Episode 139: Oils for Relaxation and A Walk Through Wild Orange

doTERRA: Stress has the capability to affect many parts of your life, which is why taking time to relax and unwind is so important. Essential oils can help you create the right environment for relaxation. And today, we're going to share how.

Welcome back to Essential Oil Solutions with doTERRA, the podcast where you'll hear exciting, useful, and simple everyday uses for essential oils from experts in the field. If you like what you hear today, rate, review, and subscribe wherever you listen. We always appreciate hearing from you.

Today, we're excited to talk to Samantha Lewis about how you can use essential oils aromatically to create a relaxing environment and internally to calm tension. Samantha, thank you so much for being here with us today.

Samantha: Thanks so much for having me.

doTERRA: This is what I think to be a very important topic. Everyone's looking to get a little bit more relaxation in their life. So my first question is why is it that taking time to relax is so important?

Samantha: I completely agree. This is a very important topic and really there are countless benefits when you focus on relaxation. The very basic nature is that you calm your heart rate down, which reduces blood pressure and calms your nerves. Often relaxation can help calm and clear your mind, which helps aid in more positive thoughts and beneficial mindfulness. It's been proven more and more that a simple breathing technique can help.

doTERRA: So what can I do to achieve that relaxation? How do I create a relaxing environment in my home?

Samantha: That's a great question. Everyone has a different version, but I think some of the easiest ways to create this and find peace in your home are creating a routine, adding calming and soothing essential oils daily, and finding a safe, peaceful space just for you.

We all lead different lives, whether you have a home full of little ones, or it's just you and your spouse, no matter how busy your home may be, try to make your safe space a priority. Give yourself some mental free time, find your favorite diffuser blend, and practice mindfulness whenever you get a moment of rest.

doTERRA: I love all of that, and I think those little things can make such a big difference. Now, moving into what I can do more for my internal systems to help me relax, what essential oils would you recommend to use internally to help calm tension and help me relax?

Samantha: The options are very open. I personally like to start out with an Adaptiv™ softgel, sometimes boosted with Melissa or additional Copaiba and Wild Orange under my tongue. I find diffusing and taking the same or complementary essential oils at the same time. So I'll add a few drops of Adaptiv into my diffuser with maybe two or three drops and Melissa, Copaiba, and Wild Orange. And that really benefits my mindfulness time.

If I'm trying to create an environment more conducive to sleep, I'll take a doTERRA Serenity® Softgel and diffuse something a bit different. I love to boost our Serenity blend with Roman Chamomile and Melissa. These two essential oils have incredibly unique chemistries that help encourage a relaxing atmosphere.

doTERRA: All of that sounds so amazing. And those blends in the diffuser sound delicious and like they would just help create the best environment for really relaxing and making sure you have the time to unwind. Samantha, thank you so much for being here with us today, for sharing your tips and tricks. We really appreciate it.

Samantha: Yeah, thanks for having me again.

doTERRA: One of the most recognizable botanicals in the United States also brings with it an air of mystery. No one really knows when the orange was first cultivated, but it’s believed to have originated in ancient China. And the earliest mention of the sweet orange, in particular, was in Chinese literature in 314 BC. But citron seeds have been found in Mesopotamian excavations that date back to 4000 BC.

And their popularity has only grown. As of 1987, orange trees were found to be the most cultivated fruit tree in the world. And as of 2012, sweet oranges, which is the group our Wild Orange comes from, accounted for approximately 70% of citrus production. And if that wasn’t enough to show how popular this is, in 2017, 73 million tons of oranges were grown around the world.

The scientific name for the sweet orange is Citrus sinesis. The word citrus comes from the Latin name for the citron, citron medical, prized for its fruit since biblical times and sinensis comes from the Latin name for China.

History of the Orange

In addition to its appearance in Mesopotamian excavations and ancient Chinese writing, you can also see the orange popping up in different places throughout history. Because of Alexander the Great’s conquests, the orange was introduced to Europe. Because of its introduction to Europe, Nostradamus was able to come in contact with the fruit almost 2,000 years later. Of course, you may know of Nostradamus as someone who wrote books of prophecy and foretelling. But did you know that he also wrote something entitled “Treatise on Cosmetics and Conserves?” And in this writing, among other things, he describes how to use the blossoms and the fruit of the orange to make cosmetics.

The Orange in Greek Myth

But before all of this, we see the orange appear in the ancient Greek myth of Hercules. As his eleventh task, Eurystheus told Hercules that he must steal the golden apples from Hera’s orchard called the “Garden of Hesperides.” According to the legend, when the marriage of Zeus and Hera took place, the different deities came with nuptial presents for Hera, and among them, the goddess Gaia brought branches having golden apples growing on them as a wedding gift.

In later years it was thought that the "golden apples" described might have actually been oranges, a fruit unknown to Europe and the Mediterranean before the Middle Ages. Under this assumption, the Greek botanical name chosen for all citrus species was Hesperidoeidē, and even today the Greek word for the orange fruit is portokáli—after the country of Portugal in Iberia near where the Garden of the Hesperides grew.

Historical Use of the Orange

Sweet orange is one of the most important crops in the world; it is mainly used for the extraction and consumption of fresh juice. And in the United States, Florida produces about 80% of the country’s oranges. In fact, it is such a big part of their state’s culture that the state flower of Florida is the orange blossom.

The orange also makes an appearance in many cultural traditions throughout history. In medieval times, citrus was incredibly prized and expensive. It became seen as a sign of status. In fact, cookbooks at the time describe exactly how many orange slices each rank of visiting dignitary was entitled to. For the Romans, boxes and small furniture made from citrus wood were literally worth their weight in gold. And according to a Jewish tradition, a citron in the house would keep Karines, or bad spirits, away.

In addition to the many appearances in cultures throughout history. Orange has been prized for its benefits. Due to the chemical compounds present in its by-products and waste, sweet orange has also been studied for its benefits it can provide. There is no better time to bring the brightness and joy of Wild Orange into your home. It’s sure to become a staple for you and your family.

Thanks for joining us and congratulations on living a healthier lifestyle with essential oils. If you liked what you heard today, rate, review, and subscribe wherever you listen. Also, if you want to try any of the products you learned about, go to doterra.com or find a Wellness Advocate near you to place an order today.