History

• Citrus aurantium is an ingredient in traditional Chinese folk medicine according to the U.S. Army Medical Department. The Federal Drug Administration has approved it as a flavor enhancer and allows its use in the production of certain cosmetic products.
  
  

Theories/Speculation

• The Natural and Alternative Medicines website indicates that there is no conclusive evidence that this product is effective as a weight loss supplement. The only reliable published research was a 1999 study by C.M. Colker, et. al., in "Current Therapeutic Research" that studied how citrus aurantium worked when combined with caffeine and St. John's wort. The results were positive but inconclusive since citrus aurantium was not studied in isolation.
  
  

Side Effects

• Citrus aurantium has some serious side effects. It contains a stimulant called synephrine that causes kidney damage, reduced blood circulation and heart palpitations. The Natural and Alternative Treatments website warns that synephrine can be lethal if combined with MAO inhibitor drugs. Do not use it with pseudoephedrine, ephedrine or Ritalin.