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Zi Su Geng紫苏梗

Perillae Caulis · Perilla Stem

Herbs that Regulate the Qi 理气药

Overview

The stem of the same perilla plant that gives us Zi Su Ye, and a good illustration of how differently the parts of one plant behave. Where the leaf is light and rises to the surface to release a chill, the stem is heavier and stays in the middle: acrid and warm, it moves stuck qi in the chest and stomach, eases the fullness and nausea that come with it, and is the part of the plant chosen in pregnancy for a restless fetus and for morning sickness. It disperses far less than the leaf, which is exactly why it is preferred where sweating is not wanted.

Nature & Flavor

Acrid, sweet · Slightly warm

Channels

Lung · Spleen · Stomach

Typical Dosage

5–9 g in decoction
紫苏梗Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

4 core actions

  • Moves qi, loosens the middleStifling fullness of the chest and epigastrium, belching, poor appetite and nausea where qi is stuck rather than deficient.
  • Harmonises the stomach, stops nauseaNausea and vomiting with a damp, sluggish middle; a mainstay for the queasiness of early pregnancy.
  • Calms a restless fetusAbdominal distension with fetal restlessness in pregnancy — the traditional reason the stem, not the leaf, is written into obstetric prescriptions.
  • How it differs from the leafThe leaf releases the exterior and induces sweating; the stem barely does, working instead on qi movement in the middle burner. Both come from one plant and are prescribed separately.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Zi Su Geng

No published formula lists this herb yet — the library is growing.

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Chest and epigastric fullness from stagnant qi
    - Nausea, vomiting and poor appetite with dampness in the middle
    - Nausea of early pregnancy; distension with fetal restlessness

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

Morning sicknessFunctional dyspepsiaNauseaBloating

Contraindications

Cautions

Acrid and warm, and therefore drying: it is unsuitable where qi is deficient rather than stuck, and where yin is depleted with dry mouth, dry stool and a red peeled tongue. Perilla is a mint-family plant and occasional contact or ingestion reactions are reported, so stop it if a rash appears.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Commonly used in pregnancy under practitioner supervision — this is the perilla part specifically chosen to settle nausea and a restless fetus, and it is preferred over the leaf for that reason.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
    2. 《中华人民共和国药典》.
    3. 《中华本草》 (modern comprehensive materia medica).

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.