Citrus Aurantium herb benefit and risks, safety - will a supplement help you lose weight safely or are there risks involved?
Pill
extract research and benefits

Citrus aurantium is commonly referred to as bitter orange. Zhi shi is the immature dried fruit. Zhi has bee used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat chest congestion and stimulate gastrointestinal functions. Recently extracts have been promoted for weight loss.

Nature's Way Purchase Citrus Aurantium, Bitter Orange 450 mg pill

The immature bitter orange has been used for thousands of years in ancient Chinese medicine. Nature's Way Standardized Citrus Auranatium extract provides high levels (6%) of the key compound, synephrine, which has been the focus of study for its thermogenic properties. High doses can increase heart rate and increase metabolism and can be a
natural appetite suppressant. We suggest at first to only use half a capsule until you find out how this product works with your system. Use citrus aurantium by itself without other supplements or medicines the first couple of times you try it. Do not take it if you have a heart condition or taking medicines for your heart or blood pressure.


 

Purchase Citrus Aurantium, it is available for sale
Supplement Facts:
Bitter Orange - 450 mg  - Citrus Aurantium dried extract (fruit)
  

Compounds in the herb
Extracts from citrus aurantium contain a rare combination of five adrenergic amines: synephrine, N-methyltyramine, hordenine, octopamine, and tyramine.


Here is a list of supplements that suppress appetite, help with weight loss, manage cholesterol levels, or improve metabolic syndrome.
Bitter orange, Ginger root (Zingiber officinalis), Green-Tea-Extract (Camellia sinensis, standardized to contain 50% polyphenols), Spirulina (Spirulina platensis), Hoodia-Extract (Hoodia gordonii, 20 to 1 extract), CLA fatty acids, Cinnamon root (Cinnamomum cassia), Apple-Cider-Vinegar, Apple pectin, Garcinia Cambogia CitriMax HCA-600 SXS (standardized to contain 60% hydroxycitric acid), Glucomannan konjac 4 to 1 extract, Alpha-Lipoic, Grapefruit extract (Citrus paradise, 4 to 1 extract), Acetyl-l-Carnitine. Banaba extract (standardized to contain 1 % corosolic acid), 5-HTP, Choline bitartrate, Inositol, Carnitine (Hcl), Pomegranate (standardized to contain 40 % ellagic acid), Bitter melon extract (Momordica charantia), Psyllium husk, Coleus forskohlii (standardized to contain 10 % forskolin), Fenugreek seed extract 4 to 1 (Trigonella foenum), Guggul herb (standardized to contain 10 % guggulsterones), and Inulin. Other products to review include chitosan and the fatty acid complex CLA.

Mechanism of action
The amines in citrus aurantium stimulate beta-3 cell receptors with less of an effect on other alpha and beta receptors.
Stimulation of these beta-3 receptors elicits the breakdown of fat. Simultaneously, this stimulation causes an increase in the metabolic rate – thermogenesis – which burns calories. Citrus aurantium may also act as an appetite suppressant.

Citrus aurantium side effects, risks, safety
Increased body temperature may occur as the dose is increased. Drink plenty of cold water. May increase risk of heart irregularities and increase blood pressure. Discuss with your physician if you are taking medicines or have a chronic health condition. Long term effects or potential harm from high dose ingestion is still not fully understood. Those with a heart condition or on heart medications should not use it.

Possible association of acute lateral-wall myocardial infarction and bitter orange supplement.
Ann Pharmacother. 2004.
To report a possible incidence of acute lateral-wall myocardial infarction (MI) coinciding with the use of a Citrus aurantium containing dietary supplement in a patient with undetected coronary vascular disease. A 55-year-old white woman presented to the emergency department with symptoms of dull aching shoulder and chest pain. A review of medications during cardiac rehabilitation revealed the patient had ingested a multicomponent dietary supplement for weight loss containing 300 mg of Citrus aurantium (Edita's Skinny Pill) for the past year. Although the patient's past medical history did not include hypertension, coronary disease, or hyperlipidemia, an arteriogram revealed a lesion in the left main coronary artery. She did have a smoking history. She was diagnosed with acute lateral-wall MI and hospitalized for 4 days. Consumers generally consider dietary supplements safe. However, some supplements taken for weight loss contain ingredients that have been associated with cardiovascular events. Although consumers are becoming more aware of the serious adverse effects secondary to products containing ingredients such as Ma huang and ephedra, reports involving other ingredients are increasing. Synephrine, found in citrus aurantium, has been associated with adverse cardiovascular reactions. Based on the Naranjo probability scale, Citrus aurantium is possibly associated with this cardiovascular event. The use of Citrus aurantium-containing supplements may present as a risk for cardiovascular toxicity.

Review
Citrus auratnium extract may help one lose weight, but caution is advised. Use the least amount possible and take breaks from use. Do not take citrus aurantium daily for many weeks without a break.

My experience with citrus aurantium together with tongkat ali was not pleasant, i sweated and felt more hot than I wanted to feel.

Trademark dispute and lawsuit
October 2007 – Nutratech, Inc. has won its patent infringement lawsuit against Syntech International, Inc., over the sale of Citrus aurantium extract. Syntech has acknowledged the validity and infringement of U.S. patents licensed exclusively to Nutratech on the use of Citrus aurantium extract for stimulating thermogenesis, reducing weight, and suppressing appetite. Advantra Z is Nutratech’s proprietary Citrus aurantium extract. Under the terms of the settlement, Syntech agreed to a permanent injunction, immediately ceasing the import and sale of Citrus aurantium extract now and in the future and will pay damages to Nutratech based upon its past infringement. The patents owned by Zhishin Capital LLC and licensed exclusively to Nutratech, relate to the use of bitter orange or citrus extracts for, but not limited to: Stimulating thermogenesis, reducing weight, Increasing lean muscle mass in relation to total body mass, Improving athletic performance, suppressing appetite. Advantra Z includes all five adrenergic amines that occur naturally in the bitter orange fruit, and contains only p synephrine, the stable synephrine isomer. Nutratech, Inc., is a supplier of nutraceutical ingredients for the weight management and sports nutrition industries. Its proprietary bitter orange extract, Advantra Z, is a patented thermogenic ingredient. Nutratech is headquartered in West Caldwell, N.J..