Zi Su Ye (Perilla Leaf) in TCM

Name

Zi Su Ye (Folium Perillae), from Ming Yi Bie Lun (Miscellaneous Records of Famous Physicians)

Source and quality

The leaf, or the scion, of the annual herbaceous plant Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt. of the family Lamiaceae. It is produced in most parts of China, and is gathered in summer when the leaves are thriving and the inflorescence begins to sprout.

It has a fragrant odor and a slightly pungent taste. The best grade has large leaves, a purple color, no fragments, a dense fragrance, no stem or peduncle, and no impurities. It is used unprocessed.

Nature and action

Pungent and warm. It enters the lung, spleen and stomach meridians.

It disperses wind-cold, promotes the flow of qi and soothes the middle.

Indications

Wind-cold exterior syndrome

This herb has mild actions of expelling wind and dispersing cold, and it induces sweating to release the exterior. It can be used on its own for a mild pattern, but in serious illness it should be combined with other herbs that disperse wind-cold. Because it releases exterior cold, promotes the flow of qi and eases the middle energizer, and also resolves phlegm and stops cough, it suits wind-cold exterior syndrome with qi stagnation, marked by fullness and distension in the chest, vomiting and nausea, or cough with much phlegm.

It is always combined with herbs that regulate qi to soothe the middle, or herbs that resolve phlegm to stop cough.

• Xiang Su San is combined with Xiang Fu and Chen Pi for the former condition, from Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang.
• Su Xing San is combined with Xing Ren and Jie Geng to treat the latter condition, from Wen Bing Tiao Bian.

Stagnation of spleen and stomach qi, fullness in the chest and vomiting

This herb promotes the flow of qi to soothe the middle energizer and ease distension, harmonizes the stomach and stops vomiting, and it also has some effect on regulating qi to prevent abortion. With these actions it can be used for qi stagnation in the middle energizer, marked by fullness and distension in the chest and epigastrium, nausea and vomiting.

• Where cold predominates, it is always combined with Sha Ren and Lu Gen to clear the stomach and stop vomiting.
• Where heat predominates, add Huang Lian and Lu Gen.
• If fetal qi flows upward, with distension in the chest and vomiting and excessive fetal movement, it is always used with Sha Ren and Chen Pi, which regulate qi and prevent abortion.
• For plum-stone syndrome (globus hystericus) due to stagnation of the seven emotions, congealing of phlegm and stagnation of qi, herbs that eliminate phlegm and promote the flow of qi are often added, such as Ban Xia and Hou Po in Banxia Houpo Tang from Jin Kui Yao Lue.

Dosage and administration

Decoct 5~10 g. Do not decoct it for a long time.