8 Citrus-Derived Chinese Herbs and Their Clinical Applications

Beyond their culinary use, citrus plants are used for their medicinal properties in Traditional Chinese Medicine. TCM employs various parts of citrus plants, including the peel, seeds, leaves, and even fruit segment membranes. These herbs are generally aromatic, dispersing, and qi-regulating, commonly employed to harmonize the spleen and stomach, soothe liver qi, and transform phlegm to relieve cough. Herbs derived from citrus form an important group for regulating qi flow and resolving phlegm. This article provides a concise overview to support clinical herb selection and pattern differentiation.

1. Chen Pi comes from the peel of mature tangerines, which are dried and aged to enhance medicinal properties. 

  • Bitter and pungent with a warm nature, it enters the spleen and lung channels. 

  • It regulates qi, strengthens the spleen, dries dampness, and transforms phlegm, moving qi without harshness and drying dampness without injuring yin. 

  • Historically utilized for spleen–stomach qi stagnation, poor appetite with distention, and damp-phlegm cough, Chen Pi is mild in action and the core herb among citrus medicinals.

2. Qing Pi is derived from the unripe peel of young tangerines, harvested before full maturity. 

  • Bitter, pungent, and warm, it primarily enters the liver and gallbladder channels and acts more strongly than Chen Pi. 

  • It disperses constrained liver qi, breaks up stagnation, and resolves food accumulation. 

  • Traditional indications include flank and breast distention from liver qi stagnation, nodules, and abdominal bloating from food retention. Careful dosing is needed due to its stronger potency.

3. Zhi Shi is sourced from the dried immature fruit of bitter orange. 

  • Bitter, pungent, and slightly cold, it has a strong downward-moving force, breaking up qi stagnation, reducing accumulation, transforming phlegm, and resolving focal distention. 

  • In TCM, prescribed for gastrointestinal food stagnation, phlegm-qi obstruction, and chest impediment.

4. Zhi Qiao comes from the dried peel of slightly more mature bitter orange fruit. 

  • Similar in flavor but gentler than Zhi Shi, it regulates qi and relieves distention in milder cases. 

  • Though from the same source, Zhi Qiao differs from Zhi Shi in strength; clinical selection depends on pattern severity and nature.

5. Ju Hong is from the outer layer of mature red tangerine peel. 

  • Bitter, pungent, and warm, it enters the lung and spleen channels. 

  • It regulates qi, transforms phlegm, and disperses the lungs to relieve cough. 

  • Its phlegm-transforming action is stronger than Chen Pi, making it suitable for damp-phlegm cough, sticky sputum, and chest oppression. 

  • Often combined with Ban Xia, Fu Ling, and other phlegm-resolving herbs.

6. Ju Luo is derived from the inner fibrous membranes between the peel and fruit segments of citrus fruits. 

  • Sweet-bitter and neutral, it enters the liver and lung channels. 

  • It promotes qi movement, unblocks collaterals, and transforms phlegm. 

  • Gentle in nature, it is used for chest/flank discomfort due to phlegm obstruction or cough with profuse sputum, and for mild qi and blood stasis in patients with weaker constitutions.

7. Ju He is sourced from the seeds of tangerines, dried for medicinal use. 

  • Bitter and neutral, it enters the liver and kidney channels. 

  • It disperses liver qi, softens hardness, and relieves pain, especially with a downward-directing action. 

  • Traditionally indicated for hernial pain, testicular swelling, and breast nodules. Often combined with Chuan Lian Zi, Lychee Seed, and other liver-soothing, qi-moving herbs.

8. Ju Ye comes from dried citrus leaves of the tangerine plant. 

  • Bitter, pungent, and neutral, it enters the liver and stomach channels. 

  • It soothes liver qi, disperses nodules, and reduces swelling. 

  • Historically used for mild liver qi stagnation with chest/flank discomfort, mastitis, breast nodules, or slight stomach disharmony, it is often applied as an adjunct herb.

Citrus-derived medicinals form a comprehensive system for regulating qi, resolving phlegm, and relieving stagnation. Though some herbs share a botanical origin, differences in plant part and harvest stage create distinct therapeutic actions. Clinical use should always consider disease location, pattern type, and patient constitution to maximize their combined benefits.

This article is provided only as an educational resource - it is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, and the herbs and/or formulas within are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases. The statements regarding Traditional Chinese Medicine and herbal formulas have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This information is intended only for licensed healthcare practitioners.