In recent years, there’s been a lot of buzz about essential oils. It seems as if everyone is talking about them. The more popular they become, the more ways we discover to use them.
One of the many ways that’s being discussed is using aromatics as a potential non-toxic cancer treatment. However, this research is still in its infancy. So it will likely take many years until we have the data we need. Unfortunately, there’s relatively little incentive to study plant extracts.
That’s because, as natural substances, essential oils can’t be patented, and then turned into a profitable drug. Consequently, a lot of cancer research involves bringing new drugs to market.
Can Essential Oils Help Cancer?
That’s not to say that essential oils don’t have a lot of potential for treating cancer naturally. But, at the moment, research is lacking.
I do need to stress, right up front, that I’m not a doctor. Under no circumstances am I suggesting that orange oil be used as a stand-alone cancer treatment, or as a substitute for proper medical care. All I’m doing is passing along information on the little research we have about orange oil and cancer.
Orange Oil and Cancer
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A number of essential oils are being studied for their potential anti-cancer applications. One of them is frankincense essential oil. Research conducted at the University of Oklahoma Medical Center, under the direction of Dr. HK Lin, PhD., shows that one brand of frankincense kills cancer cells in the lab.
I need to point out that this is different than conducting a clinical trial in humans. But it’s encouraging nonetheless, since it demonstrates the anti-cancer potential of aromatics. Maybe one day we’ll have safe, effective and widely available essential oil treatments for cancer.
It’s possible many different kinds of essential oils may contain compounds that fight cancer. Frankincense just happens to be one of the most studied. In the lab, it sought out and destroyed cancerous cells. Normal tissue it left unharmed. This is radically different than what happens with chemotherapy drugs, which destroy all types of fast growing cells. This is why cancer patients typically lose their hair and suffer gastric distress.
Essential Oil and Breast Cancer?
Another aromatic oil that’s received attention is orange essential oil. Orange oil contains high concentrations of a compound called d-limonene. This substance has been found to suppress human breast cancer cells. So it’s now the subject of intense interest.
Can Orange Essential Oil Help Cancer?
D-limonene has the potential to kill cancer without the toxicity seen with chemotherapy drugs. But those of us with an interest in natural medicine don’t expect it to replace standard cancer treatments any time soon. Invariably, even in the face of highly encouraging results, seen in the lab, we often don’t see the followup clinical trials.
But, anyway, there is a small bit of current research we can cite. This includes:
- One 2014 study that ran in BioMed Research International noted that essential oils seem to act on “multiple pathways” to stop the proliferation of cancer cells and to cause their death.
- The Tisserand Institute published a paper noting that citrus fruit oils “seem to at least suggest a preventative effect” on breast cancer, while making it clear it does not advocate using citrus essential oil as a sole treatment for breast cancer, or as a substitute for regular treatments.
- Some of the research in the Tisserand Institute report did involve clinical trials. The results were encouraging. It was found that the limonene from the essential oils concentrated in breast tissue. This resulted in reduction of a protein known as Cyclin-D, thought to promote breast cancer growth.
Is Orange Essential Oil Good for Cancer?
It’s too soon to say that orange essential oil is good for cancer that occurs in the human body. But we know certain essential oils are highly effective against cancer cells in the lab. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always translate into good results in live people. That’s why further research is desperately needed. We also need to know the long-term effects of using it over a period of time. (I rotate my essential oils because it seems to make them work better. I rarely use any one oil more than two or three days in a row, without a break.)
Meanwhile, though, it’s safe to say that orange essential oil appears to be good for you. It might, potentially, offer protection against breast cancer. It can offer a quick mental pick-me-up. Orange and other citrus oils are often recommended for naturally elevating the mood. Orange oil is also considered good for supporting your body when you’re fighting an upper respiratory infection. That’s because it’s believed to contain compounds that help fight pathogens.
Plant Therapy Orange Essential Oil
I like to have a number of different types of oils at any one time. This is one I like to have in my collection. Out of all the aromatics, orange essential oil, I’ve found, is by far one of the most useful. I often use it for cleaning projects, because it has such a clean, fresh smell.
One of the essential brands I often recommend is Plant Therapy. That’s because it has excellent products, at a much better price than the MLM labels. In fact, I don’t buy the multilevel marketing brands because of trusted companies like Plant Therapy. Below you can see its organic orange essential oil, as well as fractionated coconut oil, a popular carrier oil. Because essential oils are so concentrated, you need to mix them with a carrier before putting them on your skin.
Organic Orange Essential Oll
Fractionated Coconut Oil
Disclaimer
These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use essential oils unless directed to do so by a healthcare professional.
