The tree, Citrus Aurantium, and its fruits are more commonly known as “bitter orange.” The trees are native to hot and humid climiates as is in South Africa and tropical Asia. Today, they are cultivated in many regions around the world including the Mediterranean regions, California and Florida. Historically, bitter orange has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine, and also by indigenous people of the Amazon rainforest to treat symptoms such as nausea and constipation. The dried fruits, peels, flowers and leaves can be made into extracts, tablets, or capsules for oral ingestions. The oil from the plant can also be applied to the skin.
Today, bitter orange is widely marketed as a dietary supplement with capabilities of inducing or assisting in weight-loss. Synephrine, an active ingredient which encourages fat reduction, can be found in substancial concentrations in Citrus Aurantium extracts. Synephrine has developed a much more popular reputation than its substitute, ephedine, another related drug that has been banned in many countries due to safety of consumption concerns. Research has shown that ephedine is linked to increased risk in heart attach and strokes because it raises blood pressure. Even though synephrine has a similar chemical structure as ephedine, it is unclear whether synephrine causes similar side effects. Nonetheless, pregnant women and people with heart conditions should exercise caution when taking products that contain bitter orange.
Other uses of bitter orange include treating heartburns, nasal congestions, and loss of apetitie. The oil derived from the plant is manufactuered into not only food products, but also cosmetics, and aromatherapy products. It can be applied to the areas of skin with fungal infections such as ringworm and athlete’s foot.
References:* (1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitter_orange (2) http://nccam.nih.gov/health/bitterorange/ (3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synephrine
