While many people turn to aromatherapy for relaxation and stress reduction, it also offers many ways to increase energy and enjoy some instant refreshment. Orange essence and essential oils have long been used to stimulate circulation, open up the respiratory system, and help clear the mind.

If you’re looking for a way to perk up in the middle of a long afternoon, the scent of real oranges may be just what you need for an instant energizer. Orange oil may also help ease the symptoms of depression, providing a mood-balancing alternative to standard therapy and prescription drugs.

The Basics

Simply inhaling aromatherapy oils and products can help you gain the benefits of each oil’s properties. You may choose to add a dab of oil mixed with a base to your wrists or neckline; this can serve as a fragrance, but also as a quick refresher. Orange essential oils in particular are usually combined with other scents for various purposes. Energizing combinations may include pepper, lemon, rose, neroli, and even peppermint.

Though it has a sweet and pungent scent, orange oil can also be used in perfumes and fragrances for its beautifying effects. On the skin, orange oil can help balance out a variety of inflammation-related skin problems, and may even boost the body’s lymphatic system. A natural stimulant, it can help increase circulation naturally.

Key Benefits

Additional benefits of orange essential oil include:

• Serving as a natural sedative and calmer.

• Providing antiseptic and therapeutic properties.

• Acting as an anti-inflammatory agent.

• Boosting the immune system.

• Reducing constipation.

• Helping create a glowing complexion.

• Alleviating symptoms of depression.

• Fighting colds.

• Helping with digestion.

• Eliminating excess fluids and toxins.

For Your Health

Adding orange oil to a daily routine is easy with some simple steps. Add the fragrance to a room with candles or a diffuser to create an instant energizer that can quickly, naturally reduce the symptoms of depression, anxiety, or restlessness. Even though orange oil is energizing, it is also very soothing and calming; it has a pleasant aroma and can be enjoyed in your home, at the office, or even sprayed in the car.

Ay, There’s the Rub

Orange oil has long been used to improve the circulatory system and relieve stress in joints and muscles. A few drops added to a carrier oil or base for massage can serve as an effective stress reliever, and help to stimulate the immune system naturally. Since orange oil is also a natural detoxifying agent, it may also help nourish and rejuvenate the skin.

Pure essential oils should never be applied undiluted to the skin directly; be sure to mix them with base or carrier oils first. Many essential oils are simply found as “essences” in beauty products and skin-care treatments, but understanding the key benefits of each can help you select the right oil for a specific condition. Orange oil offers many therapeutic benefits, and can be used in a variety of ways as part of a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

—Sabah Karimi