Can perilla leaves be used to treat rheumatism?
Jun 20, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Tiesheng
Introduction
Patients with wind-cold-dampness arthralgia syndrome often experience joint pain that worsens in cold conditions and improves with warmth, limited joint mobility, and a white, greasy tongue coating. Perilla leaf, which is warm in nature and pungent in taste, can dispel wind and cold, promote circulation, and relieve pain by removing wind-cold-damp pathogens from the body and enhancing blood circulation. It may help alleviate joint pain and stiffness to some extent. However, this is only an adjunctive measure and cannot replace standard medical treatment.
Perilla leaf only has an auxiliary relieving effect on rheumatism of the cold-dampness type (wind-cold-damp bi syndrome), but has no therapeutic effect on rheumatism caused by heat bi syndrome (wind-heat-damp bi syndrome) or severe organic lesions, and may even worsen symptoms. If abnormalities occur, prompt medical attention is recommended. Detailed analysis is as follows:
Patients with rheumatism of the wind-cold-damp bi syndrome type often exhibit symptoms such as joint pain exacerbated by cold and relieved by warmth, limited joint mobility, and a white, greasy tongue coating. Perilla leaf is warm in nature and acrid in taste, and functions to dispel wind and cold, and to promote circulation and relieve pain. By eliminating wind-cold-damp pathogens from the body and promoting blood and qi circulation, it can alleviate joint pain and stiffness to some extent. However, this serves only as an adjunctive measure and cannot replace standard medical treatment.
For rheumatism of the wind-heat-damp bi syndrome type, symptoms may include redness, swelling, heat, and pain in the joints, fever, thirst, a red tongue, and a yellow tongue coating. For rheumatic conditions caused by severe organic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis, perilla leaf cannot alleviate symptoms. Its warm and drying nature may instead exacerbate internal heat pathogens, leading to increased joint swelling and pain. These conditions require proper treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs and immune regulation.
If joint pain persists without relief or symptoms such as redness, swelling, and warmth appear, timely medical consultation is necessary to receive standardized diagnosis and treatment. Relying solely on perilla leaf could delay appropriate care and worsen the condition.
