Green Tangerine Peel

Green Tangerine Peel (qing pi, 青皮), also known as Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae Viride, refers to the immature fruit or the pericarp of Citrus reticulata Blanco, a small evergreen tree which belongs to the Rutaceae family. First recorded in the Illustrated Classic of Materia Medica (Tu Jing Ben Cao) around 1061 AD, Green Tangerine Peel is found in more than 200 Traditional Chinese Medicine herbal prescriptions.

Generally, Green Tangerine Peel that is black-green in colour with a strong fragrance is considered to be of high quality.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Green Tangerine Peel falls under the category of ‘Herbs that regulate qi’. Such herbs can treat qi stagnation, which is often manifested as symptoms such as depression, irritability, mood swings, premenstrual syndrome, menopausal symptoms, the development of breast swellings and various digestive disorders.

Warm in nature, Green Tangerine Peel can help individuals with too much Heat in their body, such as those experiencing a yin excess or a yang deficiency, to restore a harmonious yin-yang balance. Bitter and pungent in taste, Green Tangerine Peel can cleanse the body by clearing Heat, drying Dampness and promoting elimination via urination or bowel movements. Also, Green Tangerine Peel can promote the circulations of qi and body fluids. In particular, Green Tangerine Peel targets the gallbladder, stomach and Liver.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) shows that Green Tangerine Peel has the following health benefits.

Green Tangerine Peel can promote the flow of qi, soothe one’s Liver and dissipate nodulation. Hence, Green Tangerine Peel is often indicated for the treatment of syndromes of Liver depression and qi stagnation. 

For Liver qi stagnation caused by emotional depression or the failure of Liver to convey and disperse due to violent rage manifested as distending pain in the hypochondrium, Green Tangerine Peel can be combined with other qi-moving and Liver-soothing herbs to enhance its treatment effects. 

For menoxenia and dysmenorrhea caused by Liver depression and qi, Green Tangerine Peel can be combined with Liver-soothing, qi-moving, blood-activating and menstruation-regulating herbs to enhance its treatment effects. Other examples of symptoms Green Tangerine Peel may relieve include breast swellings, hardness, distending pain and milk blisters.

By breaking qi, resolving stagnation,dissipating nodulation, harmonising the stomach and alleviating pain, Green Tangerine Peel is indicated for food stagnation with accumulation manifesting as pain, distention or a stifling sensation in the epigastrium. Green Tangerine Peel is also indicated for abdominal pain caused by qi stagnation or blood stagnation with masses.

In addition, Green Tangerine Peel can dry Dampness and transform Phlegm, which is why it is indicated for Phlegm-Damp syndromes with malarial disorders and breast abscesses.

The recommended daily dosage of Green Tangerine Peel is 3 – 10g, when used as a decoction. 

To soothe one’s Liver and alleviate pain, it is best to use Green Tangerine Peel that is stir-baked with vinegar.

Green Tangerine Peel and its supplements, such as pills and tea, may be found in herbal stores and Asian specialty markets.

Green Tangerine Peel should not be used by individuals experiencing low energy due to Spleen qi deficiency.

We strongly encourage you to consult your healthcare provider before deciding to add Green Tangerine Peel to your healthcare routine!

Here is a summary for Green Tangerine Peel:

• Herb name (Chinese): 青皮
• Herb name (Pin Yin): qīng pí
• Herb name (English): Green Tangerine Peel
• Herb name (Botanical): Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae Viride
• Origin of species: Citrus reticulata Blanco
• Part(s) of herb used: Pericarp of young or immature fruits
• Geo-specific habitat(s): Guangdong, Fujian, Sichuan, Zhejiang, Jiangxi
• Taste(s) & Properties: Bitter, pungent; Warm; Administrates the Liver, Gall Bladder and Stomach Meridians
• Actions: Relieves indigestion and related stomach discomforts; Eases emotional irritations; Relieves pain of abdominal masses

He, X., Huang, S., Wu, M., Wu, M., Zhang, Y., Ma, Z., … & Cao, H. (2021). Simultaneous quantitative analysis of ten bioactive flavonoids in Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride (Qing Pi) by ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography and high‐resolution mass spectrometry combined with chemometric methods. Phytochemical Analysis, 32(6), 1152-1161. [Accessed on 13th July 2023]

Yi, L. Z., Yuan, D. L., Liang, Y. Z., Xie, P. S., & Zhao, Y. (2007). Quality control and discrimination of Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae and Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae Viride based on high-performance liquid chromatographic fingerprints and multivariate statistical analysis. Analytica Chimica Acta, 588(2), 207-215.[Accessed on 13th July 2023]