Perilla oil, helps asthma
Perilla oil Perilla frutescens (L.) has a positive effect on numerous conditions, being in a similar league to fish and flax oils. Perilla oil is an extract from the Asian Beefsteak plant, a rich source of omega-3 but cheaper than other oils.
Researchers agree that most people do not get enough essential fatty acids in their diets, and a lot of chronic disease like heart disease is in part due to such deficiencies. It has been shown the perilla oil helps prevent first and secondary heart attacks. Taking perilla oil is said to take effect in a matter of weeks.
Perilla oil has some remarkable anti-inflammatory properties making it useful in the treatment of conditions like asthma, arthritis, colitis, atherosclerosis, and many auto-immune diseases. It seems to inhibit the formation of inflammatory cytoklines. The anti-inflammatory properties have been identified and attributed to the plant compounds rosmarinic acid, tormentic acids and luteolin.
It helps to reduce the symptoms of allergies and intolerances, often a problem with asthma sufferers. It helps protect the body against cancer of the bowel and breast. An important aspect of anti-aging is its ability to protect all the cell membranes. Perilla oil it thought to also reduce cholesterol, and increase and protect the brain function, as we age.
Consuming perilla oil provides the body with sufficient alpha-linoeolic acid, which the body then converts into EPA and DHA fatty acids. For the body to be able to do this conversion it needs adequate amounts of magnesium, zinc, Vitamin C and B complex.
Traditionally perilla leaves have been used for centuries in Chinese herbal medicine, they seem to have anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory properties, and tumor preventing compounds. For the treatment of coughs, colds, and respiratory conditions like asthma.
In Japan the perilla leaves are used as a garnish with raw fish, for flavouring but also as an antidote to food poisoning.
The perilla plant now grows in the South East of the United States in the wild. It has a dark rich purple flower, a square-like stem with purple-reddish leaves. The leaves are a bit hairy with curly edges.
Perilla oil can be taken internally in the form of capsules and are generally 1000mg. Caution – if you are pregnant or breast feeding I suggest you do not take perilla oil as a supplement until after.