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Its color is green, its taste is extremely bitter and pungent, its nature is warm and non-toxic. Both flavor and qi are dense; it sinks and belongs to yin, descending in action. It enters the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian and the Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian. Bitterness drains downward, pungency disperses outward, and its nature further possesses a restraining and reducing effect. Therefore, it mainly breaks down hard masses and accumulations, treats stagnant qi in the left hypochondrium due to Liver Meridian involvement, and treats diaphragmatic qi stagnation. When combined with Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen, 人参) and Turtle Shell (Biejia, 鳖甲), it can eliminate malaria spleenomegaly (malaria mother). When combined with Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen, 人参), Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu, 白术), Sparganii Rhizoma (Sanleng, 三棱), Curcumae Zedoariae Rhizoma (Ezhu, 蓬术), Ferulae Resina (Awei, 阿魏), Alum (Fan, 矾), Red Hawthorn Fruit (Hongshanzha, 红山楂), Red Yeast Rice (Hongqu, 红曲), and Aucklandiae Radix (Muxiang, 木香), it eliminates epidemic qi masses and hard accumulations from meat consumption. When combined with Aurantii Fructus (Zhike, 枳壳), Cinnamomi Cortex (Rougui, 肉桂), and Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuanxiong, 川芎), it treats pain in the left hypochondrium. However, its nature is most fierce and violent; excessive or mistaken use immediately damages true qi, causing significant harm.

Qingpi (Green Tangerine Peel) acts on qi disorders at a low level, serves as a guiding herb for the Liver, breaks stagnant qi under the left hypochondrium, calms depression and anger, eliminates malaria spleenomegaly, attacks distension and pain caused by various hernias and jia-masses (abdominal masses), resolves food stagnation, and drains excess Liver qi. Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) soothes Liver qi in the Upper Jiao, while Qingpi regulates Liver qi in the Lower Jiao. Yet, it is harsh, reducing, and fierce, which is highly unsuitable for those with Qi and Blood deficiency. Even though the Liver represents the vital energy of the East, how can one lightly employ such attacking methods? Users must exercise caution.

Main Indications (Reference for Smallpox/Rash Diseases): It opens the diaphragm and promotes qi movement. It is applicable when smallpox patients present with abdominal distension and inability to defecate due to dietary injury. Some say it is an essential herb for smallpox treatment; it drains Liver fire, preventing vesicle formation and inducing itching instead. It is also indispensable when eruption is delayed and accompanied by itching. One should select small, thin-skinned, aged pieces, soak them in water, remove the white pith, and cut them for use. However, smallpox relies on Qi and Blood to achieve success; herbs that soothe the Liver and break qi should be contraindicated. Moreover, vesicles exuding fluid indicate Qi deficiency; how can one further apply reducing methods?

Commentary: Qingpi has a rather fierce and sharp nature and should not be used in large doses. Just as young people are prone to dryness and violence, aging turns the fruit into tangerine peel, like humans growing old where fierce qualities gradually diminish. After long storage, it becomes Chenpi (Aged Tangerine Peel), having endured many colds and summers, completely eliminating dryness. The seed (Juhe, 橘核) treats bladder hernia; taken alone as powder, five qian administered with wine. The leaf (Juye, 橘叶) treats lung abscess and breast abscess; juice extracted and drunk.

