What are the benefits of drinking dried tangerine peel tea?
Dried tangerine peel, known as Chenpi, is most commonly consumed by brewing it into tea. So, what are the benefits of drinking this tea?Benefits of Drinking Dried Tangerine Peel Infusion What are the benefits of drinking dried tangerine peel infusion? Benefits of drinking orange peel infusion. Dried tangerine peel, also known as orange peel, is commonly consumed by steeping it in water. It helps regulate liver qi, dispel phlegm, and relieve coughs. When combined with other ingredients, it can offer therapeutic effects. Below, we explore the benefits of drinking dried tangerine peel infusion and how to prepare it.Benefits and Effects of Dried Tangerine Peel Infusion Dried tangerine peel is a commonly used Chinese herbal medicine, made by sun-drying the peel of the fruit we commonly eat. Traditional Chinese medicine considers it bitter and warm in nature, capable of regulating qi and soothing the liver, drying dampness and strengthening the spleen, resolving qi stagnation in the spleen and stomach, and transforming phlegm and dampness.
As a widely available herbal remedy, dried tangerine peel offers diverse therapeutic applications. It can be selected for treating conditions within its scope of efficacy. However, note that it has multiple preparation methods: decoction is one approach, while steeping in water is another excellent option. Steeping dried tangerine peel in water can indeed address certain health concerns. Many remain unaware of the specific benefits of drinking this infusion.
The benefits of drinking dried tangerine peel infusion are multifaceted. Therefore, when choosing it, it is necessary to understand its properties to know how it benefits the body and how best to use it.Oranges possess medicinal properties that moisten the lungs, suppress coughs, dissolve phlegm, strengthen the spleen, regulate qi, and quench thirst. They are an excellent fruit for people of all ages and genders, particularly the elderly, those with acute or chronic bronchitis, and cardiovascular disease patients. Every part of the orange is valuable: not only is the flesh highly medicinal, but its peel, seeds, membranes, and leaves are all authentic herbal ingredients.The dried peel, known as "Chenpi" in medicine, regulates qi, dries dampness, transforms phlegm, stops coughing, and strengthens the spleen and stomach. It is commonly used to prevent and treat chest and rib discomfort, hernias, breast engorgement, breast lumps, stomach pain, and indigestion.The seeds, known as "ju he," disperse nodules and alleviate pain, clinically used to treat testicular swelling and pain, as well as inflammatory breast swelling and pain. The pith, the net-like membrane within the fruit, unblocks meridians, transforms phlegm, regulates qi, and invigorates blood circulation, commonly used for treating phlegm-induced coughs. Rich in vitamin P, the pith effectively prevents and treats hypertension, making it beneficial for the health of the elderly.Tangerine leaves possess liver-soothing, qi-regulating, swelling-reducing, and toxin-dispelling properties, making them essential for treating costal pain and breast pain. Tangerine peel scraped of its white inner layer, retaining only the outer skin, is called "Tangerine Red." It regulates lung qi and expels phlegm, commonly used clinically for coughs and hiccups.Oranges are rich in sugars (glucose, fructose, sucrose), vitamins, malic acid, citric acid, protein, fat, dietary fiber, and various minerals. Recent research from Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation indicates that consuming one orange daily may help prevent certain cancers, such as oral, throat, and stomach cancers. While oranges offer numerous benefits, they should be consumed regularly but not in excessive amounts.
Traditional Chinese medicine classifies oranges as warm in nature. Overconsumption may lead to internal heat, manifesting as mouth sores, dry mouth and throat, sore throat, and constipation. Since orange pulp contains organic acids that can irritate the stomach lining, it's best not to eat oranges on an empty stomach.Additionally, oranges contain high levels of carotene. Excessive consumption in one sitting or over a short period can elevate blood carotene levels, causing yellowing of the skin. To address this, increase water intake, temporarily avoid citrus fruits, and limit foods rich in carotene. Skin color typically returns to normal within about one month.
