Petitgrain Essential Oil
Petitgrain has a lovely light woody, floral scent with the uplifting undertones of orange. This is a simple but very effective essential oil which comes from the leaves of the bitter orange tree which blossom also produces neroli essential oil.
Petitgrain is perhaps best used as a nerve tonic, it can help relieve feelings of anxiety and depression. It can help ease stress and tensionand feelings of anger and frustration. It can also be beneficial in helping with sleep issues such as insomnia and overthinking leading to difficulty falling asleep.
Petitgrain can also help to relieve digestive conditions such as IBS and premenstrual cramping due to its anti-spasmodic properties. Petitgrain is a lovely smelling oil that is often used in the preparation of soaps and perfume. It is a wonderful oil to use for aromatherapy massage due to its uplifting properties and its stimulating and anti-spasmodic properties.
BENEFITS
Petitgrain essential oil has the following healing properties:
Antiseptic, Anti-spasmodic, Deodorant, Digestive, Nervine, Stimulant and Tonic.
Depression and Anxiety – Petitgrain is an uplifting, stimulating oil that can help soothe feelings of anxiety and depression.
Anger management - With its nervine properties helping to ease stress and tension Petitgrain can help with managing feelings of anger and frustration and induce calm relaxed feelings.
Insomnia – Petitgrain can help to relax the mind and body and help to induce a restful night’s sleep.
Skin Care – With it antiseptic and tonic properties Petitgrain is beneficial to add to skin care products to help soothe skin conditions such as acne and cuts and scrapes. Due to its lovely scent it is a good oil to add to beauty products and cleaning products to give a lovely fragrance and soothe the skin.
Fatigue - A few drops of Petitgrain in a diffuser or dabbed on a tissue can help to relieve symptoms of fatigue and revitalise and uplift energy levels thanks to its stimulating properties.
PMS/Premenstrual cramping – Anti-spasmodics such as Petitgrain are effective when used to ease premenstrual cramping, its uplifting nervine properties can also help with symptoms of PMS.
Digestive issues – Petitgrain helps to relieve the tightness and cramping associated with digestive issues such as gas due to its anti-spasmodic properties, whilst its stimulating properties can help to stimulate the digestive functions.
BLENDS
Whilst most essential oils can be used together some oils can overpower other oils. Petitgrain goes particularly well with oils such as:
Bergamot
Lavender
Palma Rosa
Geranium
Rosewood
Sandalwood
WAYS TO USE
DIFFUSE
Petitgrain essential oil can be used in diffusers or oil burners. Using Petitgrain essential oil in this way is particularly beneficial in relieving feelings of anger, panic, depression and anxiety. It can help to remain calm when irritated. Petitgrain can also help to boost concentration and focus the mind.
Diffuse 1 - 3 drops of Petitgrain essential oil in an oil burner or diffuser.
BATH
Petitgrain essential oil can be added to a warm bath to help bring about a state of calm, helping to soothe feelings of anxiety, irritability, anger, panic and tension. If used before bed it can help with symptoms of insomnia due to its calming and relaxing properties.
Add 1 - 3 drops of Petitgrain essential oil to a warm bath.
Note: Care should be taken not to use more than 3 drops to prevent the bath from becoming too slippery. Essential oils should be added to a carrier oil before adding as oil and water do not mix and essential oils will float on the surface of the water and if used neat can burn the skin.
MASSAGE
Massage is a great way of relaxing the body and mind and easing aching muscles . Using Petitgrain in massage can help with skin conditions such as acne. It can help to relieve feelings of anxiety, tension and irritability
Adults - up to 7 drops in 1 tbsp of carrier oil.
Children over 2 years old - up to 3 drops in 1 tbsp of carrier oil.
DEODORANT
Petitgrain can be added to coconut oil and baking soda to make a fresh smelling effective natural deodorant to combat excessive perspiration.
Add 3 drops of essential oil to 6 tablespoon of solid coconut oil, 4 tablespoons of baking soda and 4 tablespoons of either arrowroot or corn-starch and mix well.
CREAM
Adding a few drops of Petitgrain to a base cream is a great way of harnessing Petitgrain’s antiseptic properties to treat minor cuts and scrapes. It can also help to dry out oily skin and release congestion of the skin, aiding the healing of acne and skin conditions.
Add up to 12 drops of essential oil to 30 ml of base cream.
SIDE EFFECTS
As with all essential oils it should not be used neat on the skin, essential oils are very concentrated oils that can irritate the skin unless mixed with a carrier oil. Essential oils should not be used internally unless under the supervision of an aromatherapist.
Petitgrain can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions in some people.
As with all citrus oils you should avoid exposure to the sun or using a sunbed for about 12 hours after using Petitgrain as it can cause skin pigmentation problems.
Pets can be particularly sensitive to the effects of essential oils and can even be toxic so where possible should either be avoided or used where a pet is able to go into another room.