Perilla Frutescens
Aliases：Su Ye、Nan Su、Chou Su、Shan Zi Su
Zisu (Perilla) is a commonly used Chinese medicinal herb. Different parts of the plant — the stem, leaf, and fruit — are used as separate medicinal materials, each with distinct actions and indications.
Efficacy & Actions
1. Zisugeng (Perilla Stem) has the actions of regulating Qi to relieve chest stuffiness, relieving pain, and calming the fetus to prevent miscarriage. 2. Zisuye (Perilla Leaf) has the actions of releasing the exterior and dispelling cold, and promoting Qi circulation to harmonize the Stomach. 3. Zisuzi (Perilla Fruit) has the actions of directing rebellious Qi downward to transform Phlegm, stopping cough and relieving wheezing, and moistening the intestines to unblock the bowels.
Indications
1. Zisugeng (Perilla Stem) is indicated for chest and diaphragm stuffiness, epigastric pain, belching and vomiting, and restless fetus (threatened miscarriage). 2. Zisuye (Perilla Leaf) is indicated for wind-cold common cold, cough with nausea and vomiting, pregnancy vomiting (morning sickness), and poisoning from fish or crab. 3. Zisuzi (Perilla Fruit) is indicated for phlegm congestion with qi reversal, cough and wheezing, and constipation due to intestinal dryness.
Modern Pharmacology
1. Zisugeng (Perilla Stem): It mainly has the effects of exciting gastrointestinal motility and lowering blood glucose. 2. Zisuye (Perilla Leaf): It has antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects, anti-pathogenic microbial activity, lipid-regulating and anti-atherosclerotic effects, hepatoprotective effects, and antioxidant effects, among others. 3. Zisuzi (Perilla Fruit): It has expectorant, antitussive, antiasthmatic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic effects, among others.
Ingredients
1. Zisugeng (Perilla Stem): Contains perillaketone, isoperillaketone, linolenic acid and its esters, β-sitosterol, etc. 2. Zisuye (Perilla Leaf): Mainly contains volatile oils: perillaldehyde, perillaketone, perillene, cyanidin, camphene, menthol, menthone, perillyl alcohol, dihydroperillyl alcohol, citral, eugenol, etc. 3. Zisuzi (Perilla Fruit): Mainly contains fatty acids such as oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, etc.; phenolic acids such as rosmarinic acid, etc. In addition, it also contains amino acids, vitamins, and trace elements.
Usage & Dosage
1. Zisugeng (Perilla Stem): 5–10 g in decoction; or used in powder form. 2. Zisuye (Perilla Leaf): 5–10 g in decoction. 3. Zisuzi (Perilla Fruit): 3–10 g in decoction.
Contraindications
1. Incompatibilities with Western medications (1) When used concurrently with sedatives or anesthetics, the dosage should be reduced appropriately. (2) Perilla may prolong the effects of barbiturates. Caution should be taken to reduce the dosage when used together. 2. Dietary incompatibilities Avoid consuming raw, cold, or highly irritating foods. Also avoid eating carp.
Selected Formulas
1. For wind‑cold common cold Perilla leaf is pungent, dispersing, and warm in nature, with a relatively mild diaphoretic effect. It may be used alone for mild cases, but for severe cases it should be combined with other wind‑cold dispersing herbs. Because it can both release the exterior and disperse cold externally, and regulate qi and relieve stuffiness internally, while also having mild actions of resolving phlegm and stopping cough, it is especially suitable for wind‑cold exterior patterns accompanied by qi stagnation, chest and epigastric fullness, nausea and vomiting, or cough and wheezing with profuse phlegm. For the former (exterior pattern with qi stagnation), it is often combined with Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma) and Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) – as in Xiangsu San (Cyperus and Perilla Powder) from Taiping Huimin Heji Ju Fang (Formulary of the Peaceful Benevolent Dispensary). For the latter (exterior pattern with cough, wheezing, and profuse phlegm), it is often combined with Xingren (Armeniacae Semen) and Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix) – as in Xingsu San (Apricot Seed and Perilla Powder) from Wenbing Tiaobian (Systematic Differentiation of Warm Diseases). 2. For spleen‑stomach qi stagnation and chest/abdominal stuffiness with vomiting Perilla leaf is pungent and promotes qi movement. It relieves stuffiness and distension, harmonizes the stomach to stop vomiting, and also has the effect of regulating qi to calm the fetus. It is indicated for middle‑burner qi stagnation presenting as chest and epigastric distension, nausea, and vomiting. For patterns with cold predominance, it is often combined with Sharen (Amomi Fructus) and Dingxiang (Caryophylli Flos) – herbs that warm the middle and stop vomiting. For patterns with heat predominance, it is often combined with Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) and Lugen (Phragmitis Rhizoma) – herbs that clear the stomach and stop vomiting. For chest stuffiness, vomiting, and threatened miscarriage (fetal irritability) due to counterflow of fetal qi, it is often combined with Sharen and Chenpi – herbs that regulate qi and calm the fetus. For globus hystericus (plum pit qi, sensation of a foreign body in the throat) caused by emotional constraint with phlegm and qi stagnation, it is often combined with Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma), Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex), and Fuling (Poria) – as in Banxia Houpo Tang (Pinellia and Magnolia Bark Decoction) from Jin Gui Yao Lue (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Coffer). 3. To counteract fish or crab poisoning Perilla leaf can neutralize the toxicity of fish and crab. For abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea caused by fish or crab poisoning, it can harmonize the middle and resolve the toxin. It may be used alone as a decoction, or combined with fresh ginger (Shengjiang), Chenpi, and Huoxiang (Pogostemonis Herba).
Daily Consumption
Leaves Salad: shred fresh leaves. Tea: steep 3-5g dried leaves. Omelette: mix chopped leaves with eggs. Stir-fry: add near the end. Pickle: layer with salt. Stems Infusion: 5-10g decocted or steeped for bloating/nausea. Congee: use stem decoction to cook rice. Seeds Congee: crush 5-10g, decoct, then cook with rice. Oil: cold-pressed, 5ml/day for salads or yogurt. Dosage: fresh leaves 20-30g; dried leaves 3-5g; stems 5-10g; seeds 5-10g. Cautions: avoid leaves if yin deficiency with heat; limit seeds if spleen deficiency with loose stools; consult TCM practitioner during pregnancy.
Medicinal Parts
Perillae Folium (Zi Su Ye): Leaf or shoot with leaf – release the exterior and dispel cold, promote Qi circulation and harmonize the Stomach. Perillae Caulis (Zi Su Geng): Stem – regulate Qi to relieve stuffiness, relieve pain, and calm the fetus. P erillae Fructus (Zi Su Zi): Dried ripe fruit – direct rebellious Qi downward to transform phlegm, relieve cough and wheezing, and moisten the Intestines to unblock the bowels.
Selection & Storage
Store in a cool, dry place in an airtight container.