🕌Persian Medicine

Bitter Orange (Narenj)

fruit

Bitter Orange (Narenj)

The bitter orange, sour orange, Seville orange, bigarade orange, or marmalade orange is the hybrid citrus tree species Citrus × aurantium, and its fruit. It is native to Southeast Asia and has been spread by humans to many parts of the world. It is a cross between the pomelo, Citrus maxima, and the wild type mandarin orange, Citrus reticulata. The bitter orange is used to make essential oil, used in foods, drinks, and pharmaceuticals. The Seville orange is prized for making British orange marmalade.

Conditions addressed

Digestive IssuesWeight LossImmune SupportCirculationAnxiety

How to use

½–1 cup fresh daily, or 2–3 tbsp dried
  • Eat fresh, raw, or dried.
  • Can be blended into smoothies, juiced, or added to salads and grain bowls.

Pregnancy, Breastfeeding & Children

Pregnancy

Avoid

Contains synephrine, a stimulant compound that can raise blood pressure and heart rate — generally avoided in pregnancy, especially in concentrated supplement form.

Breastfeeding

Avoid

Stimulant compound (synephrine) passes into milk and is generally avoided while nursing.

Children

Avoid

Stimulant cardiovascular effects make bitter orange unsuitable for children.

Interactions & contraindications

MAOIs, stimulants, blood pressure medications

Synephrine content can raise blood pressure and heart rate significantly when combined.