Bitter orange, or citrus aurantium, is a supplement that has been used by the Chinese for thousands of years. More recently, it has become a popular supplement in Western cultures and has been used to treat gastrointestinal issues and battle weight problems. However, it has some serious side effects that a person should be aware of before attempting to use it.
Cardiac Side Effects
Bitter orange is thought to cause blood pressure to increase. Bitter orange actually contains a substance called synephrine which causes the blood vessels to constrict, which causes blood to circulate less easily through the body, thus causing blood pressure to go up. It can also cause tachycardia, or a rapid heartbeat, to occur. This factor has been linked to cardiac problems like stroke or heart attacks. If you already suffer from a cardiac issue, using this supplement may be even more dangerous.
Sun Burn and Skin Rash
Everyone should be aware that using products containing bitter orange on the skin places you at an increased risk of sunlight sensitivity. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, bitter orange has been linked with serious cases of sunburn. This risk may increase even more for lighter skinned people. In addition, using bitter orange directly on the skin can cause skin rashes such as red blotches or even blisters.
Children
The effects of bitter orange can be more severe on children. A fact sheet released by the U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventative Medicine reports that if children ingest large amounts of bitter orange, it can have serious effects on then. Ingesting large amounts can cause a child to have intestinal gas which can cause intense pain and can also result in nausea and vomiting. The child can also suffer seizures, and could even die from a bitter orange overdose.
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