Mandarin

Species name: Mandarin essential oil is known as Citrus reticulata (also known as Citrus nobilis, madurensis, unshiu, deliciosa) and is of the Rutaceae family.

Also known as: Mandarins are the fruit of mandarin evergreen trees, and are also known as European mandarins, tangerines, naartjie, and true mandarins.

Mandarins, and their essential oil is native to China, as their name implies, but mandarins are now widely cultivated in America too. 

Mandarin essential oil is tangy, has a sweet, invigorating citrus scent, and is dark yellowish tinted oil. The major difference in mandarins and tangerines is their harvest times, with tangerines being harvested later in the year than mandarins. 

Mandarin oil is extracted, by cold peel expression, from the rind of the fruit.  Like other essential oils of citrus fruits, they have a relatively short shelf life.

Home Remedies using Mandarin Essential Oil:

Benefits of Mandarin Essential Oil:

Mandarin essential oil is fragrant and zest-sweet.  It is a great oil to promote circulation and skin health, a good diuretic, and increases circulation.  

It is a good oil to be massaged into the tummy of pregnant women to reduce stretch marks during pregnancy.

Tangerine essential oil is good for cleansing bacteria from wounds and insect bites, aiding in digestion and curing digestive tract diseases. 

It prevents or relieves nausea and vomiting by calming stomach and esophageal spasms.  It relieves gas, bloating, pain, and flatulence. 

It is beneficial in regulating bowel function, helping to eliminate excesses at both ends of the spectrum. It is also a good diuretic. 

It is also known to energize the body and mind when used in inhalation therapy.

• In aromatherapy, mandarin essential oil works well in the bath and in steam therapy, diffusers and simmer pots.
• Mandarin essential oil can be blended with other essential oils and/or carrier oil as a massage oil.  A few drops added to a warm bath is also a good use of the essential oil.  This is particularly good for promoting skin circulation.
• A few drops of mandarin essential oil can be added to base lotions or creams, and used to increase circulation and help prevent stretch marks.

Side Effects of Mandarin Essential Oil:

Mandarin oil is not a known irritant or toxin, but it has been reported occasionally to have made people sensitive to sunlight exposure, so care should be taken to prevent sunburn after mandarin oil has been used.