Perilla Seed, Ginger, and Jujube Decoction

Herbal Tea Name: Perilla Seed, Ginger, and Jujube Decoction

Chinese Name: 苏子姜枣饮

Formula

15 grams of Perilla seeds, 10 grams of fresh ginger, and 50 grams of jujubes.

Main Ingredients

How To Make

Wash and slice the ginger. Place it in a clay pot with the washed Perilla seeds and jujubes. Add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat until the mixture thickens into a decoction.

Efficacy

Dispels wind and dispels cold; relieves cough and calms wheezing. Suitable for chronic bronchitis caused by wind-cold invading the lungs.

Usage

Take one dose in the morning and one in the evening.

Commentary

Taking Perilla seeds (Zi-su-zi) as the leading herb, the formula draws on its pungent flavor and warm property: it enters the Lung, Large Intestine meridians and works to descend qi, resolve phlegm, relieve cough and wheezing, moisten the intestines. Fresh ginger (Sheng-jiang) takes the deputy (minister) role; warm and pungent in character, it travels through the Lung, Spleen, Stomach meridians to disperse wind-cold, stop vomiting and relieve cough. Finally, jujubes (Da-zao) stand as the harmonizing envoy; its role is to tonify qi, nourish blood and calm the spirit, harmonize the formula and coordinate the herbs. United, the ingredients dispel wind and dispel cold, relieve cough and calm wheezing, addressing the root disturbance of the wind-cold and cold pattern.

Perilla Seed, Ginger, and Jujube Decoction,From *Proven Tea, Decoction, and Soup Recipes for Common Ailments*,Dispels wind and dispels cold; relieves cough and calms wheezing. Suitable for chronic bronchitis caused by wind-cold invading the lungs.