Bitter orange essential oil exhibits anti-anxiety effects on patients with chronic myeloid leukemia

A team of researchers from Brazil found that bitter orange (Citrus aurantium L.) essential oil has potential use as a natural treatment for anxiety in people with chronic myeloid leukemia. This finding, which was published in the journal Phytotherapy Research, was based on the results of a clinical study conducted in people with chronic myeloid leukemia.

• People with chronic myeloid leukemia often experience anxiety-related symptoms due to the bone marrow aspiration procedure, which is a painful, invasive procedure used in hematological diseases causing anxiety?associated symptoms.
• In the study, the research team looked at the effect of bitter orange essential oil on the treatment of anxiety in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia.
• The team gave the participants either bitter orange essential oil through inhalation, 10 milligrams (mg) of diazepam (a drug used to treat anxiety), or the placebo.
• They assessed the results using psychometric scales and physiological measurements, such as blood pressure and cardiac and respiratory frequency.
• The research team found that the inhalation of bitter orange essential oil was linked to a reduction in the psychometric scales, which indicates an anxiolytic effect.
• In addition, positive changes in the volunteers’ blood pressure and cardiac and respiratory frequency were observed after being exposed to bitter orange essential oil.
• The intake of diazepam only caused a decrease in diastolic pressure, while the placebo did not have any effect on anxiety.

From this study, the research team concluded that bitter orange essential oil has an anxiolytic effect, reducing anxiety-related symptoms in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia.

To read more studies on the health benefits of bitter orange essential oil, visit EssentialOils.news.

Journal Reference:

Pimenta FCF, Alves MF, Pimenta MBF, Melo SAL, Almeida AAFD, Leite JR, Pordeus LCDM, Almeida RND. ANXIOLYTIC EFFECT OF CITRUS AURANTIUML. ON PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC MYELOID LEUKEMIA. Phytotherapy Research. 2016; 30(4): 613-617. DOI: 10.1002/ptr.5566