For thousands of years, the Chinese have been using bitter orange for medicinal purposes. Indigenous people of the Amazon also use bitter orange to cure constipation, nausea, and indigestion. Bitter orange (Citrus aurantium) is also called Neroli or Bigarade Orange. It is a plant or a tree that belongs to the Rutaceae family. Bitter orange is a flowering evergreen tree and bears fruit. It is grown in South America, India, and the southwestern US. It is also cultivated in the islands of the Caribbean. In traditional medicine, the parts of the bitter orange that is used for medicinally are the fruits, flowers, leaves, and peels. The only part that is proven for its medicinal purposes is the peel of the bitter orange. The volatile oil from the peel is commonly extracted and is widely used in various health supplements. The fruits are used as a traditional flavoring for the liquor Curacao. The flowers and leaves are used in various folk traditions.
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In folk medicine, bitter orange is used in treating sore throat, insomnia, gout, nervousness, obesity, and gastrointestinal disorders. The Chinese use bitter orange to ease chest and stomach pain, vomiting, and to increase appetite. Latin American countries use bitter orange as a sedative for insomnia, as a laxative, and to calm anxiety. In homeopathy, bitter orange is used to cure dysenteric diarrhea, high blood pressure, headache, abdominal pain, indigestion, constipation, and to aid in losing weight. The Basque people of Europe use bitter orange peel as an anti-spasmodic. They use the bitter orange leaves as a treatment for palpitations, stomach aches, and insomnia. The flowers and peel are used for headaches and pain.
Today, the bitter orange extract is used for numerous health benefits. Its healing properties are used all over the world. Some of the current uses of bitter orange are for the loss of appetite, weight loss, heartburn, and nasal congestion. Studies have shown that the bitter orange extract suppresses appetite and increases metabolism. For this reason, it is particularly used for weight loss. It also boosts ones energy to give optimum physical performance and maintain lean muscle mass. The bitter orange is beneficial for the treatment of gastrointestinal complaints such as indigestion, nausea, dysenteric diarrhea, abdominal pain and constipation. The rich vitamin C content of bitter orange is beneficial for anemia.
The dried fruit and peel of bitter orange are taken by mouth in the form of tablets, capsules, and extracts. The oil of the bitter orange extract can be applied on the skin. Health professionals usually recommend a daily dosage of 3 cups of 1 to 2 grams of bitter orange peel extract simmered for 10 to 15 minutes in a cup of water. 2 to 3 ml of bitter orange prepared as a tincture should be taken three times a day. Supplementing with pure bitter orange oil is not recommended and should be avoided. Pregnant women should avoid products that contain bitter orange since safety evidence is still lacking. Application of bitter orange oil on skin increases the risk for sunburn. Light-skinned individuals should avoid applying it on their skin. Bitter orange can increase heart rate and blood pressure and is not recommended as a dietary supplement.
