zi su geng

Name: zi su geng
Creator: Bencao Index

紫苏梗·Caulis Perillae

Perilla Stem

About zi su geng

Zi Su Geng (紫苏梗) is the stem of perilla, recorded as Caulis Perillae. It is acrid and sweet in flavour, slightly warm, and enters the Lung, Spleen and Stomach channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that regulate Qi.

Names

Pinyin	zi su geng
Chinese	紫苏梗
Latin Name	Caulis Perillae
English Name	Perilla Stem
Japanese	shisoko
Korean	jasogyeong

Classification

Category: Regulate Qi
Channels: Lung, Stomach, Spleen
Flavour: Acrid, Sweet
Temperature: Slightly Warm
Part used: Stem
Family: Labiatae
Species: Perilla frutescens
Tags: Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Moves Qi, harmonises the Middle Jiao, opens the chest and loosens the diaphragm

Stagnant Qi of the chest and abdomen: focal distension or a stifled feeling, sometimes extending to rib-side distension and pain
Tightness and stuffiness around the chest and diaphragm, along with nausea or poor appetite
Hiccup

Calms the fetus and stops nausea and vomiting

Morning sickness
Restless fetus from Qi stagnation
Fullness of the chest and epigastrium in pregnancy from stagnant Qi

Relieves toxicity

Food poisoning from fish and shellfish, acting more mildly than the leaf

Combinations

xiang fu
Liver attacking the Spleen with epigastric and abdominal fullness, distention and discomfort. Morning sickness
jie geng
Stagnant Lung Qi with cough, wheezing or a stifling feeling in the chest and diaphragm. Spleen/Stomach Qi Stagnation with focal epigastric distention, no taste for food, nausea and reflux. Suitable for elderly, deficient or pregnant patients
du huo + cang zhu
Leg Qi.
bing lang
Leg Qi.

Dosage

Age	Raw	Granule	Tincture	Concentrate	Frequency
Any 4.5-9g; Do not cook long; Tincture; 2-4ml	4.5-9 g	—	—	—	—

Cautions

caution Take care with long-term use
pregnancy Its traditional use to calm the fetus does not make it safe to self-prescribe; in pregnancy it belongs with a qualified practitioner, and the maternity team should be told
pregnancy In pregnancy, see a doctor or midwife promptly for bleeding, abdominal pain or altered fetal movement
caution Deficient Yin, or Heat, especially Heat with sweating or a dry, depleted presentation
caution Fetal restlessness from Blood deficiency, Heat or Kidney deficiency needs a different approach; the stalk treats only stagnant Qi
caution Known allergy to perilla or the mint family (Lamiaceae): avoid all parts of the plant; anaphylaxis to perilla seed has been reported

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