The Fascinating World of Perilla: Healing and Applications Through the Ages
- ALEGIS
- Sep 18, 2024
- 5 min read
Perilla is a every part valuable plant. Learn about its benefits, precautions, and how to use it effectively.
Perilla, scientifically known as Perilla frutescens , is an herbal plant widely used in Asia. From ancient times to modern days, perilla has held an important position in traditional herbal medicine and modern pharmacology. This article will take you through an in-depth exploration of Perilla’s botanical background, historical development, medicinal benefits, and today's applications. We will also discuss the best ways to use Perilla and the precautions to take. Whether you’re interested in botany or seeking to improve your health through natural remedies, this article will provide abundant information and practical advice.
Perilla: An Oriental Herbal Plant for Culinary and Healing, Especially Useful During the Pandemic
Perilla is a common presence at the dining tables of Chinese communities. Whether used to remove the fishy odor and enhance flavor when cooking seafood or pickled with plums to create a refreshing side dish. Its flavor leaves a lasting impression. Beyond cooking, perilla is also valued for its healing properties, believed to dispel cold and aid digestion, making it a practical and tasty part of folk wisdom.
In Japan and Korea, perilla’s charm continues to shine. In Japan, perilla leaves often accompany sushi and sashimi, enhancing both aroma and taste and sometimes even transforming into a refreshing perilla drink to bring a cool touch to hot summer days. In Korea, perilla leaves (깻잎) are a perfect companion to grilled meat. Though commonly translated as “sesame leaves,” this green leaf used to wrap various delicacies in Korean BBQ is undoubtedly the large-leafed variety of perilla known as "green perilla."
While green perilla plays an important role in Japanese and Korean cuisine, red perilla has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine, and modern pharmacological research has revealed its impressive potential. During the pandemic, perilla was also shown to have outstanding effects in reducing the replication of viruses. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits and applications of perilla, helping us better use this natural remedy to promote health.
Botanical and Historical Background of Perilla
Perilla (*Perilla frutescens*) is an annual herb in the mint family (Lamiaceae) with a unique aroma, sharing close kinship with other herbs such as basil and mint. Its botanical characteristics include opposite leaves and spike-like inflorescences. It grows to a height of 30 to 150 centimeters, with upright stems that can be either green or purple, and the entire plant is covered with fine hairs. Perilla thrives in warm climates and is relatively easy to cultivate, making it a valuable medicinal plant.
The use of perilla in China can be traced back thousands of years, with its earliest written records found in the Shennong Bencao Jing (The Divine Farmer’s Materia Medica). It has been regarded as an important medicinal herb in traditional Chinese medicine, often used to treat colds, indigestion, and allergies. Perilla is also mentioned in the Compendium of Materia Medica by Li Shizhen, where its morphology, medicinal parts, and therapeutic effects are described in detail.
In the West, the use of perilla is more recent, but its medical value has also garnered attention. Particularly in modern pharmacological studies, perilla has been found to have anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and antioxidant properties, providing scientific support for its use in today's medicine.
The Benefits of Traditional Chinese Medicine Theory and Modern Pharmacology Theory
The Benefits of Traditional Chinese Medicine Theory
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory, Perilla (referred to as "Perilla" hereafter) is commonly used. The main parts used are the stems and leaves, known as "Perilla Stem" and "Perilla Leaf," respectively. If not specified, both parts are used together. Perilla is believed to have effects such as releasing the exterior to dispel cold, regulating qi, and detoxifying. Its warm, spicy nature makes it particularly suitable for treating wind-cold colds and digestive issues. TCM practitioners often incorporate Perilla into herbal formulas to address various ailments.
The Benefits of Traditional Chinese Medicine Theory
Releasing the Exterior and Dispelling Cold: Perilla can warm the body, making it especially suitable for treating colds and coughs caused by cold exposure. It also helps alleviate coughs caused by excess phlegm and asthma.
Regulating the Digestive System: Perilla helps relieve symptoms such as indigestion, bloating, and nausea, improving digestive function. It is also effective in alleviating nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.
Detoxifying Shellfish: In traditional medicine, shellfish are considered cold and are prone to cause allergies. Excessive consumption of shellfish can burden those with weak digestive systems. Eating Perilla can help reduce the adverse effects on the digestive system. This might explain why, in Japan and Korea, people often eat sashimi with Perilla leaves.
The Benefits of Modern Pharmacology Theory
Modern pharmacological research has identified 271 active components in natural Perilla, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, triterpenes, carotenoids, rosmarinic acid, perillaldehyde, luteolin, isoperillone, and more. These pharmacological properties have drawn the attention of researchers. Among these, volatile oils like rosmarinic acid and flavonoids such as luteolin have been shown to regulate immune functions and reduce inflammation related to allergies. Flavonoids also possess powerful antioxidant properties, helping to protect cells from damage caused by free radicals.
The Benefits of Modern Pharmacology Theory
Anti-inflammatory Properties: The flavonoids and volatile oils in Perilla can effectively reduce inflammation, showing significant therapeutic effects on arthritis and dermatitis.
Anti-allergic Effects: Active compounds in Perilla can suppress allergic reactions, making it especially useful for treating allergic rhinitis and asthma.
Antioxidant Effects: Perilla has strong antioxidant capabilities, helping to delay aging and protect cardiovascular health.
Additionally, Perilla is rich in iron, carotenoids, vitamin C, and various amino acids, making it highly recommended in modern nutrition science.
Methods of Use and Precautions for Perilla
Usage Methods and Timing
As a versatile herb used in both food and medicine, Perilla can be consumed in various ways, either alone or in combination with other ingredients. In traditional medicine, it is often made into decoctions, pills, or powders. Below are some common ways to incorporate Perilla into daily life:
Ways to Use Perilla
Perilla Tea: Dry Perilla leaves and steep them as tea, using about 3-5 grams per serving. You can mix it with other herbs to create a tea rich in healing properties.
Perilla Salad: Slice fresh Perilla leaves into thin strips and add them to salads or cold dishes to enhance the flavor and aroma.
Pickled Perilla: Add Perilla to pickled foods for additional flavor and healing benefits, such as in pickled plums.
Precautions and Contraindications
Listed as a top-grade herb in the Compendium of Materia Medica, Perilla is generally safe for consumption with many benefits. However, it contains a certain amount of oxalic acid, so it is best not to consume it excessively. While studies have shown that Perilla contains compounds that can inhibit the replication and growth of the novel coronavirus, which led to its widespread use during the pandemic to reduce infection risks, it cannot kill the virus. Therefore, in the event of a COVID-19 infection, it is essential to follow a doctor’s advice and not use Perilla as a substitute for formal treatment.
Healing Tea Beneficial for the Throat and Digestive System
As a widely respected herb in both traditional and modern medicine, Perilla has grown in prominence as modern pharmacology continues to evolve. Our understanding of its benefits and applications has surpassed what was documented in ancient texts, and it played a significant role during the pandemic.
We hope that with a deeper understanding of Perilla’s value and usage methods, everyone can make good use of this healing herb in their daily lives. ALEGIS also incorporates Perilla into many of our healing tea blends, hoping to bring the soothing power of this herb to everyone in a delicious way in the post-pandemic era.
Comments