Fortunella japonica vs Citrus maxima

Side-by-side comparison of medicinal herbs

Herb

Fortunella japonica

Citrus japonica

Respiratory

Respiratory

Description

Small ornamental citrus eaten whole; peel sweet, flesh tart; used in Chinese folk medicine for cough and digestion.

Largest citrus fruit; peel used in Southeast Asian folk medicine for respiratory and digestive conditions.

Active Compounds

vitamin C, flavonoids, beta-carotene, limonoids, hesperidin

naringenin, hesperidin, flavonoids, limonoids, vitamin C

Traditional Uses

cough, digestive complaints, immune support, hangover relief

cough, digestive complaints, fever, skin conditions

Modern Uses

expectorant, digestive tonic, antioxidant food

Adult Dosage

3-5 fruits daily; peel tea 5g 2x/day

Fruit as food; peel tea 5-10g 2x/day

Contraindications

citrus allergy

citrus allergy, drug interactions (grapefruit-like for some drugs)

Side Effects

GI upset with excess

drug interactions similar to grapefruit

Drug Interactions

0 known interactions

Reviewed by: HerbAlly Editorial Team, Medical herbalists and healthcare professionals

Sources: WHO Monographs · NCCIH · PubMed · Commission E