one tael tangerine peel just as one tael gold! Six major efficacies of it from Traditional Chinese medicine records
As the old saying in China:” one tael tangerine peel just as one tael gold, hundred-year-old tangerine peel is more valuable than a piece of gold”. If you want to understand why tangerine peel is so sought after and becoming one of the few precious ingredients in the food world, you first have to understand what tangerine peel is. What is the effect and function of tangerine peel? What are the contraindications when eating?
The tangerine peel we said is actually the dry peel made from the ripe peel of fruit citrus after sun-dried. It can be long lasting preserve in dry conditions. With the extension of preservation time, tangerine peel will be more sweet, fragrant, mellow, and higher medicinal value.
Tangerine peel has a long history in medicine using, as early as the Ming and Qing Dynasties was favored using in some primary palace prescriptions. Since it is so beloved, it must have nutritional benefits that other herbs or drugs do not. Indeed, in the eyes of traditional Chinese medicine, tangerine peel has six major effects：
A: be used for the stagnation of vital energy (Qi) in spleen and stomach
The primary effect of tangerine peel is to promote the vital energy (Qi) in the spleen and stomach. The spleen and stomach mainly transport water and dampness, and the vital energy (Qi) movement of the spleen and stomach can remove dampness, strengthen the spleen, and eliminate phlegm. Therefore, the warm of tangerine peel can nourish the spleen, pungent can wake up the spleen, bitter can strengthen the spleen.
B: be used for the Syndrome of obstruction in dampness and turbidity
Tangerine peel taste bitter dampness dryness and strengthen the vital energy(Qi) of spleen movement, be used on the symptom of distension of chest and abdomen, lethargy and sluggishness, loose stool, tongue coating thick greasy and other symptoms. Often collocate with magnolia bark and rhizoma atractylodis together for dampness and dryness strengthen the spleen.
C: be used for cough and phlegm much
Tangerine peel can not only dryness dampness but also warming cold phlegm, dispersing bitterness and relieve cough, it is often used for phlegm and dampness obstructing, lung loss of declension, cough and phlegm excessive and vital energy (Qi) reverse running.
D: be used for the deficiency syndrome of spleen, stomach and vital energy(Qi)
Tangerine peel can dryness dampness and strengthen spleen and appetite, suitable for the weakness on spleen and stomach, dyspepsia, do not want to eat, abdominal distention after eating, nausea and vomiting, thin loose stool, thick and greasy tongue coating, etc., often collocate with codonopsis, rhizoma atractylodis, liquorice for using.
E: be used for stomach disharmony, nausea and vomiting
If stomach cold vomiting can be combined with ginger, such as tangerine peel soup. Vomiting and phlegm-heat symptoms can be compatible with bamboo ru. Coptis.
F: It can be used for the adjuvant of vital energy (Qi) tonic medicine
Tangerine peel can regulate vital energy (Qi) and strengthen spleen function. It is used for vital energy (Qi) stagnation, chest tightness, abdominal distension, inappetence and other symptoms caused by taking vital energy (Qi) tonic medicine. It can help the tonic medicine without stagnation and prevent obstructing and swelling.
Although the benefits of tangerine peel are not a few, it is still necessary to remember the following contraindications when consuming it, so as to avoid causing adverse effects:
First of the contraindications: tangerine peel is warm-natured, it can help heat for the body, therefore, you should be careful for using when the tongue red and less fluid within body.
Second of the contraindications: tangerine peel will affect the enzyme activity, so during the period of taking drugs, try not to eat tangerine peel or related soups or foods within 3~4 hours, otherwise, it may affect the efficacy.
Third of the contraindications: when the viscera of the body are dysfunction, insufficiency metaplasia of the vital energy (Qi) and blood or the body too much fluid consumption, the less fluid of lung impairment in the period of pregnancy, do not eat tangerine peel.