell, both in itself and as part of various cosmetics and potions, has a lot of advantages. It is used in the treatment of various diseases, it helps to make the body more beautiful and solve various household issues. You just need to know how to properly dispose of this valuable product.
Description
Trees with "suns on the branches" have long attracted people. Over the centuries, the orange has been cultivated. Growing such fragrant fruits turned into a business. Today there are entire plantations of orange trees. The fruits are not only sold in their natural form, but also processed. Juice is squeezed out of them, and essential oil is extracted from the crusts.
There are several varieties of orange. It is bitter - the so-called orange, sweet, and also red, more like a tangerine with a dark orange rind and sweet flesh of burgundy, almost purple. The essential oil of this orange has a red or bright orange color.
Bitter oranges, in general, are not suitable for eating, but their oil has a special, pronounced aroma. Juice is made from sweet oranges, and their oil is not as fragrant as that of bitter ones. But there is a lot of it in the peel.
On average, to obtain one kilogram of orange essential oil, you need to use fifty kilograms of the peel of these fruits.
Ether is isolated from them by cold pressing or almost simultaneously with squeezing the juice. In the second case, the product is somewhat worse in quality, but it is obtained much more than with cold pressing.
Beneficial features
Orange oil has many health benefits.
- It is great for reducing inflammation. It can, for example, be used for bleeding gums.
- Relieves discomfort in joints and muscles. Effective for headaches.
- Relieves cramps (including during menstruation).
- Acts as a sedative. Relieves stress, anxiety, restores normal sleep.
- Relieves eye strain, makes it sharper.
- Boosts immunity. Prevents the development of colds.
- Acts as an antiseptic in diseases of the oral cavity, colds.
- Useful for the gastrointestinal tract. Helps to restore proper functioning of the stomach.
- Acts as a bile and diuretic. Prevents the formation of kidney stones.
- Helps to lose weight, eliminates the first signs of cellulite.
- Normalizes the ratio of carbohydrates and fats, contributing to weight loss.
- Reduces swelling.
- Reduces the content of cholesterol in the blood.
- Prevents atherosclerosis.
- Serves for the prevention of diseases of blood vessels and heart.
- Normalizes blood pressure and cleanses the blood supply system.
- Gives you the opportunity to concentrate.
- Makes the skin brighter, prolongs its youth.
Contraindications
Unfortunately, this product is not for everyone.
The obstacles to its use are:
- skin irritation;
- allergic reaction;
- lactation;
- exposure to the sun (the use of orange ester increases the likelihood of sunburn and blemishes on the skin).
But it should also be borne in mind that this oil should be used with caution by pregnant women, people who have chronically low blood pressure, and those suffering from cholelithiasis.
To determine the reaction to orange oil, you can conduct a test by applying a drop of the substance to the skin behind the ear or on the crook of the elbow. If contact with a substance causes skin irritation, the use of this valuable product will have to be discarded.
What can be used for?
The scope of orange oil is very wide. It is used for wrapping, massage, creating a mask (in cosmetology). They take a bath with it and fill the aroma lamps with this substance. There are a huge number of various recipes for using such a product to improve the condition of the skin, hair and nails, which have received excellent reviews from those who have taken advantage of the relevant recommendations.
For hair
Orange oil can normalize the work of the sebaceous glands, get rid of dandruff and fungal diseases on the head.
To improve the condition of the hair, you can take fifteen milliliters of jojoba oil, add a few drops of eucalyptus and orange oil, mix all this thoroughly and spread on the hair, “especially leaning” on the damaged ends. Such procedures are useful for brittle, like straw, hair.
If you have overcome dandruff, you need to mix a little burdock with a few drops of orange and eucalyptus oil. Rub into the skin, wait a long time, and then rinse the hair with shampoo.
You can use one egg yolk, mashed with honey, into which olive oil (three milliliters) is added, plus three drops of orange and cedar oils each, to solve the problem.
To make hair grow faster, once every three days, orange, lemon and grape seed oils mixed into a single whole are rubbed into the skin.
