Bitter orange essential oil reduces anxiety in patients suffering from crack withdrawal

Researchers from the Federal University of Paraíba in Paraiba, Brazil have found that bitter orange (Citrus aurantium L.) can help reduce anxiety in patients suffering from crack cocaine withdrawal. They aimed to evaluate the anxiolytic effect of the essential oil of bitter orange in patients experiencing crack withdrawal.

• The study, which was published in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, involved 51 participants, who were then divided into three groups according to the treatment.
  • One group consisted of non-cocaine users who served as the control group.
  • The second group consisted of non-cocaine users who received the placebo treatment.
  • The third group was composed of patients suffering from crack cocaine withdrawal and received the bitter orange treatment. They inhaled the essential oil of bitter orange through nebulization.
• The researchers elicited the participants’ anxiety by simulated public speaking.
• Then, they measured the anxiety levels of the participants at specific phases during the experiment.
• The results revealed that crack cocaine withdrawal can cause high anxiety levels, but the administration of bitter orange essential oil effectively controlled the anxiety of these patients.
• In addition, participants who used the essential oil of bitter orange retained levels of “discomfort” and “cognitive impairment” during the simulated public speaking task.

Based on the findings of the study, the researchers concluded that the essential oil of bitter orange can cause a short-term anxiolytic effect in patients suffering from crack cocaine withdrawal.

Read the full text of the study at this link.

To read more stories on cocaine addiction, visit Addiction.news today.

Journal Reference:

Neto GC, Braga JEF, Alves MF, Pordeus LCM, dos Santos SC, Scotti MT, Almeida RN, Diniz MdFFM. ANXIOLYTIC EFFECT OF CITRUS AURANTIUM L. IN CRACK USERS. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 18 October 2017; 2017. DOI: 10.1155/2017/7217619