https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/A4PeQB2Vq1CW8xtc-5KQOA
Everyone is welcome to share their experiences with the medicine in the replies, to help other students search and learn
201. Bitingchuanqia (荜澄茄)
Not very pleasant to drink, a bit bitter, a bit throat-irritating, but it has a special flavor that is hard to let go of, inviting deeper exploration—I would call it the “bad boy” of medicines.
After drinking, the qi in the chest and abdomen indeed feels somewhat smooth, and the warming effect on the middle burner is also present but slight, better than nothing.
Effects: Qi-regulating (moderate intensity), warming the middle (weak).
202. Chenpi (陈皮)
Longxitang’s Chenpi is custom-made by Shengshi Baicao. If you haven’t tried it, you really should—it’s sweet and fresh, with a bit of citrusy sourness. Even without adding honey, it tastes better than honey citron tea, and the price is reasonable.
When I was a child and got carsick, my mom would have me smell tangerine peel. It seemed to help somewhat but mostly just delayed the vomiting; eventually, I still had to vomit—carsickness is due to fragile internal organs, so kids are prone to it. If adults still get carsick, it can be improved by strengthening the earth element (培土).
Effects: Beyond taste, there’s no strong perception of efficacy, maybe a slight improvement in qi flow, also some appetite enhancement and spleen strengthening, but overshadowed by the pure joy of drinking a tasty beverage that gently regulates qi flow.
Talking about Chenpi, I must mention Xinhui Chenpi. An elder once gave me a jar of 2020 Dongjia Chenpi. The smell was really pleasant, but the brewed water was disappointing. Before brewing, I thought it would taste like the childhood candy (nine-processed Chenpi pills), but the brewed water turned out bland.
Later, I found a member’s public account through a pun and bought half a catty of 2016 Meijiang Chenpi from him. Perhaps older Chenpi doesn’t suit me; not only the brewed water tastes bad, even the aroma is uninspiring.
In summary, at least in my view, Xinhui Chenpi is mainly for smelling. If you insist on eating it, it’s better to buy nine-processed Chenpi pills—sour and sweet. For brewing, salted lemon is a better choice.
203. Qingpi (青皮)
A richer version of Chenpi, also with some sourness and sweetness, plus a bit of bitterness (just a little), still quite tasty.
After drinking, the qi-regulating sensation is very obvious, with a real feeling of qi moving around the liver and lungs. Drinking a few more sips can even bring a sense of rising on the left and descending on the right. After about 3 minutes, qi also starts moving in the lower abdomen—remarkably, the qi-regulating effect is strong yet gentle, basically not harming the upright qi, and even has a slight salivary-promoting effect.
Effects: Soothes the liver and promotes lung function, regulates qi and relieves distension, can participate in the siege of dysmenorrhea symptoms.