🌿 Folk Prescriptions

"The red skin of peanuts should be eaten along with the nut," a widely known fact. Yet some readers report hearing that "elderly people should not eat peanuts, or if they do, must remove the red skin," leaving them confused. What exactly are the "powers" of this thin red skin? Is it suitable for everyone?
To clarify these mysteries, we interviewed Professor Zhang Hudong from the Health Preservation Department at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, who specializes in this area. Professor Zhang explained that peanuts are globally recognized as a healthy food and considered one of China’s "Top Ten Longevity Foods." In Traditional Chinese Medicine, peanuts are believed to harmonize the spleen and stomach, nourish blood, stop bleeding, lower blood pressure, and reduce lipids.
The primary effect of "nourishing blood and stopping bleeding" comes from the red skin. According to TCM theory, "the spleen governs blood." People with qi deficiency are prone to bleeding. Since peanut red skin strengthens spleen qi, it achieves blood-nourishing and hemostatic effects—known as "tonifying qi to stop bleeding" in TCM. From a Western medicine perspective, peanut red skin inhibits fibrinolysis, increases platelet count, improves platelet quality, corrects defects in clotting factors, enhances capillary contraction, and promotes bone marrow hematopoiesis. Thus, it shows clear effectiveness for various bleeding conditions and anemia caused by bleeding, including aplastic anemia.
Professor Zhang emphasized that women, especially those during menstruation, pregnancy, postpartum, or breastfeeding, should eat more peanuts and their red skins. These periods involve greater blood loss and nutrient depletion, making the red skin particularly beneficial for blood replenishment. Additionally, peanut red skin promotes hair growth and darkens gray hair. TCM believes "hair is the remainder of blood"—hair loss and graying result from blood deficiency depriving hair of nourishment. By nourishing and replenishing blood, peanut red skin makes hair darker and shinier.
Professor Zhang pointed out that although some reports suggest "peanut red skin enhances coagulation, so it may not suit those with high blood viscosity, risking thrombosis," this view is not widely accepted. Most experts believe the red skin promotes platelet production, prevents platelet aggregation, and helps prevent cardiovascular diseases—the leading cause of death among the elderly. Moreover, most people consume peanuts with their red skins intact. Peanuts contain unsaturated fatty acids, which lower blood lipids and serum cholesterol, reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, prevent platelet aggregation, and inhibit thrombus formation.
At the same time, Professor Zhang cautioned that even the best food isn't suitable for everyone. Elderly people shouldn’t eat peanuts without caution. For example, those with bruises or trauma should avoid them. The red skin stops bleeding and promotes coagulation—excessive intake may worsen blood stasis and aggravate swelling. Others with poor digestion ("weak spleen and loose stools") should avoid peanuts because they contain abundant oils with mild laxative effects, potentially worsening diarrhea. Additionally, since peanuts are high in fat, they require more bile for digestion. Therefore, elderly individuals who have undergone gallbladder removal or suffer from severe gallbladder disease should also limit peanut intake.