What are the benefits and effects of Perilla seed?
Perilla seed is the dried ripe fruit of Perilla frutescens and wild perilla, plants belonging to the Lamiaceae family. It has a pungent taste and warm nature, and is a commonly used traditional Chinese herb. Its main effects and benefits include relieving asthma, antibacterial and antiviral actions, promoting digestion, calming the mind, regulating menstruation, and antioxidant activity. Detailed explanations are as follows:

1. Relieving Asthma: Perilla seed has traditionally been used to relieve asthma because it contains volatile oils that can dilate the bronchi, helping to alleviate asthma symptoms and respiratory spasms.
2. Antibacterial and Antiviral: Perilla seed possesses antibacterial and antiviral properties, aiding in fighting infections. It is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat colds, influenza, and other respiratory infections.
3. Promoting Digestion: Perilla seed is believed to aid digestion by stimulating gastric juice secretion, improving digestion, and possibly relieving gastrointestinal discomfort.

4. Calming and Sedative Effects: The volatile oil components in perilla seed also have certain calming and sedative effects, which may help relieve anxiety, insomnia, and tension.
5. Regulating Menstruation: In traditional Chinese medicine, perilla seed is used to regulate menstruation. It is believed to promote blood circulation and regulate menstrual cycles, and can be used to alleviate menstrual discomfort and irregular periods in women.
6. Antioxidant Activity: Perilla seed is rich in antioxidants such as aromatic ketones, which help protect against damage from free radicals and shield cells from oxidative stress.
It should be noted that although perilla seed offers various health benefits, it should be used in moderation and under medical supervision, especially for pregnant and breastfeeding women.