Today, Dominique Baudoux, founder of Pranarôm aromathérapie scientifique, talks to us about Mandarin essence. The mere mention of the name Mandarin makes consumers and children smile and their mouths water, as it symbolises tasty, juicy, fresh and sweet delicacies.
Associated with the pleasures of the senses and happiness or joy, it is given as a gift at the end-of-year celebrations and everyone enjoys it. If it bears the name "mandarin", it's a reminder of its Chinese origins, and the suzerain would offer it to their master and lord as a gift for the harvests on their land. The lord of the manor was none other than the mandarin... Behind each plant lies the story of its ancestors, combined with the plants they used to great advantage, whether for food, medicine or to enhance their beauty.
Mandarin essential oil
Description
Although the mandarin tree can provide different types of aromatic extracts depending on the organ harvested (leaves, flowers, fruit), it is the essence cold-pressed from the peel of the fruit that is the benchmark, widely used for a wide variety of purposes.
Like all citrus trees, the mandarin tree loves the sun and heat, which it concentrates in its fruit. It doesn't need much sun as long as it's protected from frost and the soil is well drained. From China, it went on to conquer other areas, and is now grown in many parts of the world with a Mediterranean climate. The biochemistry of its essence is very similar to that of all the other fruit essences in the Rutaceae botanical family, giving us all the citrus fruits that grace our tables every day.
Mandarin zest essence has a high concentration of limonene (terpene) combined with a very active ester despite its low presence: methyl anthranilate. There is also a low percentage of furocoumarins, which limit certain uses due to their photo-toxic action (photosensitisation after exposure to the sun on the skin). However, this is the only restriction we see, as this essence can be applied from the first days of an infant's life right up to the last.
It is completely harmless, making it suitable for use by all routes of administration in the body. Like all Citrus fruit zest essences, it should not be applied to the skin before prolonged exposure to the sun (more than half an hour), otherwise there is a risk of photosensitisation, which can result in redness, itching and even hyperpigmentation of the skin. To avoid this inconvenience, avoid applying the product before sunbathing and allow 6 hours for long-term exposure. The risk is solely cutaneous, as at therapeutic doses, the quantity absorbed orally is far too small to cause this photosensitising effect. The anti-coagulant activity of furocoumarins is in no way a problem when administered orally, because here again, the therapeutic doses typically used are too low to disrupt the treatment of patients on anticoagulants. These are reassuring developments that open up the use of this pleasant Mandarin essence.
Therapeutic activity
If we had to name the main use of this essence, there is no doubt that we would highlight its major impact on the central nervous system, where it brings harmony and balance. It is calming, soothing, relaxing and beneficial, and its fragrance is universally appreciated. There are green, yellow, orange and red varieties, because the colour and smell depend on the ripeness of the fruit before it is expressed. The biochemistry, on the other hand, remains virtually constant and identical whatever the colour of the essence.
Atmospheric diffusion can make wide use of it to relax participants at a meeting, calm over agitated children in a classroom, and soothe babies and other family members to sleep.
Tangerine is synonymous with welcome, joy and well-being for everyone. The most intense action will be achieved by massaging in an oil composed of True Lavender and Mandarin. Lavender, lavandin and citrus essences are easy on the nose. On the skin, through the skin, tangerine inspires the greed of life and joyful childhood. This essence brings a sense of carefreeness and comfort to all the various symptoms caused by mental suffering. To try it is to adopt it! Stress and annoyance will have found their solution.
Like all citrus essences, it is also stomachic, eupeptic, digestive and even slightly laxative. Emotions are often linked to the gut, and mandarin has a number of benefits for the 'nervous' digestive tract.
In conclusion, this essence is an essential in the family kit. It can be used to relieve digestive problems, soothe stressed people or create a warm atmosphere.
Therapeutic indications of Mandarin oil
Colic in infants
Essence of Mandarin (Citrus reticulata): 2 ml ;
HECT Chamomile noble (Chamaemelum nobile): 1 ml ;
HECT Sweet fennel (Foeniculum vulgare ssp dulce): 2 ml ;
Apricot kernel vegetable oil: 5 ml.
5 to 6 drops on baby's tummy 30 minutes before a meal or at the time of symptoms, no more than 3 times a day.
Cool and relaxed atmosphere
Essence of Mandarin (Citrus reticulata): 7 ml ;
HECT Lavandin grosse (Lavandula hybrida clone grosso): 2 ml ;
HECT Ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata): 1 ml.
6 to 8 drops on the water of an ultrasonic diffuser for half an hour to 1 hour of diffusion, repeated 2 times a day as needed, in the event of prolonged stress or difficulty falling asleep.
Nervousness, agitation, excitement
Essence of Mandarin (Citrus reticulata): 4 ml ;
HECT Chamomile Noble (Chamaemelum nobile): 1ml ;
HECT Garden Marjoram (Origanum majorana): 1 ml ;
Apricot kernel vegetable oil: 4 ml.
3 to 4 drops on the solar plexus and/or on each arch of the foot and/or on the inside of a wrist for the olfaction method and/or 10 to 15 drops on the paravertebral areas for a relaxing massage from the nape of the neck down the back, as often as required.
Joie de vivre, good humour
Essence of Mandarin (Citrus reticulata): 4 ml ;
HECT Rose Geranium CV Egypt: 1 ml ;
HECT Black Spruce (Picea mariana): 1 ml ;
Apricot kernel vegetable oil: 4 ml.
3 drops on the solar plexus in the morning and 3 drops on the inside of the wrists for the "olfacto" method, 3 times a day, but there's nothing to stop you taking 3 drops in the mouth on a little honey or sugar, 2 times a day.
Article written by Dominique Baudoux, founder of Pranarôm aromathérapie scientifique.