With dry scalp and weakened hair, take three tablespoons of olive oil, add three drops of orange and ylang-ylang oils to them. Apply to the skin and distribute through the hair. Such oil procedures can be carried out on days when there is no need to go outside or take off your hat in public.
To prevent hair loss, you can use a mask that includes pine, chamomile and orange oils. Three times a week, this composition is rubbed into the skin. And also a few drops of orange oil can be added to the shampoo when washing your hair. Gradually, the hair will get stronger and acquire a healthy shine.
Effective against hair loss mask of sunflower oil, orange ether, lemon juice and cognac. Two tablespoons of sunflower are heated to 37 degrees, add five drops of orange oil, a teaspoon of juice and alcohol. Stir, lightly massage with fingers into the skin and apply to the entire length of the hair. Then cover the head with a cap made of polyethylene and a towel.
Wait forty minutes and wash with shampoo. After that, the hair should dry on its own (without using a hair dryer). Thanks to such procedures, the hair roots are strengthened, the hair ceases to be brittle.
To prevent dryness of the hair and scalp, orange oil can be used instead of perfumes containing alcohol when applying fragrant formulations.A few drops of the product are applied to the comb and comb through the hair. In addition to the fact that the curls will be saturated with a wonderful smell, they will receive useful substances, gain strength, and the mood of their owner will be upbeat throughout the day.
For facial skin
Orange ether is an indispensable tool in cosmetology.
- It helps mature skin tighten and provides its elasticity - due to the effect of oil, collagen is more actively produced.
- This substance removes excess fat from the skin, the pores become clean, narrow. The acne disappears.
- Such an oily substance removes traces of scars and spots after inflammatory processes in the pores.
- The product relieves the skin of fine wrinkles.
- It has a relaxing effect on her.
- Dry skin under the influence of orange oil receives the necessary amount of moisture. Its content in the skin acquires a normal level.
- Ether stimulates the restoration and growth of renewed cells in the skin.
- Prevents dermatitis of various origins, effective in purulent inflammation.
With an aromatic substance, you can prepare a nourishing face mask. It will take three drops of orange ether and eight milliliters of avocado oil, which must be mixed and applied to the skin (except for the area around the eyes). Leave on for twenty minutes, then rinse. The skin will become more elastic and healthy looking. Wrinkles will be smoothed out.
To restore skin prone to dryness, mix thirty milliliters of hazelnut, jojoba and avocado oils, add to this a couple of drops of orange and rosewood oils, as well as a drop of vanilla, jasmine and geranium oils. All this should be mixed and applied to the face for thirty minutes. Then wash off with warm water.
A nourishing mask can be prepared from three Victoria berries, which should be thoroughly kneaded, three drops of orange oil and a teaspoon of cream, mixed into a single mass. This mix is applied to the face, wait twenty to thirty minutes and wash off.
To rid the skin of unwanted pigment, take a teaspoon of sour cream, two teaspoons of cucumber, brought to a mushy state, and a teaspoon of orange ether. Mix and apply on face. Hold for fifteen to twenty minutes. Wash away.
Almond oil mask will help improve the condition of aging skin (10 milliliters), in which orange, chamomile, sandalwood and rose oils are added drop by drop.
Mix all the ingredients, apply the oil composition on the face. After half an hour, wipe off the excess from the skin with a wet cotton pad. Such a mask should be systematically repeated (once a week). The skin will become softer and smoother to the touch, and fine wrinkles will disappear.
To soften the skin, a mask is made from a mixture of yolk, a drop of orange oil and the same amount of neroli oil. This composition is applied to the face, waiting for it to dry, and then washed off. Treat the skin with a moisturizing cream. This procedure is done several times a month at regular intervals.
For oily skin that has an unhealthy shine, an orange oil and blue clay mask is suitable. Clay powder is mixed with liquid squeezed out of grapefruit, egg white (from one egg) and bitter orange oil are added. Wash off ten minutes after applying to the face. A nourishing cream is applied to the skin.
