Product Overview
Parts used: Dried leaf (or bearing young branches)
TCM category: Warm/Acrid herbs that release the Exterior
TCM nature: Warm
TCM taste(s): Pungent
Meridian affinity: Spleen Lung
Scientific name: Perilla frutescens
Other names: Korean perilla, Japanese sweet basil, Shiso
Use of perilla leaves (Zi Su Ye) in TCM
Please note that you should never self-prescribe TCM ingredients. A TCM ingredient is almost never eaten on its own but as part of a formula containing several ingredients that act together. Please consult a professional TCM practitionner, they will be best able to guide you.
Preparation: Remove impurities, wash, cut into sections and dry.
Dosage: 3 - 9 grams
Main actions according to TCM*: Relieves the Exterior and disperses Cold. Promotes the circulation of Spleen and Stomach Qi. Calms a restless fetus. Detoxifies seafood poisoning
Primary conditions or symptoms for which perilla leaves may be prescribed by TCM doctors*: Food poisoning from seafood Morning sickness Common cold Loss of appetite Vomiting
Contraindications*: This herb should not be used by those who have External diseases where there is already sweating nor by those who have a Damp Heat condition.
Common TCM formulas in which perilla leaves are used*:
For Wind-Cold cough combine perilla leaves with platycodon roots (Jie Geng), tangerine peel (Chen Pi) and apricot seeds (Xing Ren).
For an invasion of External Wind and Cold in summer with chills, fever, headache, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea combine perilla leaves with korean mint (Huo Xiang), houpu magnolia bark (Hou Pu), crow-dipper rhizomes (Ban Xia) and tangerine peel (Chen Pi).
For relieving the symptoms of morning sickness and preventing miscarriage combine perilla leaves with tangerine peel (Chen Pi) and amomum fruits (Sha Ren).
Key TCM concepts behind perilla leaves (Zi Su Ye)'s properties
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), perilla leaves are plants that belong to the 'Warm/Acrid herbs that release the Exterior' category. Herbs that release the Exterior aim to to treat the early stages of diseases that affect the upper respiratory tract, the eyes, the ears, the nose, the throat or the skin. TCM believes that External diseases such as colds or allergies can only invade the body if the External environment overwhelms our Wei Qi (the TCM version of the immune system). In order to counteract this invasion Warm/Acrid herbs aim to induce sweating by increasing the flow of sweat to our capillary pores. The belief is that this will expel the disease from the body and stop it from invading further.
As suggested by its category perilla leaves are plants that are Warm in nature. This means that perilla leaves tend to help people who have too much "cold" in their body, although with less effect than a plant that would be Hot in nature. Balance between Yin and Yang is a key health concept in TCM. Those who have too much cold in their body are said to either have a Yin excess (because Yin is Cold in nature) or a Yang deficiency (Yang is Hot in Nature). Depending on your condition perilla leaves can help restore a harmonious balance between Yin and Yang.
Perilla leaves also taste Pungent. The so-called "five elements" theory in Chinese Medicine states that the taste of TCM ingredients is a key determinant of their action in the body. Pungent ingredients like perilla leaves tend to promote the circulations of Qi and body fluids. That's why for instance someone tends to sweat a lot when they eat spicy/pungent food.
The tastes of ingredients in TCM also determine what organs and meridians they target. As such perilla leaves are thought to target the Spleen and the Lung. In TCM the Spleen assists with digestion, blood coagulation and fluid metabolism in the body. In addition to performing respiration, the Lungs are thought to be a key part of the production chain for Qi and the body fluids that nourish the body.
Use of perilla leaves (Zi Su Ye) as food
Perilla leaves are also eaten as food. It is used as an ingredient in dishes such as Marinated Perilla Leaves or Kkaennip-jeon (Pan-fried perilla leaves with fillings).
