Citrus Aurantium

A Few Facts About Citrus Aurantium Weight Loss

Citrus aurantium weight loss is a popular program in recent years. Citrus aurantium is more commonly known as bitter orange. Depending upon the subspecies, it may also be called bigarade orange, marmalade orange, sour orange or Seville orange. Some types of aurantium are used as ingredients in perfume or flavoring for alcoholic drinks. The product is important as a Chinese medicine stimulant. It is believed to help in suppressing appetite. In the aftermath of the United States Food and Drug Administration's ban on ephedra products, some manufacturers replaced ephedra in their formulas with citrus aurantium. This allowed the manufacturers to say that their products are ephedra free.

There is still controversy about the efficacy of bitter orange or citrus aurantium in suppressing appetite and helping the user to achieve weight loss. The citrus product contains some ingredients that have similar properties to that of the ones in ephedra. Some of the side effects of ephedra may carry over into bitter orange compounds as well. There are reports of some fairly significant side effects in using C. Aurantium, so caution is certainly appropriate. Use only the recommended dosages, and only those from reputable manufacturers so that you can be sure of the exact formulation.

Citrus aurantium is a evergreen tree found in widely diverse locations in cultivated form. The subspecies amara of the plant is native to the southern part of Vietnam. It is best known for its use in essential oils, liqueurs and marmalade. Orange flower water and neroli oil are used in fragrances. This form of aurantium is widely used as grafting stock to strengthen and improve other cultivated citrus trees, including those in many other parts of the world. The use of this version includes cooking traditional dishes in India. It is the unripe fruit that is widely known as narthangai. The fruit is cut into spirals, stuffed with salt and pickled.

Daidai is a C. Aurantium subspecies whose name means generations. It is an Asian variety of the citrus plant that originally grown in the Himalayas. The spread of the plant took it into the Yangtze Valley region of China and later to Japan. The fruit is used in Japanese New Year celebrations as a decoration. The fruit is left on the tree instead of being removed for pickling as is the case with other varieties of aurantium. Each spring the fruit changes from orange back to green in color. The fruit of this variety is extremely bitter and is not typically used for food.

Daidai is a product often used in the Japanese version of Chinese medicine which is known as Kampo. It has been used as an expectorant and a tonic for the digestive system. In Japan, herbal medicines are considered to be pharmaceutical preparations rather than foods as you would find in the United States. Kampo doesn't specify the aurantium as a product that helps offer weight loss or appetite suppression. The use of bitter orange in traditional Asian medicine has not been focused on weight loss.

An extract of C. Aurantium from the bitter orange and from the peel of the bitter orange fruit has been included in supplements intended for aid to lose weight. It is also described as an appetite suppressant. Bitter orange in these formulas in the West are often prescribed and used alone, or with other stimulants. In Chinese medicine, C. Aurantium is always prescribed as a combination of bitter orange and other support herbs. Some formulas of the citrus extract are bolstered by aspirin or by caffeine to increase the stimulant value and to improve the appetite suppressant qualities.

The active substances in C. Aurantium include synephrine, octopamine and amphetamine metabolites such as N-methyltyramine. These substances act upon the alpha one adrenergic receptors. The action means that blood vessels are constructed, the heart rate is increased and blood pressure level is also elevated. These chemical and biological processes are similar to those that occur with ephedrine, from the ephedra herb. Ephedra products have been the subject of much controversy in the United States. Some of the evidence coming in about the effects of bitter orange indicate that it also is causing health problems. Other studies need to be completed to determine whether bitter orange is helpful in the areas where the claims are being made for weight loss.

The Food and Drug Administration in the United States has banned ephedra products, but manufacturers have challenged the authority of the FDA to legally ban an herbal medicine. The courts upheld the ban, but it has not completely stopped the sale of ephedra. Because bitter orange has replaced ephedra in some formulas, there is some evidence that C. Aurantium might be causing side effects that are critical and sometimes deadly. At this point, both ephedra and and aurantium are widely available in the United States and throughout the world.

When using citrus aurantium products, it is important to be cautious. It may be appropriate to begin with only half the recommended dosage for the first two weeks of use. If you have any history of heart disease, hypertension or similar conditions, the citrus extract should never be used. If you are taking any medications to treat high blood pressure or heart disease, you should never begin a weight loss regimen utilizing bitter orange. The herb could interfere or counteract benefits of prescription drugs. The herb supplement could over stimulate to the point where a stroke or heart attack could occur. Faintness and glaucoma are other possible side effects.

If you choose to use a citrus aurantium weight loss programs, be sure that you know and understand the recommendations for usage. Don't assume that if a little helps, a lot will make the weight come off faster. You could be causing serious risk various dangerous medical conditions. Stick to the dosage and don't ignore symptoms of side effects. Your best opportunity for weight management is to incorporate smart lifestyle changes into your daily routine. Your weight loss is more likely to extend beyond a few days or weeks.