Home » Food and Drink »  Go Healthy »  Oranges - Naturally The Orange is a citrus fruit. It's not just the fruit that's useful to us, but also the tree, its bark, leaves and flowers.A peculiar characteristic of this fruit is, that it ripens only on the tree. The orange generally has two crops in a year, i.e., in October and December, but advanced scientific methods have helped this fruit to grow throughout the year.This fruit has a cooling effect on the body. It helps in digestion and in cleansing the body. Ayurvedic practitioners advocate the consumption of this fruit for energy and freshness. Those prone to colds however, should not take it in the night. Its alkaline content is good for the body.Orange contains a large quantity of Vitamin C. This is essential for the growth of the body. It helps to fight germs, thereby developing resistance. Vitamins B and A are present in good quantities. A number of enzymes are present in it as also fructose and glucose. From the flowers of the orange tree, a sweet smelling perfume is prepared. The rind is also used for a variety of skin lotions. It is a wonderful skin toner. Creams are also made to lighten marks on the body and to lighten the complexion. Orange juice is ideal for breakfast as it aids digestion. In Ayurveda, orange juice is prescribed for influenza and hysteria. For ordinary fever, orange juice has been suggested. For skin disorders, the juice intake, along with the application of orange rind powder have been recommended by many ayurveda practitioners. Orange juice mixed with rock salt and a quarter teaspoon of black pepper powder helps in diahorrea. Orange provides relief from digestive disorders too. For pimples, an age-old remedy is to dry the orange peel and apply its powder with water or mixed with sandalwood paste.

In days gone by, the orange flower was used to help epileptic patients. The fresh flowers were soaked in clean water. A thin film of oil which gathered on the water surface, was collected and given to the epileptic patients every morning. This was done to strengthen the nerves. Oranges from Nagpur are very famous in India. The fruit grows extensively in Maharashtra. The size is smaller in the south.