What are the effects and harms of drinking water made from perilla leaves on health?

Perilla is one of the oldest and most widely used medicinal plants in our country. Drinking perilla leaf water regularly offers numerous health benefits that not everyone is aware of.

Perilla is a plant species scientifically known as Perilla frutescens var. crispa. This perennial plant is easy to grow and commonly found in our living areas. Perilla is a herbaceous plant with a slightly spicy flavor and white roots. It thrives in various types of soil, preferring light and humidity.

Nutritional Components in 100g of Perilla Leaves:

• Energy: 25 Kcal
• Protein: 2.9g
• Carbohydrates: 3.4g
• Ash: 1000mg
• Calcium: 170mg
• Iron: 3.2mg
• Water: 88.9g
• Fiber: 3.6g
• Phosphorus: 18.3mg
• Vitamin C: 13mg

Health Benefits of Perilla Leaf Water You Must Know

1. Prevents Food Poisoning

This is a common use of perilla leaf water among the Vietnamese people. From fruit and vegetable poisoning to seafood poisoning, drinking perilla leaf water can help eliminate some toxins from the body. In addition to drinking the juice, you can also add perilla leaves to porridge or soup for detoxification, which is also very effective.

2. Antioxidant Effects

Thanks to the presence of aldehyde groups in perilla, it can combat oxidation caused by free radicals when the body is under stress.

If you have hives, drink perilla water and apply the leaf residue to the affected area.

3. Supports Treatment of Hives and Itching

Experiencing hives and itching all over the body is quite common, and fully treating this condition can be challenging. To assist in treating hives and itching, you can drink perilla water and apply the leaf residue to the itchy areas, significantly alleviating discomfort.

4. Treats Breast Swelling and Pain in Women

The method is similar to treating hives. You can combine drinking perilla leaf water with applying the leaves to the swollen and painful areas for effective relief.

5. Treats Gout with Perilla Leaves

What benefits does drinking perilla leaf water have for gout treatment? Perilla contains four compounds that significantly reduce the enzyme xanthine oxidase, which is responsible for the formation of uric acid in the blood, leading to gout. Additionally, perilla leaf water helps prevent bacterial infections when the disease occurs, making patients more comfortable in their daily activities.

6. Addresses Stomach Disorders

Two active compounds, glucosamine and tannin, found in perilla help reduce inflammation, enhance wound healing, and promote scar recovery when experiencing stomach injuries.

7. Treats Asthma

This is the result of a study by American scientists. They found that after just a few weeks of drinking perilla leaf water, asthma issues significantly decreased in participating patients.

8. Helps Combat Allergies and Infections

Thanks to beneficial compounds in perilla leaf water such as Quercetin, Perilla, Luteolin, and Rosmarinic Acid, it effectively prevents allergic reactions and infections occurring in your body.

9. Aids Women in Dieting

The essential oil of perilla contains Alpha-linolenic acid, which is extremely beneficial for health and helps significantly reduce blood cholesterol levels. Consequently, this supports women in weight loss and protects cardiovascular health.

Benefits for Bones and Joints

Drinking perilla leaf water helps alleviate pain and significantly reduces dangerous symptoms caused by rheumatoid arthritis and other bone and joint diseases.

Effects of Perilla Leaves on Skin

So, what benefits does drinking perilla leaf water have for women’s beauty? Besides using perilla leaves for facial masks or steaming, drinking perilla leaf water helps detoxify the body, purify the skin, and prevent acne.

Treats Cough Symptoms

Drinking perilla leaf water combined with peppermint helps loosen phlegm and reduce throat swelling. However, this method should only be used when your condition is still mild; it may not be effective for more severe cases.

Reduces Fever with Perilla Leaves

You can prepare the following remedy:

• Perilla, dried tangerine peel, codonopsis, ginger, patchouli, licorice, and pinellia, each 2g.
• Combine all ingredients and brew them into a medicinal drink to use when experiencing fever to significantly reduce dangerous symptoms.

Treats Cold Symptoms

To treat cold symptoms, you can use perilla in three ways:

• Wash perilla leaves and cook them with porridge for the patient to eat.
• Use perilla leaf water for a full-body steam.
• Drink hot perilla leaf water and then cover yourself with a blanket. This is suitable for the elderly and children.

Effective in Pregnancy Maintenance

You can use the following remedy:

• 20g of perilla combined with mugwort, white atractylodes, angelica, Chinese yam, and cordyceps (16g of each); ginseng, wolfberry, lotus seeds, honeysuckle, and licorice (12g of each); 10g of various types of eucommia, hawthorn; 3 slices of ginger; 5 jujubes.
• All ingredients should be brewed into a medicinal drink, consumed daily in one dose.

Excessive consumption of perilla leaf water can lead to high blood pressure.

Potential Harms of Overusing Perilla Leaves

• Drinking excessive amounts of perilla leaf water over a long period can lead to high blood pressure and affect cardiovascular health.
• High blood pressure is also dangerous for pregnant women or children if consumed continuously for an extended time.
• Adverse reactions may occur in individuals allergic to certain components in perilla leaf water.

How to Prepare Perilla Leaf Water for Daily Consumption

You need to prepare the following ingredients:

• Perilla leaves: about 200g
• Fresh lemon: 3 slices
• Clean water: 2.5 liters

Wash the perilla leaves thoroughly, soak them in diluted salt water for about 10 minutes, then rinse and drain. Boil the clean water mentioned above, add the perilla leaves, and let them steep for 3-5 minutes before turning off the heat. Finally, wait for the water to cool, pour it into a glass bottle, add the lemon slices, and consume gradually throughout the day.

Usage Notes and Storage Tips for Perilla Leaf Water

• The effects of drinking perilla leaf water are often gradual, so patience is necessary for recovery.
• Avoid excessive consumption as it can cause bloating, flatulence, and other adverse effects on the body.
• Store perilla leaf water in the refrigerator when not in use, with a maximum shelf life of 24 hours. The longer it sits, the more nutrients will be lost.
• It is best to drink perilla leaf water 30 minutes before meals for optimal effectiveness.
• Children and pregnant women can consume perilla leaf water in moderate amounts for health benefits.

Should You Drink Perilla Leaf Juice Before Receiving the COVID-19 Vaccine?

Recently, as the COVID-19 pandemic has become more complex, vaccination has become a preventive measure to protect oneself from COVID-19. Many people have been spreading the word about drinking perilla leaf water before receiving the COVID-19 vaccine to reduce fever and side effects. Is this claim accurate?

According to family doctor Nguyen Le Thuc Doan (Ho Chi Minh City): “Drinking perilla water before receiving the Covid-19 vaccine has no effect on reducing fever or alleviating side effects. The most important thing is that people need to prepare a comfortable mindset, eat nutritious meals, and rest before going for vaccination.”

Anxiety and restlessness can easily lead to elevated blood pressure. For individuals with high blood pressure, they must sit and rest, and then have their blood pressure measured again. Only if blood pressure is stable can vaccination proceed. If anxiety prevents blood pressure from stabilizing, individuals may miss the opportunity to receive the vaccine. Additionally, when going for vaccination, individuals must adhere to the 5K principles to avoid infection.”

• Perilla for digestive disorders
• Successful extraction of molecules that can eliminate breast cancer cells from perilla
• Discovery of a new concerning Covid-19 variant