Mandarin is one of the many citrus essential oils that you can find today. This post gives you a quick look at the properties, proven benefits and some uses of mandarin essential oil.
Pros: This essential oil has possible antioxidant and anticancer benefits. It is also antibacterial, antifungal and insecticidal.
Cons: -
Precautions: Always check with your doctor before using this or any other essential oil especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or take any special medication.
Properties of Mandarin Essential Oil
Let's take a look at some of the properties of mandarin essential oil.
NameMandarin is a member of the citrus family so its botanical name is Citrus reticulate. Just a quick note, bergamot’s botanical name is Citrus bergamia, grapefruit is Citrus paradisi, lemon is Citrus limon, lime is Citrus aurantifolia and orange is Citrus sinensis.
You may also come across red mandarin (Citrus nobilis) essential oil. This oil is made from tangors or temple oranges, which are hybrids of mandarin and sweet orange. So it isn't the same as mandarin and shouldn't be mistaken for mandarin essential oil.
Similarly, tangerines (Citrus tangerina) are a type of mandarin. And tangerine essential oil is sometimes used interchangeably and confused with mandarin essential oil. They're not the same thing.
Color & ScentThe color of mandarin essential oil ranges from yellow to orange, with tinges of green in it. And the smell? Well, think of a light, sweet, citrusy scent.
CompoundsThe main compounds in mandarin essential oil are limonene which can make up 50-70% of the oil, gamma-terpinene (2-15%), and eucalyptol (1-26%). Compounds like geranial, neral, geranyl acetate, geraniol, beta-caryophyllene, nerol, alpha-terpinene, and neryl acetate have also been reported.
Benefits of Mandarin Essential Oil
There are only a few research papers that have studied the benefits of mandarin essential oil. Let's take a look at what they've found.
1. It may be antioxidant
Free radicals are harmful compounds that can damage your cells' DNA, cause wrinkles and even cancer. But antioxidants are compounds that neutralize these free radicals and so prevent their terrible effects. And, according to this 2009 study, mandarin essential oil may have antioxidant benefits.
The study tested both mandarin and geranium essential oils at various concentrations to determine their free radical scavenging activities. The results showed that both oils significantly reduced the concentration of free radicals. In fact, the effects of both oils were similar to Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), a well-known standard antioxidant.
That's pretty awesome!
But here's the thing. These results were found in a lab study so we're not sure how well mandarin's antioxidant benefits will translate when used on our bodies. That's why we say the oil MAY have antioxidant benefits.
2. It may be anticancer
The same study mentioned above also looked at the possible anticancer benefits of the two essential oils. The study tested the oils at different concentrations on two human leukemia cancer cell types. And both essential oils showed strong anticancer activity against the cancer cells.
While impressive, the same disclaimer mentioned earlier also applies here. These lab results are great and all, but clinical testing is needed to know if mandarin essential oil can be used in our cancer treatments. As such, I can only say mandarin essential oil MAY be anticancer.
3. It is antibacterial
This 2011 study tested orange, lemon and mandarin essential oils on disease causing microbes like bacteria. The study found that mandarin oil was effective at inhibiting bacterial growth and killing them altogether. The researchers also showed that when heat was added with the essential oil, the antibacterial benefits of the oil were stronger.
So you see there are no maybes here. Mandarin essential oil definitely has antibacterial effects.
4. It is anti-fungal too
Quite a few studies prove that mandarin oil has great anti-fungal benefits. Consider this 2008 study. It investigated grapefruit, lemon and mandarin essential oils on fungi that cause food to spoil like: Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium chrysogenum and Penicillium verrucosum. The results showed that all oils tested had anti-fungal benefits.
Similar results were found in this 2010 study too.
5. It is insecticidal
Here's another benefit of mandarin essential oil - it has insecticidal and larvicidal effects. And this 2010 study proves it. The researchers tested mandarin and four other essential oils including clove against the larvae of resistant strains of the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The results? All essential oils were toxic to the larvae!
Awesome!
Uses of Mandarin Essential Oil
What did you think of the benefits of mandarin essential oil? They are pretty great. So now it's on to how to use mandarin essential oil.
InhalingMandarin's scent is absolutely wonderful. It's light and citrusy, making it perfect for adding to your diffuser. And, of course, it blends really well with other citrus oil likes grapefruit, lemon and lime. But its blending partners aren't limited to these oils. You can also use black pepper, cinnamon bark, clove bud, clary sage, geranium, jasmine, nutmeg, patchouli, and ylang ylang essential oils.
MassagingThere are conflicting reports about mandarin essential oil being phototoxic (i.e. burns your skin when exposed to sunlight). I personally do not use citrus oils on my skin.
That being said, if you do decide to use mandarin on your skin, it is very important to patch test the essential oil first before liberally applying it all over. And don't forget to dilute it with your favorite carrier oil (less than 5% concentrations are the best).
More PrecautionsLike with all essential oils, be sure to talk to your doctor before using this essential oil particularly if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking any medication.
Get Mandarin Essential Oil:
What's next?
Return to:- Essential Oils Listing
- Carrier Oils Listing
No comments:
Post a Comment