Citrus x Aurantium
Citrus x aurantium is an evergreen tree with long spines and aromatic flowers. Although the flowers smell sweet and pleasant, the fruit membranes and pulp are sour and bitter. Bitter orange is used as a flavoring agent in many foods and beverages. Bitter orange peel powder can be used to make soaps, body scrubs, and a variety of other cosmetic products.
Citrus x aurantium is native to Africa, Arabia, and Syria. It was brought to the Mediterranean in 1200 C.E. by traders, and its range has since expanded to China, India, and North America. Bitter orange, also referred to as Seville orange, is an evergreen tree with long spines and fragrant flowers. However, the fruit membranes and pulp are very sour and bitter.
Bitter orange is added as a flavoring agent in many foods, and the essential oil is used for fragrance in bath and body care products. Almost the entire tree, including the fruit peel, fresh flowers, leaves, and twigs, are utilized in various culinary and cosmetic products. Bitter orange peel has popular applications worldwide: as the principal ingredient in traditional British marmalade, a flavoring agent in Belgian spiced wheat beer, and powdered in Nordic sweet breads. Bitter orange is also an ingredient in various liqueurs, most notably triple sec. Bitter orange also goes by various other common names including bigarade, marmalade orange, Seville orange, and sour orange. Citrus x aurantium belongs to the Rutaceae family.
Bitter orange peel powder is an ingredient in soap making, facial scrubs, and other cosmetic applications. It can also be used to spice sauces, marinades, or smoothies. Typical preparations include extracts and infusions.
Citrus x aurantium is native to Africa, Arabia, and Syria. It was brought to the Mediterranean in 1200 C.E. by traders, and its range has since expanded to China, India, and North America. Bitter orange, also referred to as Seville orange, is an evergreen tree with long spines and fragrant flowers. However, the fruit membranes and pulp are very sour and bitter.
Bitter orange is added as a flavoring agent in many foods, and the essential oil is used for fragrance in bath and body care products. Almost the entire tree, including the fruit peel, fresh flowers, leaves, and twigs, are utilized in various culinary and cosmetic products. Bitter orange peel has popular applications worldwide: as the principal ingredient in traditional British marmalade, a flavoring agent in Belgian spiced wheat beer, and powdered in Nordic sweet breads. Bitter orange is also an ingredient in various liqueurs, most notably triple sec. Bitter orange also goes by various other common names including bigarade, marmalade orange, Seville orange, and sour orange. Citrus x aurantium belongs to the Rutaceae family.
Bitter orange peel powder is an ingredient in soap making, facial scrubs, and other cosmetic applications. It can also be used to spice sauces, marinades, or smoothies. Typical preparations include extracts and infusions.
Daflon (Diosmin + HESPERIDIN)
Daflon is a phlebotropic agent. Phlebotropic agents are oral and topical therapies that may increase venous tone, improve capillary hyperpermeability, and decrease blood viscosity with the goal of decreasing symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency. They include flavonoids or other compounds often extracted from plants, such as rutin (also called rutoside), diosmin, hidrosmin, disodium flavodate, French maritime pine bark extract (Pycnogenol), grape seed extract, and horse chestnut seed extract (Aesculus hippocastanum). Daflon has a proven efficacy in the treatment of various venous disorders.
Researchers have observed the administration of Daflon results in statistically significant improvements (p<0.001) in all hemorrhoidal symptoms (pain, heaviness, bleeding, pruritus and anal discharge) and in the proctoscopic appearance of the ‘piles,’ comparing baseline visit findings with the future visits after treatment with Daflon. Daflon has been observered to be effective in alleviating (variable degree) all hemorrhoidal symptoms and improving the proctoscopic appearance of hemorrhoids. Diosmin and other flavonoids, are a safe and effective mean of managing bleeding from hemorrhoidal disease and minimal adverse events are reported. Therefore, it should be considered initially for patients presenting with hemorrhoidal symptoms. However, prospective randomized trials and longer follow-up are needed to confirm the findings of this study and delineate more precisely the role of Daflon in the management of hemorrhoidal disease.
Researchers have observed the administration of Daflon results in statistically significant improvements (p<0.001) in all hemorrhoidal symptoms (pain, heaviness, bleeding, pruritus and anal discharge) and in the proctoscopic appearance of the ‘piles,’ comparing baseline visit findings with the future visits after treatment with Daflon. Daflon has been observered to be effective in alleviating (variable degree) all hemorrhoidal symptoms and improving the proctoscopic appearance of hemorrhoids. Diosmin and other flavonoids, are a safe and effective mean of managing bleeding from hemorrhoidal disease and minimal adverse events are reported. Therefore, it should be considered initially for patients presenting with hemorrhoidal symptoms. However, prospective randomized trials and longer follow-up are needed to confirm the findings of this study and delineate more precisely the role of Daflon in the management of hemorrhoidal disease.
A Promosing treatment for Hemorrhoids
There are many Daflon products on the market. It is ideal to look for one that is high quality, and contains the desired active ingredients, at appropriate doses, minimal excipients/additives, listed at a price that is appropriate for your lifestyle, among other factors.
References
- Suntar I, Khan H, Patel S, Celano R, Rastrelli L. An Overview on Citrus aurantium L.: Its Functions as Food Ingredient and Therapeutic Agent. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2018 May 2;2018:7864269. doi: 10.1155/2018/7864269. PMID: 29854097; PMCID: PMC5954905.
- Bush R, Comerota A, Meissner M, Raffetto JD, Hahn SR, Freeman K. Recommendations for the medical management of chronic venous disease: the role of micronized purified flavonoid fraction (MPFF) [published correction appears in Phlebology. 2017;32(10):NP36]. Phlebology. 2017;32(1 suppl):3-19.
- Pittler MH, Ernst E. Horse chestnut seed extract for chronic venous insufficiency. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012(11):CD003230.
- Meshikhes AW. Daflon for haemorrhoids: a prospective, multi-centre observational study. Surgeon. 2004 Dec;2(6):335-8, 361. doi: 10.1016/s1479-666x(04)80032-5. PMID: 15712573.
- Corsale I, Carrieri P, Martellucci J, Piccolomini A, Verre L, Rigutini M, Panicucci S. Flavonoid mixture (diosmin, troxerutin, rutin, hesperidin, quercetin) in the treatment of I-III degree hemorroidal disease: a double-blind multicenter prospective comparative study. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2018 Nov;33(11):1595-1600. doi: 10.1007/s00384-018-3102-y. Epub 2018 Jun 22. PMID: 29934701.
- Meshikhes AW. Efficacy of Daflon in the treatment of hemorrhoids. Saudi Med J. 2002 Dec;23(12):1496-8. PMID: 12518200.
