With Allergy season coming soon, it’s again time to polish up the NLP allergy relief process and also to look at other ways that can help people to face the awful wave of pollen allergies that will be hitting Japan over the next few months.
One interesting remedy that I just read about is mandarin peel tea. Mandarins are very popular in the winter in Japan and are sold under the name mikan. I’ve always enjoyed chewing a little bit of mandarin skin, but did it secretly because it did seem a little odd. Now I’ve found that I’m not the only odd one out there and that mandarin peel is full of good health properties. One article lists the benefits in detail:
Mandarin peel regulates digestion and is very effective for treating gas, bloating and nausea. It is a perfect food for this time of year, chasing away mucus and warding off colds and flu with its antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties.
The white pith on the peel contains bioflavonoids. Bioflavonoids strengthen your blood capillaries enhancing their ability to deliver blood, oxygen and nutrients to your tissue and organs. Bioflavonoids provide tonic support for the entire cardio vascular system. The high content of bioflavonoids in mandarin peel contributes to their anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties.
Mandarin peel tea stimulates blood circulation and lymph system flow, helping to eliminate excess fluid in the body. Mandarin peel also helps to soothe the nervous system and is a popular remedy for nervous tension, stress and depression. There are no known contraindications to cooking with and drinking mandarin peel.
Mandarin peel tea can be easily made by boiling chopped-up peels and then leaving it to steep for a while to allow the flavours and nutrients to emerge. Afterwards, you can take out the peels before drinking, or if you’re like me, you might still have a little nibble.
During the winter, we eat lots of mikan in Japan, so I’ll be reporting in a later post on the efficacy of mandarin tea.