zi su zi

紫苏子·Fructus Perillae

Perilla Fruit

About zi su zi

Zi Su Zi (紫苏子) is the fruit of perilla, a plant of the mint family, recorded as Fructus Perillae. It is acrid in flavour and warm in temperature, entering the Lung and Large Intestine channels. Its leaf and stem are entered separately.

Names

Pinyinzi su zi
Chinese紫苏子
Latin NameFructus Perillae
English NamePerilla Fruit
Japanesesoshi
Koreansoja

Classification

Channels
Lung, Large Intestine
Flavour
Acrid
Temperature
Warm
Part used
Fruit
Family
Labiatae
Species
Perilla frutescens
Tags
Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Stops cough, calms wheezing, descends Qi and transforms Phlegm

  • Cough and wheezing with plentiful phlegm from Phlegm accumulation
  • Breathing out harder than breathing in, with a stifling chest, where it is especially useful
  • Rebellious Lung Qi with cough, breathlessness and a tight chest
  • Thin or Cold-type phlegm obstructing the Lungs

Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels

  • Constipation from dry Intestines, often alongside the cough it is treating

Combinations

Dosage

AgeRawGranuleTinctureConcentrateFrequency
Any 3-10g; Tincture: 2-4ml3-10 g2-4 ml

Cautions

Prepared forms (1)

zi su zi

紫苏子·Fructus Perillae Prepared

Zi su zi chao (紫苏子) is the dry-fried fruit of perilla, recorded as Fructus Perillae. The catalogue records it on the Large Intestine and Lung channels, and holds no category or actions for it.

The catalogue records no separate actions, dose or cautions for this preparation. Unless noted above it follows zi su zi.