Alternative medicine: Orange

Orange is not only a rich source of different vitamins and minerals but also an excellent treatment for colds and chronic bronchitis.

Botanical: Citrus

Family: N.O. Rutaceae

Synonym: Citrus vulgaris, Citrus Bigaradia, Citrus aurantium amara, Bigaradier, Bigarade Orange, Bitter Orange, Seville Orange, Portugal Orange, China Orange, Citrus dulcis.

Habitat: Oranges originated in Southeast Asia, India, Vietnam or southern China.

Description: Orange trees are evergreens, seldom exceeding 9 meters in height, with oval and glossy leaves and white fragrant blossoms.

The fruit is technically a hesperidium, a kind of berry. It has oval to sphere-shaped orange to red-orange fruit with leathery, porous skin. Different varieties include sweet, sour and mandarin orange and tangerine.

Part Used Medicinally: Fruit, flowers, peel.

Constituents: The fruit is a good source of vitamin C, A and B, growth hormone, calcium, potassium, copper, zinc and manganese. It is low in fat and saturated fat, sodium and cholesterol free. The peel contains volatile oil, three glucosides, hesperidin, isohesperidin, an amorphous bitter principle, Aurantiamarin, aurantiamaric acid, resin, etc.

Medicinal Uses:
The rich in vitamin orange is tonic. The infusion of dried orange blossoms or leaves is used as a mild nervous stimulant and a hysteria and seizure treatment. Orange juice is good for constipation and coughing. Orange oil is mainly used as a flavoring agent, but can be used to treat chronic bronchitis like turpentine oil. It is also used in treating microbial and fungal inflammation as well as skin cancers. Orange peel is used to treat appetite loss and gastric disorders. The powdered peel is topically used to treat malignant breast cancer ulcers, hemorrhoid and uterus prolapse.

Preparation: - Bitter orange peel tincture - Bitter orange flower water is often used to improve the flavor and aroma of medicine - Bitter orange and flower peel is mainly used to add to the flavor of sedative mixtures - Bitter orange peel tea or pericarp is commonly taken in the evening to improve sleep. Bitter orange and valerian are a good combination, however the two herbal teas should be prepared separately and mixed before use. Valerian tea should be prepared in the morning (allowed to steep in cold water). A cup of valerian tea is added to fresh hot bitter orange tea in and consumed before bedtime.

PKH/HGH