Orange Medicinal Properties: Cough, Stress and Nervousness Remedy

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(Citrus aurantium var. dulcis) The popular Orange tree belongs to the plant family Rutaceae. It is a small tree with greyish-brown branches that are widely spread. The petioles of the leaves are winged and the leaves are oval, alternate, and have a deep green color. The calyx is bell-shaped and the bisexual flowers are pure white. The fruit is round and green and yellow or orange when ripe. It is widely used for its juice which is sweet. It grows well in the tropics and is exported to most of the countries in the world. It is an antifungal containing umbelliferone. Citrus flavonoids have potential antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-cancer, antiviral, anti-inflammatory activity, and cholesterol lowering potential. Like other citrus fruits, orange contains vitamin C.

Parts Used: The leaves, flowers, the fruit rind, and juice

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Medicinal Use

• Strengthens the stomach, increases urination, and is refreshing
• Purifies the blood, increases thirst in fever, heals inflammation of the mucus membrane, and improves appetite
• Liver problems
• Expels gas and works as a tonic
• Acne
• Arthritis, asthma, respiratory problems, pneumonia, hysteria, neurasthenia, neuralgia, headache, colds, cough, fevers and influenza
• Scurvy
• Cough
• Stress or nervousness
• Stimulates digestive organs, and works as a laxative

How to Use

• The consumption of the orange juice strengthens the stomach, increases urination, and is refreshing.
• The fruit purifies the blood, increases thirst in fever, heals inflammation of the mucus membrane, and improves appetite. The pulp should be eaten instead of drinking only the juice.
• Orange juice is useful in liver problems. The rind expels gas and is a tonic.
• Fresh rind rubbed on the face is a good remedy for acne.
• The fruit in general is good for cases of arthritis, asthma, respiratory problems, pneumonia, hysteria, neurasthenia, neuralgia, headache, colds, cough, fevers and influenza.
• Eating the fruit is highly recommended for scurvy.
• The infusion of the leaves, mixed with a little honey, is used for controlling cough.
• The infusion of the dried flowers is recommended for stress or nervousness. In general, the orange juice stimulates the digestive organs, acts as a laxative, and purifies the blood.

Active Principles: Petitgrain oil, 7-hydroxycoumarin geranyl ether, pectin and total glycocides, nobilitin, ethyl alcohol, esperidine, N-Me-tyramin, nobiletin, cirantin, hesperidin, methoxylated flavones, neohesperidin and naringin citric acid, 0.29%; volatile oil-citral, 4%, geraniol, 12%, d-camphene, d-limonene, d-linalool, anthranilic acid methyl ester 0.3%, linalyl acetate 6.35%; indol; stachydrine (alkaloid); hesperidin; fatty oil; carotene; pectin, 6%; vitamins A, B, and C; enzymes; sugar.