☯️Traditional Chinese Medicine🏮Taoist Herbal Medicine

Perilla (Zi Su Ye)

Perilla frutescens

About Perilla (Zi Su Ye)

Perilla (Zi Su Ye) (Perilla frutescens) is a herb used in the Traditional Chinese Medicine and Taoist Herbal Medicine traditions to help with Common Cold, Digestive Issues, Anxiety, and Nausea, among 2 other conditions it addresses. The aerial parts and leaves are the parts traditionally used, taken internally.

Botanical background

Perilla frutescens, commonly called perilla or Korean perilla, is a species of Perilla in the mint family Lamiaceae. It is an annual plant native to Southeast Asia and Indian highlands, and grown in the Korean peninsula, Southern China and India. Known as deulkkae (들깨) in Korean, the plant was introduced into Korea before the Unified Silla era, when it started to be widely cultivated.

Source: Wikipedia, via iNaturalist

Parts used

Aerial Parts · internalLeaves · internal
🍵

Tea / Infusion

1–3 cups daily
  • Steep 1–2 tsp of dried Perilla (Zi Su Ye) in freshly boiled water for 5–10 minutes.
  • Cover while steeping.
  • Strain and drink.
💧

Tincture

20–40 drops in water, 2–3× daily
  • Pack dried Perilla (Zi Su Ye) into a jar and cover with 40–60% alcohol.
  • Seal and steep for 4–6 weeks, shaking daily.
  • Strain and store in a dark dropper bottle.
💊

Powder / Capsule

500 mg – 1 g, 1–3× daily
  • Grind dried Perilla (Zi Su Ye) into a fine powder.
  • Fill size 00 capsules or stir into smoothies or honey.
♨️

Steam Inhalation

1–2× daily during acute symptoms
  • Add 2–3 tbsp of Perilla (Zi Su Ye) to a bowl of just-boiled water.
  • Drape a towel over your head and inhale steam for 5–10 minutes.
🛁

Herbal Bath

2–3× per week as needed
  • Brew 4–6 tbsp of Perilla (Zi Su Ye) in 1 litre of hot water for 15 minutes, strain, and add to a warm bath.
  • Soak for 20–30 minutes.

Pregnancy, Breastfeeding & Children

No herb-specific pregnancy/child safety research is documented for Perilla (Zi Su Ye) in our references — the guidance below is based on its general effect category, not research on Perilla (Zi Su Ye) itself. Always confirm with a midwife, doctor, or pediatrician.

Pregnancy

Use Caution

This herb is associated with calming/sedative activity. CNS-active herbs are generally used cautiously and short-term in pregnancy rather than as a routine remedy — this is a general, mechanism-based caution, not herb-specific research.

Breastfeeding

Use Caution

Sedative herbs can cause infant drowsiness via breast milk — generally used cautiously and briefly, watching the baby for excess sleepiness or poor feeding.

Children

Use Caution

Sedative herbs are dose-sensitive in children, whose smaller body size makes effects less predictable — start low and use short-term under guidance.

Contraindications

  • Autoimmune conditions (lupus, MS, RA) — may overstimulate immune response
  • CNS medications (benzodiazepines, SSRIs, MAOIs) — may potentiate sedative or serotonergic effects

Warnings

⚠️ Sedatives & Antidepressants

May potentiate the effects of sedative, anxiolytic, or antidepressant medications. Use with caution alongside any CNS-active drugs.

⚠️ Allergic Reactions

Discontinue immediately if you experience rash, itching, swelling, or difficulty breathing.

⚠️ Not Medical Advice

This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using herbal remedies.

Drug & herb interactions

May have a calming/sedative effect

Watch for: Benzodiazepines, sleep medications, other sedative herbs, and alcohol

Combined CNS-depressant effects can cause excessive drowsiness or impaired coordination.

Where to find in nature

Native region

China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan

Climate

Temperate to subtropical

Habitat

Mountain forests, river valleys, and cultivated herb farms throughout East Asia

🌿 To see Perilla (Zi Su Ye) growing, visit botanical gardens, university plant collections, or specialist herb nurseries near you. If foraging in the wild, always work with an expert identifier — never consume a plant you are not 100% certain of.

Where to buy

In store

  • Chinese herbal medicine shops and TCM clinics
  • Chinatown herbal stores and Asian supermarkets with herbal sections
  • Health food stores (Whole Foods, Natural Grocers, Holland & Barrett, GNC)
  • Naturopathic clinics and integrative medicine practices
  • Specialist herbal apothecaries and herbalist practices

Online

iHerb

Wide selection of standardised extracts, capsules, and powders with lab testing

Mountain Rose Herbs

Premium bulk dried herbs — certified organic, ethically sourced

Starwest Botanicals

Large selection of certified organic bulk herbs and powders

Herb Pharm

High-quality liquid extracts and tinctures, rigorous quality standards

Amazon

Convenient — verify brand certifications and check third-party testing

Etsy

Small-batch artisan herbalists, hand-harvested and wildcrafted herbs

Quality tips

When buying Perilla (Zi Su Ye), look for: certified organic labelling, clearly stated country of origin, third-party lab testing for heavy metals and pesticides, and a batch expiry date. Standardised extracts offer consistent dosing; bulk dried herbs are more economical for regular use. Avoid very cheap, unlabelled products — quality varies enormously.