Citrus aurantium is also known as bitter orange. It has reportedly been used in ancient Chinese medicine for thousands of years.

Because ephedra has been deemed unsafe, it has been removed from weight loss aids in the United States.  Either included in weight loss products or by itself, citrus aurantium has been substituted for ephedra.

Most of these weight loss products are supposed to function by increasing metabolism and by also increasing heart rate. The problem is, they often cause toxicity in the body that can be very harmful.

When taken in high doses, the active ingredient in citrus aurantium, which is synephrine, can cause hypertension and a reaction to other drugs in a way similar to grapefruit juice.

The Chinese used bitter orange or Zhi shi to help with gastrointestinal disorders.

I think that it makes a lot of sense these days to be very careful about what products you are taking for weight loss or any other problems, because sometimes they are not safe. Read the list of ingredients and the drug interaction warnings. It would be advisable to ask your doctor if a weight loss aid is safe for you to take the product.

Consider, along with your doctor’s recommendation, whether the product is safe and effective for your weight loss goals.