The extract of bitter orange, as well the peel, have been used to aid in fat loss and as an appetite suppressant. Homeopathic practitioners use both the peel and the flower to remedy headaches, aid weight loss, indigestion, abdominal pain (epigastric), constipation, dysenteric diarrhea and high blood pressure. As a home remedy, bitter orange is used for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, nervousness and insomnia, gout and sore throat, and even for obesity. In ancient China, un-ripened bitter oranges were used to make a herbal extract (zhi shi) used to treat constipation, improve energy (chi), and to calm nerves in cases of insomnia and shock.

In Latin America, the leaf of the bitter orange plant is prepared as a tonic and used as a laxative, a sedative for insomnia, and to calm anxiety

People use bitter orange for conditions such as weight loss, upset stomach, and exercise performance, and many others.