Su Zi
English Name: perilla fruit
Pharmaceutical Name: Fructus Perillae
Medica Category: Cough- and Wheezing- Relieving Herbs
Properties: Su Zi enters the Lung and Large Intestine channels; it is acrid in nature and warm in temperature.
What is Su Zi?:
The Chinese Herb Su Zi is the dried seeds from the annual herbal plant in the mint family Perilla frutescens (l.) Britton (also commonly known as perilla, beefsteak plant, or shiso) native to large parts of Asia.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Therapeutic Actions of Su Zi:
Su Zi stops cough and relieves wheezing due to excess accumulations of phlegm that are blocking the normal, downward flow of Lung qi and causing it to rebel (i.e. abnormally rise instead of descend like it should). This kind of cough is characterized by dyspnea/shortness of breath and feelings of constriction and oppression in the chest and diaphragm regions.
Su Zi lubricates the intestines to promote bowel movements in cases of constipation or dry stools (in formula with w/Huo Ma Ren, Gua Lou Ren, and Xing Ren).