FAMILY
Rutaceae

SPECIES
Citrus Species

DESCRIPTION
The Citrus genus includes about 16 species of evergreen trees and shrubs, with perfumed flowers and segmented, aromatic fruit.

Various citrus fruits

USES
The fruit, juice, and peel of citrus fruits flavor food and drink and provide vitamin C. Essential oils from the peel scent food, cosmetics, and perfume; the seed oils are used in soaps. Bitter Orange flowers yield neroli oil for perfumes and aroma-therapy, the leaves and young shoots give the lighter petit-grain oil, both treat anxiety and depression. Bitter orange seed oil reduces cholesterol, and bergamot fruit essential oil is used in perfumes and aroma-therapy.

Lemon juice is antiseptic, astringent, and lightens hair; the essential oil is a stimulant and helps purify water. Lemon peel oil is a bleach and immune system enhancer. Eighty-five lemons yield 30 g of oil. Bergamot oil contains antiseptic thymol and are applied to pimples, steam-inhaled for colds, and brewed for nausea, flatulence, and insomnia.

Orange fruit stimulates the digestion, so can help constipation, move stagnant qi(energy), and make a cooling expectorant for coughs, especially where the phlegm is thick and yellow. It also calms the nerves, so is useful for insomnia and shock.

REMARK
Untreated essential oils of some citrus fruits, especially Bergamot, increase skin photo-sensitivity and require cautions use.