Citri Grandis Exocarpium
Aliases：Huà Pí (Huazhou Peel); Huàzhōu Júhóng (Huazhou Pummelo Red); Huàzhōu Chénpí (Huazhou Aged Peel); Yòu Pí Júhóng (Pummelo Peel Red); Máo Huà (Hairy Huazhou); Máo Huà Hóng (Hairy Huazhou Red); Lài Júhóng (Lai Pummelo Red); Xīnghuà Hóng (Xinghua Red); Máo Gān (Hairy Mandarin); Guāng Qī Zhuǎ (Smooth Seven-Claw); Guāng Wǔ Zhuǎ (Smooth Five-Claw); Huà Hóng (Huazhou Red).
Huà Jú Hóng (Pummelo Peel) is a Chinese medicinal substance. It is a commonly used medicinal material for regulating qi, derived from the immature or nearly mature outer peel of Citrus grandis ‘Tomentosa’ (Huàzhōu Yòu) or Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck, plants of the Rutaceae family. The former is commonly known as “Máo Júhóng” (hairy pummelo peel), and the latter as “Guāng Qī Zhuǎ” (smooth seven-claw) or “Guāng Wǔ Zhuǎ” (smooth five-claw). The fruit is harvested in summer when still immature, briefly scalded in boiling water, and the peel is cut into 5 or 7 sections. The pulp and part of the mesocarp are removed, then shaped and dried. Huà Jú Hóng was recorded in the Bencao Gangmu Shiyi (Supplements to the Compendium of Materia Medica) and is a famous Lingnan authentic medicinal substance.
Efficacy & Actions
Regulates qi and relaxes the chest; dries dampness and resolves phlegm; promotes digestion.
Indications
Used for cough with excessive phlegm (including wind-cold cough with itchy throat and excessive phlegm), food stagnation with alcohol injury, nausea and chest stuffiness, as well as chest and diaphragm stuffiness, and vomiting due to food stagnation, among other conditions.
Modern Pharmacology
Antitussive, Expectorant, and Antiasthmatic Effects: Exhibits significant antitussive, expectorant, and antiasthmatic effects. Its antitussive mechanism is peripheral, without causing addiction. The expectorant mechanism involves promoting airway serous secretion, inhibiting goblet cell transformation and proliferation, reducing airway mucin production, and enhancing ciliary movement. Anti-inflammatory Effect: Inhibits various models of inflammation. Antioxidant Effect: Possesses good free radical scavenging ability. Immunomodulatory Effect: Exhibits immunomodulatory activity. Cardiovascular Protection: Exhibits hypoglycemic, lipid-lowering, antithrombotic, anti-myocardial injury, and anti-pulmonary hypertension effects, among others. Other Effects: Also exhibits antiviral, hepatoprotective, anti-pulmonary fibrosis, and neuroprotective pharmacological activities. Toxicological studies have confirmed its good safety profile.
Ingredients
Flavonoids: These are the main active components of Huà Jú Hóng (Pummelo Peel), including naringin (accounting for over 70% of the total flavonoid content), rhoifolin, naringenin, neohesperidin, and others. Volatile Oils: Primarily composed of limonene. Coumarins: A total of 16 types have been identified. Polysaccharides: Possess various biological activities. Other Components: Limonoids (7 types), inorganic elements, inositol, among others.
Usage & Dosage
Decoction, the standard dosage is 3–6g. May also be prepared in pills or powder.
Contraindications
Contraindicated in patients with qi deficiency or yin deficiency with dry phlegm. As Huà Jú Hóng is warm and drying in nature, with bitter properties that dry dampness and aromatic properties that resolve dampness, it tends to consume yin fluids. Therefore, it is not suitable for those with yin deficiency and dry cough with scanty phlegm. Its pungent and dispersing nature also makes it unsuitable for those with qi deficiency. Contraindicated in patients with dry cough with scanty phlegm or blood-stained sputum. Use with caution in pregnant women and children. Avoid spicy, greasy, and raw/cold foods during the course of use.
Selected Formulas
For phlegm wheezing (Common Disease Prescription Research Reference Materials) Take 15g each of Huajuhong (Citrus grandis exocarpium) and Banxia (Pinellia), and 9g of Chuanbeimu (Fritillaria). Grind together into fine powder. Take 6g each time with boiled water. For cough with profuse phlegm, nausea, vomiting, and palpitations (empirical formula) Take 10g of fresh ginger, 1 smoked plum (Wumei), 15g each of Banxia and Huajuhong, 9g of Fuling (Poria), and 4.5g of honey-fried Gancao (Licorice). Decoct in water, strain, and drink warm, at any time. For lung-heat cough with profuse phlegm (Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Juhong Wan) Take 75g of Huajuhong, 50g of Chenpi (Tangerine peel), 37.5g of processed Banxia, 50g of Fuling, 25g of Gancao, 37.5g of Jiegeng (Platycodon), 50g of Kuxingren (Bitter apricot seed), 37.5g of stir-fried Zisuzi (Perilla fruit), 37.5g of Ziyuan (Aster root), 25g of Kuandonghua (Farfara flower), 50g of Gualoupi (Trichosanthes peel), 50g of Zhebeimu (Fritillaria thunbergii), 50g of Dihuang (Rehmannia), 50g of Maidong (Ophiopogon), and 50g of Shigao (Gypsum). Make into pills and take. For bronchitis (Yunnan Chinese Herbal Medicine) ① Take 30g of Guojianglong (a local herb), 15g of Huajuhong, and 9g of Xingren (Apricot seed). Decoct in water and drink. ② Take 30g of Shichuanlian (a local herb), 15g of Huajuhong, and 12g of Qingzhubiao (a local herb). Decoct in water and drink.
Daily Consumption
Huà Jú Hóng Infusion: Take 3g of Huà Jú Hóng (approximately 2–3 slices), place in a cup, add boiling water, steep for 3–5 minutes, and drink. It can be re-steeped until the flavor fades. For those who find it bitter, honey may be added after the water cools below 60°C. Suitable for wind-cold cough, itchy throat with excessive phlegm, and food stagnation with alcohol injury. Huà Jú Hóng and Almond Drink: Take 10g of Huà Jú Hóng, 10g of Fritillaria (Chuān Bèi Mǔ), and 30g of apricot kernels (Xìng Rén). Wash and bring to a boil, then simmer over low heat for 50 minutes. Allow to cool slightly, strain, and mix with rock sugar. Drink one cup daily. It helps moisten the lungs and relieve cough. Huà Jú Hóng Candy: Place 500g of white sugar in a pot with an appropriate amount of water and cook until thick and sticky. Add 100g of Huà Jú Hóng powder, mix well, and continue cooking until it reaches a stringy (caramel-like) consistency. Pour onto an oiled ceramic plate, spread flat, allow to cool, and cut into pieces. Take 3 small pieces, 3 times daily. It may be used for poor appetite, indigestion, and cough with excessive phlegm. Júhóng Pu'er Tea: Steep Huà Jú Hóng together with Pu'er tea. It helps promote digestion, relieve food stagnation, alleviate hangovers, and relax the stomach.
Medicinal Parts
The immature or nearly mature dried outer peel. The former (from Citrus grandis ‘Tomentosa’) is commonly known as “Máo Júhóng” (Hairy Pummelo Peel), and the latter (from Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck) is commonly known as “Guāng Qī Zhuǎ” (Smooth Seven-Claw) or “Guāng Wǔ Zhuǎ” (Smooth Five-Claw).
Selection & Storage
Store in a well-ventilated, cool, and dry place, protected from moisture and insects.
