Orange oil is also a soothing oil, able to calm the body in a number of ways. A study in 2014 found that orange oil was able to reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure more effectively than fresh air when inhaled, helping to protect against the damage caused by a spike in blood pressure, and guard heart health in particular. The anti-inflammatory abilities of the oil also help it to turn off inflammatory responses in the body that cause swelling in muscular tissue. This helps it to prevent an inflammatory reaction around injured muscles and joints and soothe the accompanying pain. These effects are so powerful that a study in 2017 found that sweet orange essential oil was even able to reduce the pain levels of patients with fractured limbs. When applying sweet orange essential oil topically, it is important to remember that the oil may be mildly phototoxic, so it is always safer to use it in the evening and stay out of direct sunlight until the morning. As with all our essential oils, we always recommend diluting the oil with a carrier oil before application to the skin. You should not apply bitter orange essential oil to the skin.