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 Orange
Citrus sinensis, TIAN CHEN
The sweet orange, tian chen, is also called chen (orange) and guang gan (a
kind of orange). It is an evergreen tree that grows to a height of 2-3
metres. The fruit is ball shaped or slightly elongated and 50-80mm in
diameter. The skin is comparatively thick and firmly attached to the fruit
so that it is not easy to peel.
The surface is orange in color and covered in small oil glands. The fruit
flesh is composed of about ten segments, which do not readily divide, and
contain abundant juice. The flavor is sweet or slightly acid and the flesh
contains egg shaped seeds. The fruit ripens in the autumn and winter when
the flesh becomes sweet or acid-sweet. Its nature is neither warm nor cold
and it contains no poison. Its virtue is that it can promote a healthy
stomach.
The flavor of the skin is bitter and pungent, its nature warm. It can clear
phlegm, stop coughs and make for a healthy spleen and stomach. The flavor of
the seeds is bitter, their nature warm. They help reduce swelling and stop
pain.
The fruit contains carbohydrate, vitamins, calcium, phosphorous, iron,
citric acid, malic acid, alkaloids, flavone glucoside, volatile oils,
esters, etc.
APPLICATIONS
1. IN THE TREATMENT OF VARIOUS ILLNESSES AND DURING CONVALESCENCE. Eat one
or two fresh oranges 2-3 times a day.
2. VITAMIN C DEFICIENCY. Take 2-3 oranges and discard the skin. Eat early in
the morning and again in the evening.
3. ACUTE THROAT INFLAMMATION; PERSISTENT COUGH; HOARSENESS; LOSS OF VOICE.
Slowly sip half a cup of fresh orange juice 3 times a day.
4. ACUTE OR CHRONIC BRONCHITIS. Take one fresh orange, including the skin,
cut into 4 segments and add 15 grams of sugar. Add water and steam for half
an hour then eat, including the skin. Do this both in the morning and in the
evening.
5. BREAST FEEDING PROBLEMS; BREASTS RED AND SWOLLEN; FEVER WITH AVERSION TO
COLD. Take 12 grams of orange seeds and crush them. Add 30 grams of boiled
water and 30 grams of rice wine* and
mix. Drink half this and use cotton wool to spread the rest on the affected
place. (* Japanese sake may be used. Ed.)
6. FACIAL ACNE. Take an appropriate amount of the seeds of an unripe orange,
add a little water and grind into a paste. Every evening spread on the
affected place before going to bed.
PREPARATIONS
1. ORANGE JUICE. Use fresh fruit, discard the skin and wrap in clean gauze,
then squeeze to obtain the juice.
2. DRIED ORANGE SKIN. Take the orange skins and dry them thoroughly in the
sun. They may then be kept for medical use.
3. PREPARATION OF SEEDS. The seeds are simply thoroughly dried in the sun.
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