When boiling perilla leaves, you should add a little lemongrass to enhance the flavor as well as increase the health benefits.
Both perilla leaves and lemongrass are familiar ingredients in cooking. You can also use them to make tea for daily drinking. Perilla–lemongrass water brings quite a few health benefits. Let’s take a closer look at the uses of this drink.

Benefits of Perilla Leaves

Perilla is a common aromatic herb used in many dishes. In addition, it is also considered a medicinal plant with preventive and healing properties. According to traditional medicine, perilla leaves have a pungent taste and warm nature, helping to promote sweating. Decoctions and extracts of perilla leaves have effects such as dilating peripheral blood vessels, reducing fever, and relieving colds.

Perilla seeds are also pungent and warm, with effects such as dissolving phlegm, relieving cough, asthma, lowering qi, moistening the intestines, and promoting bowel movement. People suffering from cough, phlegm, or asthma can use remedies from perilla leaves combined with tangerine peel, walnut kernels, and almonds to improve their condition.

Benefits of Lemongrass

Lemongrass is also a spice widely used in cooking to enhance flavor and add a pleasant aroma. For centuries, it has been used as a medicinal herb. Modern scientific research shows that lemongrass contains citral and geranial compounds, which have strong anti-inflammatory effects. Among them, citral has also been found to have cancer-fighting potential. Some components of lemongrass may directly kill cancer cells or boost the immune system to prevent their growth.

Lemongrass also contains many antioxidants that enhance immunity, prevent infections, and reduce the risk of disease. Its active compounds also have antibacterial and antifungal properties.

The Combination of Perilla and Lemongrass

The combination of perilla and lemongrass brings many health benefits. According to traditional medicine, both have a pungent taste and warm nature, and are highly effective in relieving colds. They can be used in decoctions or steam inhalation, both of which help relieve cough, fever, and nasal congestion.

When drinking perilla–lemongrass tea, the body may experience the following amazing benefits:

1. Boosts immunity
   Both perilla leaves and lemongrass contain vitamin C and antioxidants that help strengthen the immune system and fight pathogens.

2. Relieves cold symptoms
   The combination helps reduce symptoms like headache, runny nose, and nasal congestion. Their volatile essential oils also have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects that soothe the throat.

3. Reduces cough and asthma
   Those suffering from cough, asthma, or respiratory problems may find relief by drinking perilla–lemongrass tea.

4. Improves skin health
   Rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, and other nutrients, this drink nourishes the skin from within, adds moisture, and slows down aging.

5. Eases stomach pain
   Perilla–lemongrass tea may help relieve stomach discomfort, improve digestion, and promote bowel movement.

6. Provides antioxidant protection
   Both ingredients contain powerful antioxidants that fight free radicals, protecting cells from damage and supporting overall health.

7. Supports heart health
   Studies show that active compounds in perilla and lemongrass help lower bad cholesterol (LDL), improve good cholesterol (HDL) function, and protect cardiovascular health, preventing atherosclerosis.

Note

Although perilla and lemongrass bring many health benefits, they should not be overused. Consume this drink in moderation, like a herbal tea, and never as a substitute for plain water. Those under medical treatment should consult their doctor to avoid reducing medication effectiveness or interfering with recovery.