Method for Brewing Dried Tangerine Peel: Take a small amount of dried tangerine peel (no more than 10 grams), steep it in boiling water, and drink it as a tea substitute 2-3 times daily until symptoms subside. It is best to consume the residue after drinking the tea. Alternatively, combine dried tangerine peel with ginger soup: take 5 grams each of ginger and dried tangerine peel, add a small amount of sugar, and boil with 400 milliliters of water. Drink the resulting decoction in 3-4 portions.Drinking dried tangerine peel infusion primarily promotes spleen and stomach qi. As the spleen and stomach govern the transformation and transportation of fluids, their qi movement expels dampness, strengthens the spleen, and resolves phlegm. Additionally, many Chinese herbal decoctions include dried tangerine peel as a decoction guide, highlighting its exceptional efficacy. Benefits of Dried Tangerine Peel Infusion 1. Cough with Excessive Phlegm Ingredients: 9g dried tangerine peel, 1 walnut, 3 slices ginger Method: Decoct and consume.2. For stomach pain: Ingredients: 3g orange pith, 6g ginger, a small amount of brown sugar. Method: Decoct in water, then add a small amount of brown sugar before consumption. 3. For chronic gastritis: Ingredients: 30g dried orange peel, a small amount of white sugar. Method: Grind the orange peel into a fine powder, mix with white sugar, and take with warm water on an empty stomach.4. Vomiting Ingredients: 9g dried tangerine peel, 50g rice, a small amount of ginger juice. Method: Decoct in water, add ginger juice, and drink. 5. Bronchitis Ingredients: 30g dried tangerine cake, 15g garlic. Method: Steep in water and drink as tea. 6. Burns Ingredients: Tangerine. Method: Apply an appropriate amount to the affected area.7. Loss of Appetite & Indigestion Ingredients: 3g dried tangerine peel, 10 large red dates. Method: Steep in boiling water for 10 minutes. Drink frequently before meals as a tea substitute to treat loss of appetite and indigestion. 8. Common Cold & Cough Ingredients: 30g fresh tangerine peel, 600ml water, a small amount of white sugar.Method: Boil down to 400ml, add sugar to taste. Drink 200ml while hot, then reheat and drink another 200ml after half an hour. Note: This method is effective for coughs caused by colds. 9. Pregnancy Fever Ingredients: 2 oranges, 1 cucumber. Method: Wash both, blend into juice, and drink 2–3 times daily.
10. Hoarseness
Dried tangerine peel (Chenpi) is commonly consumed by steeping in water. It helps regulate liver qi, disperse phlegm, and relieve coughs. Adding other ingredients enhances its therapeutic effects. Below we explore the benefits of drinking Chenpi-infused water and its applications...
Ingredients: 20g dried tangerine peel, 2 pears.Method: Wash pears and juice them. Simmer dried orange peel in water. Mix pear juice with orange peel decoction and drink together. Note: This method is effective for acute laryngitis and hoarseness. Fresh orange peel should not be steeped. Sun-dried orange peel, known as dried tangerine peel, offers significant health benefits when steeped in water.When steeped with additional ingredients, orange peel water can become a remedy for various ailments. Drinking orange peel water as a tea substitute helps clear heat, relieve coughs, and dissolve phlegm. However, consuming fresh orange peel water as a tea substitute is detrimental to health. With advancements in cultivation techniques and preservation methods, most fruit growers now soak oranges in preservatives before market release.Preservatives are chemical agents. While they do not affect the fruit flesh, residues on the peel are difficult to remove with plain water. Brewing tea with such peels poses obvious health risks. Even fresh orange peel not treated with preservatives fails to deliver its intended therapeutic effects when used as tea.The reason orange peel is also called aged tangerine peel (Chenpi) is that the longer it is aged, the better it becomes. Generally, it should be stored for at least a year before use. Tao Hongjing, a renowned medical expert of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, stated: "The longer the orange peel is aged, the better it is." Research has shown that the decoction of aged tangerine peel contains adrenergic-like components, which are more stable than adrenaline and are not destroyed by boiling.After aging for a year, the volatile oil content in aged orange peel significantly decreases, while the content of flavonoid compounds relatively increases. Only then can the medicinal value of aged orange peel be fully realized. The above explains the benefits of brewing aged orange peel in water. We remind everyone again: aged orange peel refers to sun-dried orange peel. Fresh orange peel is not suitable for brewing in water; it is best to dry it and use it after aging for a year.