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The bitter orange tree is native to eastern Africa and tropical Asia. Today, it is grown throughout the Mediterranean region and elsewhere, including California and Florida.

Bitter orange oil is used in foods, cosmetics, and aromatherapy -- a therapy in which the scent of essential oils from flowers, herbs, and trees is inhaled to promote health and well-being. products. Bitter orange oil from the tree's leaves is called petitgrain, and oil from the flowers is called neroli.

Common Name: bitter orange, Seville orange, sour orange, Zhi shi

Latin Name: Citrus aurantium

• Bitter orange has been used in traditional Chinese medicine -- a whole medical system that originated in China. It is based on the concept that disease results from disruption in the flow of qi and imbalance in the forces of yin and yang. Practices such as herbs, meditation, massage, and acupuncture seek to aid healing by restoring the yin-yang balance and the flow of qi -- and by indigenous people of the Amazon rainforest for nausea, indigestion, and constipation.
• Current uses of bitter orange are for heartburn, loss of appetite, nasal congestion, and weight loss.
• Bitter orange is also applied to the skin for fungal infections such as ringworm and athlete's foot.

The dried fruit and peel (and sometimes flowers and leaves) are taken by mouth in extracts, tablets, and capsules. Bitter orange oil can be applied to the skin. Many herbal weight-loss products now use bitter orange peel in place of ephedra.

• Because bitter orange contains chemicals that may speed up the heart rate and raise blood pressure, it may not be safe to use as a dietary supplement if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure.
• Bitter orange should not be combined with caffeine.
• Pregnant women should avoid products that contain bitter orange.
• Bitter orange oil used on the skin may increase the risk of sunburn in light-skinned people.
• Tell your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.

Bitter Orange Extract provides high levels (6%) of the key compound, synephrine, which has been the focus of study for its thermogenic properties. The immature bitter orange (citrus aurantium) has been used for thousands of years in ancient Chinese medicine.

And do treat yourself to Neroli Pure Essential Oil. This wonderful oil has a delightful citrus scent and conditions the skin. You'll feel soft and smell good! Neroli oil is derived from the flowers of the bitter orange tree. Its fragrance is often compared to that of bergamot. The name comes from the town of Nerola, near Rome, where a princess of the ruling family established the fashionable use of the scent during the late-17th century.

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