What Is Perilla? One Article Explains the Three Main Differences Between It and Basil

Perilla, also known as black perilla and red perilla, is an annual herbaceous plant commonly found along ditches and around homes in China. Because it has an aromatic scent like cilantro and celery and is highly useful, it is widely used for medicinal and oil purposes, so what is perilla? What is the difference between it and basil?

1. What is perilla?

1. Perilla is an annual herbaceous plant in the genus Perilla, tribe Elsholtzieae, family Lamiaceae. Its stem is upright, purple or green-purple, and four-angled, and the plant height is about 60-150 cm. It has a special fragrance. The leaves have serrated edges, are purple on the underside and green on the upper surface. It generally blooms from June to July and fruits from July to September. The flowers are pale red or purple, and the fruits are oval.

2. Perilla is also called white perilla and guiren. It combines medicinal, edible and ornamental uses, and the whole plant can be used. Its leaves are also called perilla leaves. They can not only be used as a seasoning when cooking fish, but also eaten as a leafy vegetable. Regular consumption can dispel cold, regulate qi, and neutralize fish and crab toxins.

3. Perilla is also called red perilla. It originated in China, and is now cultivated abroad in India, Japan, Korea, South Korea, Myanmar and other places, where most of the cultivated plants are used medicinally. It has a good improving effect on spleen-stomach qi stagnation, chest tightness, nausea, vomiting and other conditions.

4. Perilla is a plant with extremely strong growth ability and can generally be seen on barren hills and wasteland. Wild perilla is mostly distributed in Taiwan, China, Fujian, Hebei, Shanxi, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Hubei, Yunnan, Guizhou and other places. Of course, there are other varieties, such as the ear-toothed variety of perilla, huihui perilla, and small foreign perilla, all of which are relatively common on hillsides. However, huihui perilla is mostly used for medicine and making spices, while small foreign perilla is mostly used for ornamental purposes and is generally planted in gardens in various places.

2. What is the difference between perilla and basil?

Difference 1: Different family and genus. Perilla is an annual herbaceous plant in the genus Perilla, tribe Elsholtzieae, family Lamiaceae; basil is an annual herbaceous plant in the genus Ocimum, species Ocimum basilicum, family Lamiaceae.

Difference 2: Different uses. Perilla is mostly used for medicine and food, especially when cooking various seafood, where it is mostly used to remove dampness and fishiness. Basil is mostly used to make various spices for cured products. Of course, its tender stems and leaves can also be used to scramble eggs, cook with tomatoes and so on, with many more ways to use it than perilla.

Difference 3: Different effects. Perilla has the effects of dispelling cold, regulating qi, and neutralizing fish and crab toxins, and can be used for wind-cold colds, nausea and vomiting and other conditions. Basil has the effects of detoxifying and reducing swelling, invigorating blood, and resolving dampness and harmonizing the middle, and can be used to treat cough, fever, headache and other conditions caused by colds, as well as irregular menstruation, bruises, eczema and other conditions.

In general, perilla is black perilla, red perilla and white perilla. It is an annual herbaceous plant commonly found on barren hills, wasteland and around homes. It can be used as medicinal material, seasoning and so on, and regular consumption can dispel cold, regulate qi, and neutralize fish and crab toxins. Although its appearance is similar to basil, the two differ somewhat in uses and effects, so pay attention when purchasing.