Whether you're sipping tea or cooking porridge, adding aged tangerine peel (Chenpi) brings a delightful twist. It's a must-have ingredient for sweet soups and slow-cooked broths, elevating flavors to a whole new level. No matter the dish, a touch of Chenpi makes all the difference.
Some even say, "An ounce of Chenpi is worth an ounce of gold, and a hundred-year-old Chenpi is better than gold." Chenpi is also exceptional for medicinal use. It has a mild nature and can complement almost any herbal formula effectively. Therefore, it's definitely a good idea to always have some Chenpi at home.
Chenpi is suitable for people who love eating meat, experience throat discomfort and phlegm buildup, feel fatigued and sleepy, eat well but struggle with digestion, or often experience bloating.
Chenpi's Benefits:
Chenpi helps regulate Qi and resolve phlegm, making it very suitable for those suffering from damp or cold phlegm-related coughs (symptoms such as coughing, excessive phlegm, thick white tongue coating, chest tightness, and lack of appetite).
People with bronchitis can also try drinking Chenpi-infused water, as the limonene in Chenpi can stimulate the bronchi and increase glandular secretion, helping to expel phlegm.
Chenpi for Strengthening the Spleen and Resolving Phlegm:
The primary function of Chenpi is to promote the movement of spleen and stomach Qi. Since the spleen and stomach govern the transformation of fluids, promoting their function can help eliminate dampness, strengthen the spleen, and resolve phlegm. Chenpi nourishes, awakens, and strengthens the spleen.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that loose or watery stools and frequent bowel movements are mainly due to spleen and stomach deficiency or an invasion of cold-damp pathogens. Chenpi has spleen-strengthening effects, can regulate digestion, and expel cold and dampness from the body.
The essential oils in Chenpi help dissolve phlegm, relieve asthma, and expand the bronchial passages. It also has a mild stimulating effect on the gastrointestinal tract, promoting digestive fluid secretion and increasing appetite.
Lesser-Known Benefit – Chenpi for Calming the Mind:
Few people are aware that Chenpi also has a calming effect, a benefit seldom mentioned in books. Traditionally, it has been used to make pillows, releasing a soothing aroma that helps relieve insomnia and ease nervous tension.
Chenpi for Digestion and Skin Health:
Chenpi contains flavonoids, vitamins B and C, which have a gentle stimulating effect on the stomach and intestines. Drinking Chenpi water can quickly relieve bloating and abdominal distension.
For those with poor skin health, cooking porridge with hemp seeds, Chinese yam, and Chenpi is beneficial. Hemp seeds moisturize dryness, while Chinese yam nourishes the lungs (which govern the skin), and Chenpi helps guide the medicinal effects to the surface.
Chenpi and Cardiovascular Health:
Chenpi contains pectin, which helps reduce the accumulation of lipids in blood vessels, potentially aiding in the prevention of arteriosclerosis.
In conclusion, don't underestimate this small piece of Chenpi—its benefits are truly extensive!
Tips for Using Chenpi Effectively:
While many people just steep Chenpi in water, combining it with other ingredients can significantly boost its health benefits.
Recommended Recipes:
Chenpi Goji Berry Tea
Benefits: Relieves cold-related coughs, promotes digestion.
Ingredients: 2 grams of Chenpi, 6 grams of goji berries.
Method: Brew the ingredients together and drink.
Chenpi, Lotus Seed, and Red Bean Soup
Benefits: Clears heat, removes dampness, calms the mind.
Ingredients: 5 grams of Chenpi, 70 grams of red beans, 20 grams of de-cored lotus seeds, 10 grams of lily bulbs.
Method: Soak red beans overnight, soak lotus seeds and lily bulbs for 1–2 hours. Add all ingredients to a pot with water, bring to a boil, and then simmer for 1.5–2 hours.
Chenpi Hawthorn Tea
Benefits: Aids digestion, relieves bloating, regulates Qi, and strengthens the spleen.
Ingredients: 2 grams of Chenpi, 2 grams of dried hawthorn, 2 grams of roasted cassia seeds, 1 gram of dried lotus leaf.
Method: Brew the ingredients together and drink.
Common Misconception:
Many people mistakenly believe that drying leftover orange peels at home can substitute for Chenpi. However, this is not the case, as improper preparation may negatively impact health. Authentic medicinal Chenpi is made from specific mandarin varieties using precise processing techniques and proper storage. To ensure quality and effectiveness, it's best to purchase Chenpi from reputable TCM pharmacies rather than attempting to make it at home.
Precautions for Certain Conditions:
People with stomach heat: They often have yellow, greasy tongue coating, prefer cold foods, and experience stomach pain when pressed.
People with heat-related coughs: They may cough with yellow-white phlegm and shortness of breath.
People with Yin or Qi deficiency: They may experience insomnia, frequent dreams, and a dry throat.
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