“Bitter Orange has been around for thousands of years and has been used for treating insomnia, anxiety attacks, nervousness, stomachaches, weight loss, cooking, juice, and more and has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine successfully for thousands of years.”
Bitter Oranges
Bitter orange contains compounds that are similar but not the same as ephedra and because of that some people don’t like using it. But many studies have been done and none of them are conclusive that bitter orange works like ephedra. But bitter orange is a great relaxing agent and should not be discounted as a good healing agent and a great food source.
Where it Grows – Bitter Orange or Citrus Aurantium grows all over the world including Europe, Asia, Africa, Florida, Arabia, The Pacific Islands, the Caribbean, and other places around the world.
Insomnia - Taking 3 fresh bitter orange leaves and steeping them in one cup of hot water for 5 or 6 minutes creates a great tea for those who suffer from insomnia. It’s powerful and really works well for those who have a hard time getting to sleep. (On a personal note once I tried bitter orange leaf tea before taking my mother-in-law to church and I had a hard time keeping my eyes open, I was falling asleep – very powerful.) Also bitter orange oil will help with insomnia, and the flowers can be boiled into a infusion for promoting a good nights rest.
Weight Loss - A double blind study was done using three groups, one with a 6% synephrine alkaloid which comes from bitter orange, another with a placebo, and another was a control group. All groups did 3 days of exercise, and in the end the group that received the bitter orange compound lost over 1.3 Kgs, the placebo group lost .9 Kg and the control group lost .4 Kg thus the bitter orange group lost more weight… plus there was no increase in blood pressure.
Anxiety – Studies show that bitter orange is a very good anti-anxiety agent helping to relax and lower stress.
Skin – In Africa bitter orange the fruit is used to treat skin wounds, ulcers, because the fruit is antibacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal in action.
Antispasmodic – In Traditional Chinese Medicine bitter orange is commonly used for constipation, indigestion, and abdominal pain. Bitter orange works great for spasms of the GI tract because it’s very relaxing and sedating.
Used in Cooking – Bitter oranges have been used in cooking in Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and in Europe in general. Bitter orange can be used for making marmalade and other types of products, and bitter orange is used for seasoning whole roast pigs. In Mexico bitter orange slices are salted, dried, and mixed with hot chiles and used in cooking. Bitter orange honey is amazingly tasty and bitter orange wood is hard and can be used for all kinds of woodwork including making baseball bats. *The other day we had bitter orange juice mixed with ginger juice… Wonderful! Also we make a traditional bitter orange candy here in Puerto Rico which is fantastic.
Cosmetics and More – Bitter orange has also been used in cosmetics, shampoos, in perfumes, and in the making of liqueurs such as triple sec and curacao.
Side Effects - Certain people are extremely sensitive to bitter orange concentrated compounds used in weight loss products, and can have reactions that can be life threatening including heart problems and strokes. These complications are associated with taking synephrine alkaloid in diet pills at high doses. I recommend that the whole plant be used such as the leaves for tea, fruit for juice, and oils but not highly concentrated synephrine alkaloid. The American Botany Council has done many studies and deemed bitter orange safe for consumption. Natural is the way to go… but always check with your doctor when using weight loss products. And bitter orange concentrated compounds should not be used in combination with medications. Remember bitter orange concentrated compounds in weight loss products should be used with care.
Feel Free to Share – This information is meant to get you started… so you can do more research on your own… dig a little deeper and find what works for you. This article is for educational purposes only, I strongly recommend that you seek advice from your own GP, private doctor, or medical specialist for any ailment, illness, or medical condition.. this article not meant to be a scientific analysis in any way, shape, or form.
Dr. Paul Haider – Master Herbalist and Spiritual Teacher for over 25 years, helping people to recover and feel healthy. You can also find Dr. Haider on FB under Dr. Paul Haider, Healing Herbs, and at www.paulhaider.com – feel free to contact him any time,
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Dr. Paul Haider, Master Herbalist, HH, USA, Bitter Orange, Insomnia, Sleep, Chinese Medicine, Cooking, Weight Loss, Skin Disease, Anxiety, Stress, Geeing to Sleep, Candy, Juice, Great for Sleep, Relaxing, Soothing, Get Rest, liqueurs, Shampoos, Cosmetics, Perfumes,
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