Nothing is as fragrant as a wonderfully ripe, sweet orange. However, oranges are used for a number of benefits including in the form of natural supplements. The orange plant, has been used a variety of ways throughout the history of humanity, it should surprise no one that it offers a myriad of health benefits. Bitter Orange supplements are obtained by extracting the natural oils of the peel offering a unique flavor that has always tantalized our senses and whet our appetites.

Read on to find out how this natural supplement is different than say, just eating and orange. This will help you understand why it is so powerful and how it can help in your lifestyle.

What is Bitter orange?

Bitter orange products and supplements have a great deal to offer those in the know, who understand the many health and sensory benefits bitter orange provides. The supplement is the product of the hybridization of the mandarin and the pomelo orange. It is the extracted oil essence of the peel and has a bitter sweet taste and smell.

Getting the Most Out of Your Bitter Orange Supplement

Bitter Orange is also used in perfumes, culinarily and therapeutically in supplements and tonics. Topically it can be used to treat fungal infections such as jock itch or athlete's foot. In aromatherapy inhaling the scent of bitter orange is believed to relieve pain and invigorate the body.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is a practice in which aromas and essential oils are used to treat a wide range of maladies. In aromatherapy, essential oils are absorbed directly on the skin or used to perfume the air in order to breathe it in. Different essences are used depending on the needs or goal of the individual.

Bitter orange is a powerfully fragrant plant and has been used in aromatherapy as long as the discipline has been in practice. It is used to help treat pain, relieve stress and promote relaxation.

Practicing aromatherapy can enhance other forms of therapy and is often used in tangent with them. For example often in massage therapy aromatherapy will be applied in the form of essential body oils and in fragrant candles or oil burners. It is also used in tangent with acupuncture and spa treatments.

Bruises

There are many occasions in life that provide us with painful bruises. Many have medical conditions that intensify the frequency and severity of bruising. Some of us have occasional accidents or clumsy moments that result in a large painful bruise. How ever we got here, we are suffering from dark discoloration ranging from yellow, green, blue, purple and even black.The unsightliness of the bruise is usually accompanied by a deep dull pain that is triggered or intensified with direct pressure of any kind. Bitter orange is a holistic, natural way to treat bruises.

Bitter orange can help promote the healing of bruises by shortening duration and severity of pain caused by bruising. Applied directly to the bruise as an ointment or oil, bitter orange will stimulate and rejuvenate your cells. Bitter orange stimulates the natural healing response of your body and helps make the bruise fade away.

Treating Fungus

Fungus is a living organism that reproduces by spores which carry their genetic payload to hosts that foster growth. Unfortunately for us, sometimes our homes and even our bodies become the perfect host offering the perfect temperature and moisture level for fungus to thrive. Even in the cleanest of homes it can be found lurking around your shower, bathroom floor or contracted from direct contact with an infected person or animal.

Sharing shoes, towels, cosmetics, hair brushes or any other intimate product are all ways to transmit a fungal infection. To lessen the chance of infection, avoid sharing intimate items that come into contact with your body.

Throw out shoes if they begin to smell bad or are often saturated with sweat. Throw out old makeup that has expired. Disinfect your hair brush regularly. Wash bathroom towels that have spent anytime on the floor especially after soaking in water.

Common fungal infections

Fungus infections are often uncomfortable. Fortunately they are easy to treat topically. Bitter orange is an effective treatment for fungal infections on the skin and scalp. It can be applied topically in an oil or ointment. If you have fungus on your scalp you can mix a small amount of bitter orange oil into your shampoo and wash with it.

• Athlete’s foot
  • Symptoms: red, itchy scaling skin between toes and on the bottom area of foot.
• Jock itch
  • Symptoms: Itching in the groin area, redness or peeling skin.
• Nail infections
  • Symptoms: Discolored fingernails, inflamed nail beds, swollen itchiness around the skin of the fingernails.
• Ringworm
  • Symptoms: A round red scaly area on the face or skin of the body. Shaped much like a spaghetti O a ringworm is usually fairly easy to identify.

**If your infection does not show signs of improvement after several days, it may be something other than a fungal infection. Contact your doctor as soon as possible and discuss your symptoms with him or her. You may need to be seen and undergo diagnosis to determine the source of your infection.

Hair and Skin Benefits

Bitter orange is available commercially in a variety of products like shampoo for hair loss, oils for skin or as a food additive and supplements. On the skin it helps to absorb excess sebum which otherwise clogs the pores of the skin and interfere with their proper function and hair production. By helping to lessen the sebum the pores are kept clean, clear and healthy. Bitter orange can lessen skin inflammation or flare ups and has natural astringent properties.

GI Disorders

Bitter orange is often used to treat issues relating to the gastrointestinal system. Stomach ache, ulcers, constipation and diarrhea afflict us all. Usually without warning or at the worse possible time, we may find ourselves trapped in our restrooms at the mercy of nature. Bitter orange supplements can help alleviate and regulate your GI system and lessen bouts of uncomfortable symptoms.

Supplement, Oil or Tonic

The different forms that bitter orange is available in can make picking the right one confusing. When deciding what is right for you consider your needs. If you have a skin condition such as a fungus infection, then the oil or an ointment form applied directly to the skin is right for you. If you suffer from GI issues, constipation or diarrhea than an oral tonic or supplement may be your best bet. If you are not sure which form is right for you, discuss it with your doctor.

**Before using any new supplement or herb always consult your doctor beforehand to ensure that it is the right choice for you.

Bitter Orange: A Supplement that You Can Trust

Bitter orange has benefited mankind for thousands of years. From the ancient chinese to our own ancestors, this extract has been used to soothe the pains and cure the infections of our for fathers and mothers. You can use it too. A reliable remedy it should be a staple in your medicine cabinet. Don’t forget it’s aromatherapy benefits as well.

Make sure to try it out while engaged in your favorite relaxing activity. Yoga, meditation or bathing are all wonderful times to infuse the air with the soothing and healing properties of bitter orange. Lastly when suffering from stomach problems, think of bitter orange in both tonic and supplemental form.

**Bitter orange has some stimulant properties when taken orally. If you have sleep problems, high blood pressure or a heart condition, speak to your doctor before taking bitter orange.

**Bitter orange can act as an appetite suppressor in some people. If you find that bitter orange affects your appetite and you have concerns, contact your doctor to discuss the effects of bitter orange.

**Always discuss your decision to take a new supplement with your doctor before you begin taking it to ensure that it is the right choice for you.