Supplement Reviews

Citrus Aurantium (Bitter Orange)

Citrus Aurantium (bitter orange or zhi shi) is an herb that contains the active ingredient synephrine (it also contains other potent compounds like octopamine and tyramine).  This is touted as an ephedra alternative.  It is ephedrine’s calmer chemical cousin which means it still has beta agonistic (thermogenic/fat burning) effects while being less stimulating to the central nervous system.  Similar doses as compared to ephedrine may be effective (20 mg of active synephrine after standardization per serving).  There is definitely more research on ephedrine and caffeine combinations for fat loss but one good study published in the Current Therapeutic Research journal in 1999 showed that a combination of citrus aurantium extract, caffeine and St John’s Wort caused significant body fat loss in overweight healthy adults. (synephrine was the key here).  Other research has looked at the thermogenic properties of compounds found in citrus aurantium including synephrine and the results are very promising. 

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