Almond and Tangerine Peel Drink

Category: Herbal Tea

Herbal Tea Name: Almond and Tangerine Peel Drink

Chinese Name: 杏仁橘红饮

Formula

6 grams of almonds, 5 grams of dried tangerine peel, 1 gram of licorice, and 10 grams of honey

Main Ingredients

How To Make

Wash the almonds, dried tangerine peel, and licorice root, then sun-dry them. Chop the dried tangerine peel into small pieces and slice the licorice root. Place them in a clay pot with the almonds, add an appropriate amount of water, and let them soak for a moment. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes. Strain through clean cheesecloth, pour the liquid into a cup, add honey while still hot, and stir until well mixed.

Efficacy

Dispels wind and clears the lungs. Suitable for whooping cough of the “wind-heat invading the lungs” pattern (early cough stage)

Usage

Take one dose in the morning and one in the evening

Commentary

Taking dried tangerine peel (Chen-pi) as the chief herb, the formula draws on its pungent, bitter flavor and warm property: it channels into the Spleen, Lung meridians and works to regulate qi, strengthen the spleen, dry dampness and dissolve phlegm. Almonds (Xing-ren) act as the deputy ingredient; warm and bitter in character, it travels through the Lung, Large Intestine meridians to descend lung qi and relieve cough and wheezing. Finally, licorice (Gan-cao) acts as the coordinating (envoy) herb; its role is to tonify qi, harmonize all herbs, moderate the formula and coordinate the herbs. Taken together these herbs dispel wind and clear the lungs, in keeping with the wind-heat and heat pattern.

Almond and Tangerine Peel Drink，From *Proven Tea, Decoction, and Soup Recipes for Common Ailments*,Dispels wind and clears the lungs. Suitable for whooping cough of the “wind-heat invading the lungs” pattern (early cough stage)

📖 Related Reading