Perilla, native to China, is mainly distributed in countries such as India, Myanmar, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Indonesia, and Russia. Wild and cultivated varieties of Perilla can be found in North China, Central China, South China, Southwest China, and Taiwan. The dried leaves or young branches with leaves of Perilla, a one-year-old herbaceous plant in the Lamiaceae family, are used as medicine. Perilla has the effects of dispelling external pathogens and cold, promoting the movement of qi and stomach, regulating qi and stabilizing the fetus, detoxifying fish and crab poison, and inhibiting bacteria and reducing inflammation. It is suitable for conditions such as wind-cold common cold, coughing and vomiting, stagnation of qi in the spleen and stomach, distension and fullness in the chest and epigastrium, abdominal pain and diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, morning sickness during pregnancy, restless fetal movement, and fish and crab poisoning.
Dispersing External Pathogens and Dispelling Cold
Perilla has a pungent and dispersing nature with warm properties. It can dispel external cold and induce sweating. It is used for wind-cold exterior syndrome, manifested as aversion to cold, fever, and lack of sweat. It is often used in combination with fresh ginger. If there is also qi stagnation, it can be used together with Xiang Fu (Cyperus rotundus) and Chen Pi (Tangerine Peel).
Promoting Qi Movement and Harmonizing the Stomach
Perilla has a pungent taste and can promote the movement of qi, thus relieving distension and harmonizing the stomach, and stopping vomiting. It can be used to treat distension and fullness in the chest and epigastrium and nausea and vomiting caused by stagnation of qi in the middle burner. For those with a tendency towards cold, it is often used in combination with Sha Ren (Amomum) and Ding Xiang (Clove) to warm the middle burner and stop vomiting. For those with a tendency towards heat, it is often used in combination with Huang Lian (Coptis chinensis) and Lu Gen (Reed Rhizome) to clear the stomach and stop vomiting.
Regulating Qi and Stabilizing the Fetus
Perilla's pungent nature can regulate qi and stabilize the fetus. It is often combined with Sha Ren and Chen Pi to treat symptoms such as upward rebellion of fetal qi during pregnancy, chest tightness and vomiting, and restless fetal movement.
Detoxifying Fish and Crab Poison
Perilla's pungent and warm properties enable it to detoxify fish and crab poison. It can be used to treat abdominal pain and diarrhea caused by eating fish and crab contaminated with toxins. It can be decocted alone or combined with fresh ginger, Chen Pi, and Huo Xiang (Patchouli).
Inhibiting Bacteria and Reducing Inflammation
Perilla decoction has an inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli, Shigella, and Staphylococcus aureus. Perilla oil has a significant inhibitory effect on naturally contaminated molds, and its inhibitory effect on molds is significantly better than that of benzoic acid. It also has the advantages of small dosage, safety, and being unaffected by pH value.
