Part 2 of a Series on Plant Parts

Peels transform phlegmatic substances, move the lymph, and assist with weight loss

Would you like to understand how herbal medicine works? This series is a fun read with some historical and botanical underpinnings that lend meaning to the story of herbalism.

One of the earliest methodologies for cataloguing herbal remedies was based upon the “doctrine of signatures,” an approach that purports that a plant’s morphology resembles and is similar to the symptom, disease, or organ (Wood, 2004). Another interpretation is that the outer appearance of a plant or its environment will reveal its medicinal properties (Graves, 2012).

In Chinese medicine peels, or “pi,” taken from the fruits and barks, enter the superficial layers of the body. The peel is the superficial layer of fruit and therefore its morphology infers that it can be used to address issues of the skin. Some peels are able to move fluids stagnating beneath the skin, caused most commonly by poor metabolism or toxic overload.

For example, aged citrus or orange (Citrus reticulata) peel, chen pi, eases stuffiness in the lungs and bloating in the abdomen by transforming phlegmatic substances that linger due to poor diet or respiratory ailments (Yang, 2010). Dried orange peel is a popular remedy for indigestion in many parts of the world, used most commonly for the symptoms of bloating, flatulence and belching.

The following recipe contains aged orange (Citrus reticulata) peel, chen pi, and fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) seed, xiao hui xiang. This combination is pungent and helps move excess gas out of the belly. It also can assist with recovery from eating “bad” foods or overeating.

Happy Tummy Tea, Adapted from Hoffmann

Ingredients

1 tbsp. fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) seed, xiao hui xiang

1 tbsp. dried and aged orange (Citrus reticulata) peel, chen pi

2 cups of water

Honey to taste

Directions

Decoct the fennel seed and orange peel in the water by bringing it to a boil, and then reducing heat to simmer for about 20 minutes.
Strain the herbs.
Save the unused portion in the refrigerator and reheat when needed.

To Use

Drink ½ cup every hour for acute stomach cramps or intestinal distress. For persistent bloating and belching, drink ½ cup after meals until symptoms subside. This tea can also be taken to reduce edema in the abdomen and limbs.

Note: It is easy to find aged dried orange peel through an herbal supplier – Mountain Rose herbs link is provided below. Fennel seed is easy to find in a grocery, and is also available through MR herbs.

Peels Assist Lymphatic Flow Decongesting The Tissues In a Gentle Way

In line with its beneficial effects on the digestive system, consuming orange peel helps stoke the lymphatic system, and the essential oils in the peels decongest toxins (Graves, 2012). Stimulating the lymphatic system is the first therapy considered in any Ayurvedic treatment (Douillard, 2018). Remember that the gut is lined with lymph vessels that transport waste and fluids out of the system (Lymphatic system, n.d.), supporting gut health.

Other peels used singly or in Chinese herbal formulas include da fu pi for incomplete bowel movements, fu ling pi for edematous skin and sheng jiang pi for urinary issues (Yang, 2009). Peels are an excellent way to assist a slow or compromised metabolism, as they are very gentle and can be used for a long time without side effects.

Future posts will describe the other parts of the plants and herbs and their correspondences, including twigs, leaves, barks and roots.

REFERENCES

Douillard, J. (2018). Ayurvedic lymph-cleansing for cellulite [Article]. Retrieved from https://lifespa.com/cellulite-secret-oranges/

Graves, J. (2012). The language of plants: A guide to the doctrine of signatures. Great Barrington, MA: Lindisfarne Books.

Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical herbalism: The science and practice of herbal medicine. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press.

Lymphatic system (n.d.). Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/21199-lymphatic-system

Yang, Y. (2009). Chinese Herbal Medicines: Comparisons and Characteristics. United Kingdom: Elsevier Health Sciences.

RESOURCES

Mountain Rose Herbs is a large distributor of herbal products. Order chen pi, dried orange peel, using this link: https://mountainroseherbs.com/orange-peel