Celebrate Lunar New Year with Citrus

In honor of Chinese New Year we are showcasing Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), aged tangerine peel. There are many citrus fruits used in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) such as Buddha’s Hands (Fo Shou), Bitter Orange (Zhi Shi, Zhi Ke), and Mandarin (Qing Pi), but perhaps the most commonly used is Tangerine peel (Chen Pi). It enters the Lung, Spleen, and Stomach channels to harmonize the "the middle burner" or digestive Qi. A warm and pungent herb it awakens the digestive system, dries dampness (which is a type of inflammation described by TCM), resolves phlegm, relieves cough, and regulates Qi (easing stagnation and promoting smooth flow). Chen Pi is an herb that is especially useful in the winter when we are more susceptible to indigestion, coughs, and congestion. It also has a special function as a harmonizing herb, helping the other ingredients in a formula work together and prevents the cloying nature of some of the richer more tonifying herbs from causing stagnation. This makes it an excellent choice to resolve bloating, fullness, indigestion, cough, phlegm, tightness, or distention in the chest and digestive disturbance. It has Antiasthmatic, Antihistamine, Antioxidant, Antiviral, Expectorant, Hypertensive and smooth muscle relaxant properties. At home you can add it to any tea, or ask us about incorporating it into a customized herbal formula.