The herb eaten with salmon salad that serves as a powerful cold remedy
Exchange with Reporter Dr. Ngo Duc Phuong, Director of the Institute of Southern Herbal Medicine, stated that perilla (scientific name Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt.), belonging to the mint family (Lamiaceae), is a familiar medicinal plant in the traditional medicine of Vietnam and many Asian countries.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, perilla has a pungent taste and warm nature, helping to dispel wind-cold and induce mild sweating, thereby expelling cold-causing pathogens from the body. This is why perilla is often used when early cold symptoms appear, such as a runny nose, sneezing, chills, and fatigue.
Not only recognized in traditional medicine, modern studies also show that perilla contains numerous pharmacological components beneficial to health.
Perilla leaves contain essential oils (0.3–0.5%), rich in active compounds such as perillaldehyde, limonene, and linalool, which provide anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, mild anti-allergic effects, and warm the body. In addition, perilla contains flavonoids and rosmarinic acid—compounds with antioxidant properties that help boost immunity.
“It is the essential oil in perilla that helps quickly relieve symptoms such as a runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, and chills, and it is particularly effective before the patient develops a high fever. However, early use produces clear benefits, while its effects gradually diminish if use is delayed,” Dr. Ngo Duc Phuong emphasized.
Simple, easy-to-implement usage:
According to folk experience, at the onset of a cold, patients can use: 10–15g of fresh perilla leaves, washed, crushed, and steeped in 300ml of boiling water, then drink while still warm. A few fresh ginger slices can be added to enhance the warming effect, dispel wind-cold, and help the body recover quickly. After drinking, the patient should rest and avoid cold drafts.
In addition, perilla leaves are often used in dishes such as perilla porridge, perilla soup, and salmon salad... helping digestion while supporting cold prevention during changing weather.
3 Things to Avoid When Using Perilla to Treat Colds
Experts caution that perilla is not suitable for everyone, specifically:
- Do not use in cases of high fever, severe thirst, dry mouth, and a red tongue—these are manifestations of heat syndromes.
- Avoid drinking cold water immediately after taking the remedy, as it may reduce its effectiveness.
- If symptoms worsen or high fever persists, monitor closely and seek medical attention; do not self-treat for prolonged periods.