Many individuals possess allergic constitutions, prone to unintended reactions. For such people, perilla (紫苏) serves as a potentially life-saving herb. If you experience an allergic reaction or even poisoning after consuming fish or shellfish, decocting perilla with ginger can alleviate these symptoms.
Cold Prevention and Treatment
As autumn arrives and temperatures gradually drop, many catch colds from insufficient clothing during morning and evening hours. Perilla proves invaluable here. It treats wind-cold caused by colds, dispels chills, and alleviates headaches and nasal congestion. Additionally, perilla promotes lung qi circulation.
Clearing Heat and Relieving Summer Heat
Perilla possesses heat-clearing properties. Wash and drain perilla leaves, steep them in a cup with boiling water, and add sugar to create a refreshing perilla drink. Alternatively, steep fresh lotus leaves alongside perilla for an effective remedy against summer heat.
Anti-Thrombotic Effects
Studies confirm perilla oil inhibits free radicals in platelets and serotonin, thereby suppressing thrombosis and demonstrating anti-thrombotic properties.
Cancer Prevention
Modern people are deeply concerned about cancer, and many seek ways to prevent it. Perilla is one such cancer-preventive food. Perilla oil significantly suppresses cancer incidence caused by chemical carcinogens, reduces tumor weight and volume, and delays tumor onset.
Ancient people often combined perilla leaves with other foods to create both delicious and disease-preventing dishes. Fresh perilla leaves were washed, blanched in boiling water, squeezed dry, and eaten with bean paste; tender perilla leaves were shredded and added to winter melon soup to relieve summer heat and stimulate appetite; adding perilla leaves when stewing fish or boiling crab helped suppress coughs and detoxify;When tossed cold with shredded potatoes, they provide cooling relief and reduce internal heat.
Contraindications for Perilla Leaves
To understand the contraindications and side effects of drinking perilla leaf tea, one must first grasp its benefits. Indeed, for symptoms like wind-cold colds, fever, dizziness, or congestion, brewing perilla leaves with ginger can disperse external cold.Additionally, for digestive discomfort, brewing perilla leaves with agastache can provide relief.
Nausea and Vomiting
Some individuals may experience discomfort like nausea after consuming perilla leaf tea. This is generally not serious and typically resolves naturally over time. It's advisable to discontinue use during such episodes.
Not Suitable for Those with Excessive Internal Heat
Perilla leaves possess a warming nature. Individuals experiencing nausea due to excessive internal heat should avoid consumption, as it may exacerbate symptoms.
Not Suitable for Long-Term Use
Perilla leaf tea should not be consumed over extended periods. Prolonged use may lead to depletion of vital energy (qi) within the body, gradually weakening overall constitution.
Avoid consumption with headaches or chills/fever
If you suffer from yin deficiency-related illnesses manifesting as chills/fever or headaches, refrain from taking perilla leaves. Instead, consume Chinese herbs with astringent and nourishing properties.
Avoid cooking with carp
In dietary practices, perilla leaves should not be cooked with carp, as this combination may cause toxic skin eruptions. Patients with high fever or excessive internal heat must absolutely avoid consuming perilla leaves.
Long-term use damages the lungs
Perilla leaves primarily contain ketone compounds like perillic ketone. These substances exhibit potent toxicity in animal bodies, causing the most severe damage to the lungs. Excessive consumption may lead to pulmonary emphysema and pleural effusion, with severe cases potentially resulting in death.
Regular consumption harms the nervous and digestive systems
Additionally, perilla leaves contain high levels of oxalic acid. Frequent intake causes oxalic acid to accumulate in the body. Significant accumulation can damage the nervous and digestive systems, and in severe cases, impair the hematopoietic function of internal organs.
Methods of Consuming Perilla Leaves
Fresh Leaf Salad
Soak leaves briefly in warm salt water with MSG, then arrange on a plate. Drizzle with a small amount of cooked oil before serving. This method enhances flavor, offers a lingering taste, and facilitates vitamin absorption.
Deep-fried
Mix egg whites with a small amount of flour, salt, and MSG to form a porridge-like batter. Coat the leaves with the batter, leaf side down, then fry in warm oil until cooked through. Serve with pepper salt.
Shiso Leaf Wrapped Sashimi
Wrap sashimi in shiso leaves, dip in seasoning, and eat raw. Alternatively, mix with shrimp or crab. Consuming appropriate amounts of raw shiso leaves aids detoxification and warms the stomach.