Tangerine Peel (Jupi, 橘皮): Flowers open in summer, fruits mature in autumn. It receives less Fire qi and more Metal qi, hence its taste is bitter and pungent, nature is warm, and it is non-toxic. Its flavor is light but qi is dense; it descends more than it ascends, belonging to Yin within Yang. It enters the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian, and Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian. It mainly treats jia-masses, heat, and rebellious qi in the chest, vomiting, and coughing caused by qi rushing to the chest. Since the Lung governs qi, normal qi flow is smooth, while altered qi flow becomes rebellious. Rebellious qi causes heat to gather in the chest, forming jia-masses ("jia" means false, taking shape from objects, similar to fullness, oppression, and depression). Pungency disperses, bitterness drains, and warmth unblocks; thus, qi flows smoothly, and symptoms of jia-mass and heat are eliminated. The Spleen is the organ responsible for moving and grinding food; qi stagnation prevents digestion of water and grain, leading to vomiting, rebellion, cholera-like disorder, and diarrhea. Bitter-warmness dries Spleen dampness, allowing stagnant qi to move, thereby calming cholera-like disorders. The Lung is the upper source of water metabolism; nourished by proper function, fluids are distributed, and qi transformation moves normally, thus clearing retained heat and stagnant water in the Bladder and unblocking all five types of strangury (Wulin, 五淋). It removes foul odors, directs qi downward, and expels Taenia saginata (Inchworm/Cunbai chong, 寸白虫); pungency disperses pathogens, and bitterness kills parasites. Juhe (Tangerine Seed) is bitter and warm, directing qi downward, entering the Kidney and Bladder meridians to eliminate diseases caused by cold. It is an essential herb in formulas for lower back pain, cold Kidneys, and bladder hernia. Juye (Tangerine Leaf) dissipates stagnant qi in the Yangming and Jueyin meridians; thus, it is effective for women's milk stasis (Duru, 妒乳), internal and external blowing (breast inflammation), mammary carcinoma (Luyan, 乳岩), and breast abscess (Ruyong, 乳痈). One formula treats female breast abscess: if unformed, it dissipates; if formed, it suppurates; if extremely painful, it relieves pain—miraculously effective. Use genuine tangerine peel, soak in water, remove white pith, stir-fry until slightly yellow, grind to powder. Take two qian per dose, washed down with sesame oil. Effective upon first dose for initial onset; this is entirely due to its ability to dissipate nodules.

Chenpi (Aged Tangerine Peel): Flavor and qi are pungent and fierce. Generally, Qingpi treats qi disorders at a low level, while Chenpi treats them at a high level. It is excellent for phlegm-solidity and qi congestion. Retaining the white pith tonifies the Stomach and harmonizes the Middle Jiao, regulating Spleen qi; removing the white pith resolves phlegm, benefits stagnant qi, and regulates Lung qi. The Spleen is the mother of Primary Qi; the Lung is the bellows of Qi regulation. Thus, regulating various qi disorders invariably involves these two meridians. Paired with Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu, 白术), it benefits the Spleen; used alone, it damages the Spleen. Assisted by Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao, 甘草), it tonifies the Lung; otherwise, it drains the Lung. Combined with Bamboo Shavings (Zhuru, 竹茹), it treats hiccups due to heat; combined with Dried Ginger (Ganjiang, 干姜), it treats hiccups due to cold. It stops gout attacking the heart, clears retained heat in the Bladder, benefits urination and unblocks strangury, resolves alcohol toxicity, expels tapeworms, aids digestion, resolves phlegm, opens the stomach, directs qi downward, and treats cholera-like vomiting and diarrhea. It can warm, tonify, and harmonize, excelling among herbs. Combined with qi-tonifying herbs, it supplements qi; combined with qi-draining herbs, it breaks qi; combined with phlegm-resolving herbs, it removes phlegm; combined with food-digesting herbs, it transforms food. Each acts according to its category.

Juhe (Tangerine Seed): Ground and mixed with wine for drinking; a divine medicine for lower back pain and hernia pain. Juye (Tangerine Leaf) guides qi along the Liver meridian; a sacred herb for dissipating breast abscess and hypochondriac abscess. The flesh generates phlegm and gathers qi.

Main Indications (Reference for Smallpox/Rash Diseases): Strengthens the Spleen, warms the Middle Jiao, resolves food stagnation, and transforms phlegm. Combined with Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen, 人参), it dissipates stagnant qi. It can be used throughout the stages of smallpox, but in cases of Qi deficiency, especially during the pus-forming stage, it should not be overused. If spontaneous sweating, hematemesis, or weak Qi are present, it is strictly contraindicated due to its pungent, dispersing, and draining nature.