Eating tangerines in autumn and winter is very beneficial for health and wellness. After eating a tangerine, save the peel as it has many wonderful uses. It can solve many problems you encounter in daily life, such as motion sickness, high blood pressure, cough, constipation, teeth grinding, etc. The tangerine peel itself is also very nutritious, containing a large amount of vitamins. In addition, fresh tangerine peels can be made into aged tangerine peel. Aged tangerine peel can regulate qi, invigorate the spleen, stop coughs, and resolve phlegm.
Eat Your Way to Health
Tangerines are delicious, and their peels can also be used as medicine. Air-drying the tangerine peel makes aged tangerine peel. Aged tangerine peel contains hesperidin, tangeretin, and volatile oil, and has effects such as regulating qi, resolving phlegm, promoting urination, and relieving constipation. It is very effective for patients with spleen and stomach disharmony, edema, and constipation. In traditional Chinese medicine shops, aged tangerine peel is very expensive; the best quality can cost around 1,000 yuan for 500 grams. Actually, in the winter, after eating tangerines, you can collect the peels to make your own aged tangerine peel, which is very economical. According to nutrition experts, aged tangerine peel can not only be used for medicinal purposes but also in cooking, and it also has health benefits through food therapy.
Make Your Own Aged Tangerine Peel at Home
Method: Choose ripe tangerines and trim the stems flat. When selecting tangerines, choose ones with intact peels. Place the peeled peels in a sunny place to allow them to naturally dehydrate and wilt. When drying, ensure the white pith is facing outward. Store the air-dried and sun-dried tangerine peels in a sealed bag for 2 to 5 months, then place them in the sun to dry again. Once completely dry, the aged tangerine peel is ready. Store it in a sealed container.
Tip: During the drying process, it is best not to stack or overlap the tangerine peels, as they can easily become moldy. It is best to spread them out to dry until about 80% dry before collecting them for storage.
Wonderful Uses for Tangerine Peel
1. Preventing Motion Sickness: 1 hour before getting in a car, fold a fresh tangerine peel in half towards the inside, hold it to your nostrils, and squeeze and pinch the peel with your fingers. This will spray a fine mist of tangerine essential oil, which you should inhale. Continue to squeeze and inhale as needed after getting in the car to effectively prevent motion sickness.
2. Treating Chilblains: Roast the tangerine peel until it is charred, grind it into a powder, mix it with vegetable oil, and apply it to the affected area.
3. Treating Chronic Bronchitis: Use 5 to 15 grams of tangerine peel, steep it in water like tea, and drink it regularly.
4. Treating Cough: Use 5 grams of dried tangerine peel, add 2 cups of water to make a decoction, then add a small amount of ginger and brown sugar and take it while hot. Alternatively, take a fresh tangerine peel, chop it, steep it in boiling water, add sugar, and drink it like tea. It has the effect of resolving phlegm and stopping cough.
5. Treating Constipation: Take 12 grams of fresh tangerine peel or 6 grams of dried tangerine peel, make a decoction, and drink it to treat constipation.
6. Sobering Up: Use 30 grams of fresh tangerine peel, add a small amount of salt to make a decoction, and drink it for a good sobering-up effect.
7. Treating Teeth Grinding During Sleep: 10 minutes before bed, place a piece of tangerine peel in your mouth and then fall asleep. It is best not to spit it out; only do so if you feel discomfort.
8. Preventing "Sour Teeth": Eating sour tangerines is not suitable for the elderly or those with sensitive teeth. In fact, after eating a sour tangerine, drinking a cup of hot water steeped with the remaining fresh peel can prevent "sour teeth."
9. Treating Mastitis: Use 30 grams of fresh tangerine peel and 6 grams of licorice, make a decoction, and drink it to treat mastitis.
10. Treating Bad Breath: Hold a small piece of tangerine peel in your mouth or chew a small piece of fresh tangerine peel to treat bad breath.
11. Neutralizing Fish and Crab Poison: Drink a decoction made with an appropriate amount of tangerine peel to alleviate poisoning from eating fish or crab.
12. Treating Vomiting Due to Stomach Cold: Simmer tangerine peel with fresh ginger slices in water, drink the decoction to treat stomach cold and vomiting.
13. Regulating Qi and Relieving Bloating: Steep fresh tangerine peel in hot water, add an appropriate amount of sugar to make tangerine peel tea. Drinking it can regulate qi, relieve bloating, promote the production of body fluids, and moisten the throat.
14. Treating Indigestion: Soak 50 grams of tangerine peel in alcohol. This wine has the effect of warming and tonifying the spleen and stomach, and is used for indigestion, nausea, and vomiting. It is especially effective for indigestion and loss of appetite caused by eating too much greasy food.
15. Clearing the Lungs and Resolving Phlegm: Wash the tangerine peels and soak them in white liquor for over 20 days before drinking. The taste is mellow and refreshing, and it has the effect of clearing the lungs and resolving phlegm.
If soaked for a longer time, until the Spring Festival or the beginning of spring, the taste will be even better.
16. Treating Wind-Cold Cold: Simmer fresh tangerine peel, fresh ginger slices, and an appropriate amount of brown sugar in water and drink it to treat wind-cold, colds, vomiting, and cough.
17. Refreshing and Stimulating Appetite: Wash the tangerine peels, cut them into shreds, and dry them in the sun. Store them with tea. When drinking, brew with hot water. The taste is fragrant and delicious, and it has the effects of stimulating appetite, promoting circulation, and refreshing the mind.
18. Treating Pancreatitis: Use 30 grams of tangerine peel, 10 grams of licorice, and water to make a decoction and drink it like tea. It helps in treating acute pancreatitis.
18. Lowering Blood Pressure: Cut the tangerine peels into shreds, dry them, and use them as pillow filling. It has the effects of regulating qi and lowering blood pressure, making it very suitable for patients with high blood pressure.
20. Treating Foot Intertrigo: When the area between the toes is irritated by dirty water, it can cause intense itching. If scratched, the skin may break and weep, causing a foul odor. At this time, vigorously rub the itchy area with a fresh tangerine peel for a very good anti-itch effect.
21. Dry them and steep in tea, or place them in a corner to remove odors, such as removing odors from the refrigerator.
The entire tangerine is a treasure, so such a useful tangerine peel should be treasured. In addition, tangerine peels can also be used to make tea, and they are a great ingredient for beverages. Drinking it as tea can reduce internal heat; for bad breath caused by internal heat, you can use tangerine peel. Fresh tangerine peel used in cooking also has a very nice taste.