It makes a great breakfast beverage and tastes really good when the sweet juices run down your mouth after biting into a slice, but oranges possess more than just a refreshing treat or drink. Throughout the years, the orange and its parts has been used as an herbal remedy, especially in China, Italy, as well as during the Middle Ages. In this article, we will explore some of the things that oranges can treat when you want to explore alternative means of medicinal treatments.
The orange came from China and found its way throughout the rest of the world through trade and curiosity. By the 16th century, an Italian princess is said to have uncovered oil extracted from the flowers, which she used to add a soothing scent to her gloves. Today, the neroli oil is used to treat medical problems. In Chinese medicine, the orange is still used, where they mainly pay attention to the bitter variety called the Seville, as well as sweet tangerines.
Oranges are sour to bitter in character and bring about a slightly cold feeling. Packed with flavonoids, volatile oil, as well as vitamins A, B, and C, the orange is used as a digestive stimulant, diuretic, and expectorant. When made into a tonic, it is believed to restore energy, while those suffering from high blood pressure also stand to enjoy treatments made with this versatile fruit. The oil from the fruit can be used as a sedative, tonic, antiseptic, as well as an antidepressant.
Within Chinese medicine, the orange can be used to treat ailments in both its ripe and unripe form. As a rule of thumb, when it comes to medicine, it is the unripe bitter orange that is more potent than the ripe kind. When using the fruit, the digestive system can be stimulated. Constipation is also helped. If you are suffering from a cold that brings about nasty phlegm that is thick and yellow, the orange can be used to create an expectorant that treats this condition. For those who have issues with insomnia and shock, oranges have been known to calm the nerves.
As for the neroli oil, which is extracted from orange blossoms, there are many different ways that this herbal remedy can be used. For starters, is has a calming effect and can work wonder with those in a depressed state. If you suffer from reoccurring diarrhea, you may also find relief when using the oil extract. The properties of neroli oil do not adversely affect dry skin and will not irritate veins that have been broken.
When it comes to the orange peel, many have tapped into its diuretic, digestive, and expectorant properties. The Chinese turn towards two different kinds of orange peels to treat medical problems. The green variety (also known as qing pi) comes from unripe fruit.
When the peel from a ripe piece of fruit is well-dried, it can be used to treat patients as well. This type of orange peel is also referred to as chen pi. It is said that both kinds of peels can eliminate the sort of energy that drags the body down. Digestion problems are also helped with the use of orange peels. When suffering from a cough, orange peels can be used as an expectorant. It can drive thin, watery phlegm from the body.