The difference between tangerine peel and orange peel

The difference between dried tangerine peel and orange peel is very obvious. We can tell from their storage time and color. Dried tangerine peel is formed by drying over many years, while orange peel is the skin peeled off the orange. The only difference between the two is the length of time, but dried tangerine peel is formed by drying orange peel. However, whether it is tangerine peel or orange peel, eating these two things appropriately in daily life is still good for the body.

After being dried in the sun for a year, the volatile oil content of dried tangerine peel decreases, while the flavonoid compounds increase relatively. It is better at regulating qi and regulating the middle, drying dampness and resolving phlegm, and can generally be used to treat various diseases caused by spleen and stomach qi stagnation and phlegm. In terms of efficacy, the main difference between unripe tangerine peel and dried tangerine peel is that the former is more suitable for soothing the liver and breaking up qi, eliminating accumulation and stagnation. It can treat chest and rib or breast fullness and pain caused by liver qi stagnation and stomach epigastric distension and pain caused by food accumulation and qi stagnation.

As for the so-called difference in chemical composition, it should be said that the difference between the two is minimal and does not belong to the connotation of traditional Chinese medicine pharmacology. The key to the different backgrounds, one fresh and one old, is the change of qi. Simply put, fresh ones have great power in promoting qi flow, but also have the disadvantage of damaging qi; stale ones have less power and are sweeter, and are less likely to damage vital energy. Dongyuan once said: The spleen and stomach are the main organs of the human body, and regulating Qi is the first priority in treating diseases. If one wants to regulate Qi and strengthen the spleen, tangerine peel is the best choice.

"Chenpi is warm in nature, and its taste is pungent and bitter, which is the basis of the medicine's ability to nourish, wake up and strengthen the spleen at the level of Qi, and is also the direction of Chenpi's use in traditional Chinese medicine. When you examine Chenpi from a chemical perspective, Chenpi can only be called dried orange peel, and is no longer a Chinese herbal medicine.

Additional information:

1. Tangerine peel can be soaked in water, but fresh tangerine peel cannot

According to traditional Chinese medicine, tangerine peel is pungent, bitter and warm in nature, and enters the spleen and lung meridians. It has the functions of promoting qi and strengthening the spleen, relieving adverse effects and stopping vomiting, regulating the middle and stimulating the appetite, and drying up dampness and resolving phlegm. It is suitable for symptoms such as abdominal distension, belching, nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, fatigue, loose stools, and cough with excessive sputum. Adding tangerine peel to your diet can help strengthen your spleen and stomach.

This dried food, which is brown or yellow in color, looks dry and inconspicuous, but becomes more fragrant as it ages, has a history of more than 700 years of being used as medicine and is highly valued. There is a saying that "dried tangerine peel is good for the five internal organs and can cure all diseases." Chinese medicine practitioners throughout the ages have liked to add tangerine peel to soups for its effects of regulating qi, drying dampness, strengthening the stomach, removing phlegm and relieving coughs. It has a very good effect on spleen and stomach disharmony, edema and constipation, and it also has a certain effect on detoxifying crab poison and alcohol poisoning.

In the famous "Chenpi Banxia Decoction" and "Erchen Decoction", tangerine peel is the main ingredient; Chinese patent medicines with tangerine peel as the main ingredient include Sichuan fritillary tangerine peel, snake gall tangerine peel, licorice tangerine peel, tangerine peel paste, tangerine peel powder, etc.

Fresh orange peels may irritate the stomach and intestines because there are pesticides or preservatives attached to the surface of the peels. Normal washing and sun exposure may not completely remove these harmful substances. Therefore, it is best not to use fresh tangerine peel to make tea or wine. When drying tangerine peel yourself, be careful not to use tangerine peel with mold on the surface.

2. Don’t throw away the network of veins in the orange peel

Many people like to pull out the white veins on the outside of oranges when eating them. In fact, this way of eating is unscientific. The white network of tendons outside the orange pulp is the "orange vein". It has the functions of clearing the meridians and resolving phlegm, relieving qi and activating blood circulation. It is not only a good food therapy for patients with chronic diseases such as chronic bronchitis and coronary heart disease, but also has an auxiliary therapeutic effect on chest and flank pain caused by long-term cough.

3. How to turn orange peel into tangerine peel:

1. Wash the oranges and put the peeled orange peels on a clean sieve to dry;

2. Put the dried orange peels into the steamer, steam them thoroughly, and then dry them in the sun. This step is repeated three times.

3. Put the orange peels that have been steamed and dried three times into a sealed jar to ensure hygiene and prevent mold, and take them out when needed.

Tangerine peel is made from tangerine peel, but the two are not the same. The above introduces the difference between tangerine peel and orange peel. I hope everyone will correct the previous misunderstanding and stop eating orange peel as tangerine peel!