You can make a lotion for oily skin using orange essential oil. To ten milliliters of alcohol, add four drops of citrus ether, the same amount of chamomile and geranium oil.Pour in half a glass of water. Place the resulting product in a glass vessel through which light cannot penetrate, and put in a cold place. In the morning and evening, wipe the skin with a cotton swab dipped in this liquid.
For problematic skin prone to oiliness, steam baths with orange oil are effective. (The only contraindication is rosacea). To organize such a procedure, you need to boil ½ liter of water, cool it to eighty degrees, add a couple of drops of orange and one drop of chamomile, sandalwood, and leuzea oils.
Putting on a towel to concentrate the steam, you should bend over the hot liquid so that moisture gets on your face. You have to wait ten minutes. If you organize steam baths once a week, the pores will remain clean and narrow.
Against cellulite
Orange oil can be used for weight loss. In cosmetology, it is used as a remedy for cellulite, which poisons the lives of a huge number of women. This citrus ether enhances blood circulation in problem areas, accelerates lymph flow and softens the skin.
The amount of fat decreases, unpleasant tuberosity disappears from the skin, the silhouette of the body becomes more even and toned.
An anti-cellulite mask with grapefruit is effective. For its preparation take:
- 6 drops of orange oil;
- 50 milliliters of jojoba and hazelnut oils;
- 10 drops of cypress oil;
- 6 drops of cedar oil;
- 5 drops of lemon and lime juice;
- 8 drops grapefruit juice
Mix all the components well, lubricate the problem areas with this composition and massage with a coarse washcloth for ten minutes. With the help of such a mask, blood circulation is enhanced, and the skin becomes smoother.
At the end of the procedure, wash off the oil mixture, then do a contrast shower.
You can fight cellulite with wraps. Four tablespoons of clay powder (instead of it you can take coffee grounds left after preparing the drink) are kneaded in warm water, five drops of orange oil are added to such a “dough”, brought to uniformity and lubricated with this composition problem areas of the body. They wrap it in foil, lie down, cover themselves with a blanket and wait an hour.
The wrap with honey and orange oil looks about the same. For three tablespoons of honey, three drops of citrus ether and mint oil are taken.
Before the wrapping procedure, you need to get under the shower and wait for the skin to warm up and steam out. Apply the prepared composition of honey and oils to the skin, wrap the body area with a film, and put on something warm on top. After an hour and a half, you can return to the shower and wash off the anti-cellulite agent. Then use an anti-orange peel cream.
Such wraps should be done every two days. A total of twelve procedures are required. You can return to them, if necessary, no earlier than a month later.
When conducting a massage, for greater effectiveness, you can take a couple of tablespoons of honey, drip five drops of oil into it. Before the massage, you need to sit in the bath or stand in the shower, rubbing the skin in those places that are to be massaged. Gently massage the honey oil into the skin. When the honey thickens, the palms begin to press against the body and sharply tear off the skin. On areas with cellulite, such a massage is carried out for up to fifteen minutes.
Along the way, the mixture will turn white on the palms. This is fine. Some soreness of the massage itself should not be frightening.At the end, the remnants of the honey-oil mixture should be washed off in the shower.
Massage is carried out once every seven days. In total, it is necessary to conduct ten sessions, after which you can return to them only after three months.
At the same time, orange oil itself can be used every time after the completion of massage procedures. Rub a few drops of oil on the palms of your hands and patting, spread over the heated areas of the body. This will enhance the effect of massage, accelerating metabolic processes in the skin.
A good remedy in the "anti-cellulite fight" is a bath with essential orange oil. Two tablespoons of milk should be mixed with four drops of oil. Pour warm water into the bath - the temperature of the water in it should not exceed forty degrees, so that the beneficial properties of the oil do not disappear. Add the prepared milk-oil liquid there, and sit in the bath for about twenty minutes. This should be done every other day. A course of fifteen baths is enough. Then you need a break for a month. If necessary, after this time, the baths can be resumed.
Tips
Orange oil can not only be bought in the store, but also made at home. If, for example, oranges are always in the refrigerator, which means that the peel also appears, or after the holiday there are orange skins that have not yet dried, they must be washed with hot water, chopped with a knife and placed in a jar.
