Orange peel's powerful health benefits

[There are over 25 benefits of eating the peel of a Jamaican orange. Did you know that the rind is the skin without the white bit in culinary terms?]

If you are like many Jamaicans, you pride yourself in peeling an orange in one continued cutting of the knife, yes, without breaking it. Then you string that peel up into your kitchen to dry enjoying the aroma, or ground it into a powder form.

After that there is precious little that you do with this zesty herb, like using it to flavour cereals or porridge, baked products or marmalades. Very very few enjoy the tea by extracting the juice through a boiling process, while others settle for burning it to repel mosquitoes.
Even fewer put that hot tea extraction to rest to have as a cold beverage later. Like any other fruit, the skin although owning a slight tangy/bitter taste when raw can be boiled, cooled and sweetened into a nice after dinner beverage on a summer afternoon.
There are more health benefits however. For a start, did you know that 1 tablespoon of orange rind contains 0.6g of fibre, 14 per cent of your daily value of vitamin C and 1 per cent each of vitamin A, calcium and folic acid. The rind in culinary terms excludes the white element, and has only 6 calories and no fat, cholesterol, sugar or sodium. It is used to add zest in commercially-sold orange juices.

EXTERNALLY, the rind of the peel is great for human skin. Fresh, and only fresh peels can be either blended with a bit of water, or pounded with even a stone and mixed with water to make a paste that does wonders for acne and pimples. Apply to affected area and wash with warm water after 20 minutes and write in with your results. Tangerines can be used also.

INTERNALLY however the many health benefits are:
1. Treating coughs and sore throats. A cup of hot tea made from simmering dried orange peel in water then adding ginger and brown sugar is a power medicine for coughs. Ratio 5 grammes to 2 cups water.
2. Treating bronchitis (inflammation of the lungs tract) infection. How about regularly drinking a nice cup of tea from the orange peel? This can be sweetened with honey or sugar. 5-15 grammes to 1 cup of water is recommended.
3. Curing the cold. Boil some fresh orange peel and ginger in water for approximately 15 to 20 minutes, add the brown sugar, and drink like tea. This method can treat cold, flu, vomiting and coughing.
4. Preventing frostbite (cold sore). Grind up some burnt orange peel into a powder and mix it with vegetable oil. Rub the mixture to the affected area to reduce and get rid of cold sore – referred to as night fever.
5. Eliminate phlegm in the lungs. Soak a piece of orange peel into white wine for about 20 days and drink – the longer soaked, the better the results.
6. Reducing the production of mucus. Boil some fresh orange peel and ginger in water for approximately 15 to 20 minutes, add the brown sugar, molasses or honey and drink as tea. WARNING: On the other hand, some doctors say oranges cause more harm to persons with sinusitis so do not go overboard. If you have sinusitis use grapefruit or tangerine peels instead according recommendations from these doctors.
7. Prevent tightness in the chest (shortness of breath). Add the boiling water into a glass of fresh orange peel, cover for 10 minutes, and add the sugar before you drink it, it can stop the feeling of tightness in the chest.
8. Preventing motion sickness. Sniff a fresh piece of orange peel before and after a long journey to prevent motion sickness
9. To rid hangover. After boiling 30 grammes of fresh orange peel with water for 15 to 20 minutes, add a little salt and drink it while it’s hot.
10. Treating sick molars. Put a small piece of fresh orange peel into your mouth for 10 minutes before you sleep. Leave it in until you feel comfortable.
11. Treating sensitive teeth. Put the skin peels into a glass and add boiling water. Cover the glass for 5 to 10 minutes then drink.
12. Treating inflammation of the pancreas. Boil 30 grammes of orange peel and 10 grammes of licorice (liquorice) with water.
13. Treating mastitis (‘swollen breasts’ from excess milk production). Boil 30 grammes of fresh orange peel and 6 grams of licorice (liquorice) with water. Drink twice a day.
14. Treating digestive, dizziness and vomiting problems. Soak 50 grammes of orange peel in some white wine for about 20 minutes, and after that drink it, for approximately 20 days. Its a great treat after consuming too much fatty foods.
15. Stop vomiting and treat a sick stomach. Boil a few pieces of orange peel with fresh ginger and water. Drink until condition settles.
16. Restoring lost appetite. Combine fresh orange peel dried in the sun and bring to a boil in water. Drink it hot or cold.
17. Treating constipation or difficult bowel movements. Boil 12 grammes of fresh orange peel or 6 grammes of dried orange peel in water for 10 to 15 minutes. Drink twice daily.
18. Eliminate allergy symptoms from and allergic reactions to eating fish and crabs. Boil a few slices of fresh orange peel with water and drink or place in your gravy you’re making for that fish meal.
19. Eliminate bad breath. Just get into the habit of chewing a small piece of fresh orange peel, instead of gum, to eliminate bad breath.
20. Ridding cramps. Boil 12 grammes of fresh orange peel or 6 grammes of dried orange peel in water for 10 to 15 minutes. You have the option to add cinnamon powder as a sweetener. Drink until situation eases.

USEFUL LINKS:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/521033-the-benefits-of-eating-orange-peels/
http://www.homeacneremedies.us/orange-peel-for-an-acne-face-mask/
http://juang.info/peel-or-skin/18-benefits-of-orange-peel.html

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