Table of contents:
- Health benefits of neroli oil
- 1. Reducing inflammation and pain
- 2. Reduce stress
- 3. Relieve menopause symptoms
- 3. Fight infection
- 4. Overcoming the symptoms of seizures
Neroli oil is an oil that is extracted from the flower of the orange tree (Citrus aurantium). This oil was originally cultivated in India, Africa and the Himalayas. Then the ancient Spaniards brought the oil and cultivated it in Florida, United States.
Neroli oil gives off a sweet floral aroma and is quite strong, so it is often processed into perfume. However, are there any benefits for health?
Health benefits of neroli oil
Apart from being produced in the form of perfume, neroli oil is also available in the form of natural essential oils which can be applied directly to the skin or dropped into another medium to be inhaled as aromatherapy. What are the benefits for health?
1. Reducing inflammation and pain
A number of different studies have reported that neroli essential oil can relieve pain and inflammation. One of them is published in the Journal of Natural Medicines which shows the active substances in this oil can reduce acute and chronic skin inflammation.
Even so, these studies are still limited to trials in lab rats. There is not enough evidence yet to prove neroli oil is truly effective in treating skin inflammation in humans. The safe dosage for human use is not yet known.
2. Reduce stress
The floral aroma produced by neroli essential oil can relieve stress. Neroli concentrate is rich in various ingredients and compounds that can affect hormones, enzymes, blood pressure and heart rate which then clear the mind.
The trick is to simply mix 1-2 drops of neroli oil with 1 tablespoon of coconut oil or olive oil. Then apply and massage gently on your back neck or all over your body before going to bed to make your body more relaxed.
You can also drop the essential oil into a basin of warm water and inhale the steam to relax tense muscles.
3. Relieve menopause symptoms
A 2014 study from the Korea University School of Nursing reports that inhaling neroli essential oil can help relieve menopausal symptoms.
At least 63 menopausal women in the study reported that their symptoms subsided after 5 consecutive days of inhaling neroli oil than the group of women who inhaled almond essential oil.
3. Fight infection
Research from Pakistan published in the Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences shows that the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of neroli are believed to be able to kill 6 types of bacteria, 2 types of yeast, and 3 types of fungi that cause infection.
The same studies in particular report that this oil is effective against infections caused by the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
4. Overcoming the symptoms of seizures
A 2014 study states that neroli oil contains anticonvulsant substances that can help treat seizure symptoms in people with epilepsy and prevent recurrence.
However, this research was only limited to mice. It is not certain whether neroli oil will provide the same benefits to humans. Of course, the effective dosage and the safe dosage limit are not yet known.
If you want to try using neroli oil at home, make sure you are not allergic to it. The way to find out is to rub a little oil on the back of the hand and wait 1 × 24 hours to see if there are reactions such as swelling, redness and itching that appear on the skin. If not, you can use it.
