After winter, more and more people have coughs and "eat some steamed oranges with salt" when coughing. However, can this kind of steamed oranges with salt really cure coughs?

Oranges are neutral to cool and can regulate qi, resolve phlegm, and moisturize the lungs. There are two ingredients in orange peel that have the effect of relieving cough and reducing phlegm, one is nocotin and the other is orange peel oil. Nocotine is a commonly used antitussive ingredient and is now included in many medicines prescribed by Western medicine. Orange peel oil can relieve cough and reduce phlegm. Mandarin oranges and tangerines, which look similar in appearance, are both damp and hot fruits. If they are steamed, they will not relieve coughs, but may also cause internal heat or gastrointestinal discomfort. Light salt water can eliminate phlegm, but don't add too much salt. You can also use honey instead.

The specific method is to wash the oranges and soak them in salt water for 20 minutes; make a flat cut on the top to form a cup; sprinkle a little salt on the exposed flesh, and then use chopsticks to poke a few holes. Then put the cut "lid" back on; put the oranges into a bowl and steam them. After the water boils, steam them for another 15 minutes. After steaming, peel off the orange peel and eat the pulp. It's best to drink the juice at the bottom of the bowl as well.

This method is suitable for hot coughs caused by qi stagnation, blood stasis or dryness of the lungs. The main symptoms are yellow and thick phlegm, red, swollen and painful throat, dry and bitter mouth, etc. However, it is not suitable for cold cough caused by exogenous wind-cold, such as chills, white and clear phlegm, and itchy but not painful throat. If there is still no improvement after taking it, you should seek medical treatment in time.