Tangerine Peel
陈皮 · Chén Pí
Cuts bloating and warms a sluggish gut
What it does
Tangerine peel cuts the bloated feeling that comes after eating, calms nausea, and warms a sluggish appetite. In TCM, it regulates the flow of qi, your body's baseline energy, and resolves stuck phlegm. The aged peel (Chén Pí means 'aged peel') is more potent than fresh, the most prized from Xinhui in Guangdong aged 10+ years. A common kitchen pairing with hawthorn for after-meal digestion.
Safety
- Generally well tolerated in food and tea amounts
- Skip with chronic dry cough or yin-deficient heat
- Can interact with statins and CYP3A4 substrate medications
- Stop if you develop heartburn or stomach upset at high doses
- Talk to your doctor before starting medicinal use, especially if you take medication
How to take it
Steep 3–10g of dried tangerine peel in hot water for 10 minutes. Drink 1–2 cups after heavy meals. Pairs well with hawthorn, ginger, or red dates.
Try chen pi tea with ginger after a heavy or oily dinner
Add 3–6g of dried tangerine peel to braises, soups, or congees. Soak for 10 minutes first, then chop or julienne. Common in Cantonese cuisine.
Add chen pi to your weekly braised pork or duck for digestive aroma
Formulas it's in
Bupleurum Spread the Liver
柴胡疏肝散 · chái hú shū gān sǎn
For rib-side pain, deep sighs, and irritability when Liver qi is constrained
Calm the Stomach
平胃散 · píng wèi sǎn
For bloating and heaviness that lingers after too much cold or raw food.
Preserve Harmony
保和丸 · bǎo hé wán
TCM's after-the-feast formula for when food just sits there and won't move.
Six Gentlemen
六君子湯 · liù jūn zǐ tāng
The qi tonic when poor appetite and fatigue are joined by nausea and a wet cough
Tonify the Middle & Augment Qi
補中益氣湯 · bǔ zhōng yì qì tāng
TCM's foundational formula for low energy that comes from the digestion being run-down for a long time.
Two-Aged Decoction
二陳湯 · èr chén tāng
TCM's classical base formula for what it calls 'phlegm-damp,' the heavy, sluggish quality that builds up from poor digestion.
Warm Gallbladder Decoction
溫膽湯 · wēn dǎn tāng
For anxious, restless nights that come with nausea and a churning stomach.
Where it comes from
Aged tangerine peel (Citrus reticulata, the aged peel of mandarin orange) is one of the most-used TCM kitchen botanicals. The Chinese name Chén Pí means 'aged peel' and refers to the practice of sun-drying and aging peels for years. The Xinhui variety from Guangdong is so prized that aged Chen Pi can sell for thousands of dollars per kilogram. In TCM, it's the lead qi-regulator for digestion and shows up in dozens of classical formulas. One review covers safety in pregnancy.