Tangerine peel (Chenpi)

Pharmaceutical Name : Pericarpium Citri reticulatae

Botanical Name : Citrus reticulata Blanco

Common Name : Tangerine peel

Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations : After tangerines ripen in autumn, the skins are collected and dried.

Properties & Taste : Pungent, bitter and warm

Meridians : Spleen and lung

Functions:
• Activates vital energy circulation.
• Strengthens the stomach to improve digestive functions.
• Invigorates the spleen.
• Eases the dislodging of phlegm, mucus, and sputum from the respiratory tract.
• Reduces the severity and frequency of coughs.
• Relieves local infections.

Indications & Combinations:

1. Qi stagnation in the spleen and stomach manifested as epigastric and abdominal distension and fullness, belching, nausea and vomiting, poor appetite and diarrhea. Tangerine peel (Chenpi) is used with Bitter orange (Zhiqiao) and Costus root (Muxiang) for epigastric and abdominal distension and fullness, with Fresh ginger (Shengjiang) and Bamboo shavings (Zhuru) for nausea and vomiting, and with Pilose asiabell root (Dangshen) and White atractylodes (Baizhu) for poor appetite and diarrhea.

2. Dampness blocking the spleen and stomach manifested as fullness and stifling sensation in the chest and epigastric region, poor appetite, lassitude, diarrhea and white and sticky tongue coating. Tangerine peel (Chenpi) is used with Atractylodes rhizome (Cangzhu) and Magnolia bark (Houpo) in the formula Pingwei San.

3. Excessive dampness, deficiency of the spleen and turbid phlegm blocking the lungs manifested as cough with profuse sputum. Tangerine peel (Chenpi) is used with Pinellia tuber (Banxia) and Poria (Fuling) in the formula Erchen Tang.

Dosage: 3-10 g