The oil from this food heals wounds, treats sclerosis and has long been used in products for skin aging. The oil primarily consists of monosaturated lipids (22).
Bitter Orange (Citrus aurantium)
Although this herb has no dermatologic indications in Asian, homeopathic or Commission E, it has been evaluated in clinical trials for cutaneous disease and has been added to multiple cosmeceuticals. The active compounds include flavonoids, triterpenoid bitter principles (limonoids), furocoumarins, methyl anthranilate, and volatile oils including limonene, nerol, and linalool. Bitter orange may cause sensitization, phototoxicity, and hyperpigmentation. It is administered as a tonic, tea, tincture, or galenic drops (3).
A blinded, three-arm trial of 65 patients suffering from tinea corporis was conducted. One arm used a poultice of 100% of this herb applied once daily for three weeks while another arm used 25% emulsion three times daily for four weeks and both were compared to imidizole twice daily for four weeks. At two weeks, 93% of the 100% bitter orange poultice were clinically cured and 80% were cured with the emulsion of this herb while none were cured with the imidizole (23).