Pour vegetable oil into it without a pronounced odor (for example, olive, sunflower will do), so that the crusts are completely under the oil layer. Remove the container in a dark corner for four days. During this time, the essential essential substances should stand out from the zest.
To continue the work, warm up the composition a little by placing the jar in a metal bowl of water on a slow fire, squeeze out everything that is in it from the peel, strain. Use an oily liquid for your own purposes.
At the same time, it must be borne in mind that it makes no sense to harvest homemade butter for the future, since it can be stored for only ten days.
If the characteristics of home-made orange oil are beyond doubt, then you can not always rely on the quality of what is in the pharmacy. It is better to consult with experts about the best orange oils on the market before purchasing a product from a particular manufacturer.
A good product has a pronounced yellow-orange or brown color. High-quality oily liquid pours out of the bottle easily and evenly. It leaves a yellow mark on the skin, which is good. This means that the oil is free of impurities, and the color pigment is just a remnant of the peel that got into the oil during processing.
This remedy can only be sold in dark-colored bubbles. Under the influence of the sun, orange oil loses its valuable qualities.
Good - it will be useful for the beauty of the hands. They can strengthen nails, relieving them of the problem of delamination, giving them a shiny healthy look. The ether will make the cuticle softer. To get the desired effect, you should lubricate the nails and the skin around them with this oil once a week.
This substance can also be used in aromatherapy. It makes sense to add it to a special pendant that is worn around the neck as an ornament or put away in a pocket. The smell of an orange that accompanies a person in this case helps to calm down and not get into a stressful state. And also this aroma oil helps those who do not tolerate being in transport.
Baths with the addition of five to six drops of citrus ether to water help to improve mood. It is only necessary to take into account that it must get into the bath, being mixed with some other substances - milk, kefir or cream.
For aromatherapy, you can use the capabilities of a special lamp, which, when placed in it with a few drops of ether, spreads its smell around the room. Five drops of orange oil will be enough for twenty square meters. When the smell fills the room, anxiety will go away, and a good mood will return.
Such procedures are good for getting rid of the unpleasant sensations of adults, and for children who fall asleep better in the "orange atmosphere".
If there is no aroma lamp, you can add ten drops of oil to half a liter of water, and spray this mixture indoors from a conventional water sprayer as needed.
Orange oil in "commonwealth" with lavender can relieve fatigue. For five or six drops of citrus, you need to take the same amount of lavender oil, mix and rub into your wrists to feel the aroma.
There are many recipes for using this oil for medicinal purposes.
- With sore throat or stomatitis, rinses can be done by adding a drop of this remedy to the water in a glass.
- When gums or teeth hurt, you can combine vegetable and orange oils in a 1: 1 ratio and make lotions in sore spots. If you suffer from a runny nose, the passages in the nose can be lubricated with the same composition.
- To remove pain in the area of a particular organ, you can make a compress with orange oil. In a glass filled halfway with water, you need to add five drops of ether. Take a piece of natural fabric and soak it with orange water. Apply to the skin where it hurts. Make a dry bandage on top.Wait at least half an hour. (The exposure time can reach one hundred and twenty minutes).
- To relieve PMS, take fifty milliliters of vegetable oil, add five drops of orange, lavender and juniper oils. With this tool, massage is done in the lower abdomen.
- Having made a mixture of vegetable oil (a teaspoon) with three drops of orange, you can rub the skin at the folds. This relieves joint pain.
- To reduce inflammation in arthritis, ten drops of citrus essential oil can be mixed with coconut oil, melted ahead of time, and then rubbed into the skin until the mixture is absorbed.
- When the skin is affected by a fungus, orange oil is applied to problem areas. It's best to do this right before bed. For greater effect, you can mix orange and tea tree oil. Repeat the procedure every day until the problem disappears.
- Orange oil can also be added to tea. Two drops per glass is the limit. Drink the drink should not be more than once a day. This will be enough to make the blood cleaner, increase appetite and normalize metabolic processes. This remedy will help reduce blood pressure and sleep well at night.
For more on the properties and uses of orange oil, see the following video.