The efficacy of drinking water infused with dried tangerine peel and ginger slices.

Generally, the effects of drinking water infused with aged tangerine peel (Chenpi) and ginger slices include regulating qi and strengthening the spleen, drying dampness and resolving phlegm, warming the middle jiao to dispel cold, lowering rebellious qi to relieve nausea, and stimulating appetite. Detailed explanations are as follows:

1. Regulating Qi and Strengthening the Spleen: Chenpi has a pungent and bitter taste and warm nature, entering the spleen and lung meridians. Ginger has a pungent taste and warm nature, entering the lung, spleen, and stomach meridians. Drinking water infused with both ingredients helps enhance spleen function, alleviate gastrointestinal discomfort, promote smooth flow of qi in the body, and eliminate qi stagnation.

2. Drying Dampness and Resolving Phlegm: Chenpi, with its bitter flavor, can purge, and both Chenpi and ginger enter the lung meridian. Drinking their infused water helps dry dampness and resolve phlegm, serving as an adjunctive treatment for symptoms such as phlegm due to dampness or cold, cough, and chest obstruction. Chenpi dries dampness and resolves phlegm, while ginger disperses with warmth and pungency. Together, they complement each other in alleviating symptoms like coughing and phlegm production.

3. Warming the Middle Jiao to Dispel Cold: Ginger warms the middle jiao and dispels cold. Combined with Chenpi in infused water, it can help alleviate wind-cold感冒 (wind-cold invasion), expelling cold from the body. It can relieve symptoms caused by external wind-cold invasion, such as chills with fever, headache, nasal congestion, and runny nose.

4. Lowering Rebellious Qi and Relieving Nausea: Both Chenpi and ginger have the effect of lowering rebellious qi and relieving nausea. Chenpi primarily treats vomiting and hiccups, while ginger warms the middle jiao and stops vomiting. Combined in infused water, they regulate qi flow, alleviate vomiting, and are especially suitable for vomiting caused by cold stomach or spleen-stomach deficiency cold.

5. Stimulating Appetite: Ginger has a certain stimulating effect, activating taste nerves and promoting gastrointestinal motility, while Chenpi improves spleen function. Drinking their infused water promotes secretion of digestive fluids, aids in opening the appetite, and enhances appetite, significantly improving symptoms such as indigestion and loss of appetite.

When drinking Chenpi and ginger infused water, individuals should consume it in appropriate amounts according to their constitution and health condition to avoid discomfort caused by excessive intake. Additionally, special populations such as pregnant women, lactating women, and individuals with allergic constitutions should use it cautiously or under the guidance of a physician.