（本经中品）
【气味】辛，微温，无毒。
【主治】主下气，杀谷，除饮食，辟口臭，去邪毒，辟恶气。久服通神明，轻身耐老。
【气味】辛温，无毒。
【主治】主咳逆下气，温中，补体。叶主调中，去臭气。（别录）
【气味】辛温，无毒。
【主治】主冷气泄痢。生食，除胸中酸水。 碎，傅蚁 。（藏器）
【核】曰∶水苏，即紫苏。一名卢苏，处处有之。喜生水旁，春二月皆以子种，或子着
地间，次年自发。茎方叶圆，叶端有尖，边作锯齿，肥地者，叶面背俱色紫，瘠地者，仅背
紫面青。七八月开花红紫色，成穗作房，结实如芥子，臭香色褐，碎之绞液作油，甚甘美也。
若叶面背色白者，即荏子，子不甚香，而叶转辛。若叶面背青白者，即荠 ，叶上有毛而气
臭，五月采叶，七月采茎，九月采实，各取得气之全。今市肆茎叶，多霜后采取，此已 之
本，气味俱失，不宜用也。别录另立苏，及白苏两条；苏即水苏，白苏即荏子，又有鱼苏、
鸡苏二种。鱼苏，即荏子同类，一名 苏，状似茵陈，叶大而香。吴人用煮鱼食，因名鱼苏。
鸡苏，一名回回苏，茎叶俱紫，叶边锯齿极细密，叶面交纽若剪绒状，宛似鸡冠，因名鸡苏
。王祯云∶即水苏之异形，故主疗诸疾亦相同也。
先人云∶诸苏同一种类，但有家莳野生，及色香气味之殊。故主治功力，似异而同也。
皆宜于水，质都柔润，虽色香气味，稍分浓薄，而辛温芳烈则一，当以本经水苏为正。顾苏
之有荏有荠，若术之有苍有白，何须另立门户。
【 】曰∶此以功用诠名，水取坎刚，以荡活泼之体。苏则震 ，以舒阳和之用。更详
色香气味，体性生成，致新推陈之宣剂轻剂也。故主气下者，可使之宣发，气上者，可使之
宣摄，并可开发上焦，宣五谷味，熏肤充身泽毛若雾露之溉，故谷亦杀，毒亦去，臭恶亦辟，
神明可通，轻身耐老矣。别录用治吐血，衄血，及血崩，此气不宣发宣摄，以气如橐龠，血
如
茎则偏于宣通，子则兼而有之，而性稍缓。别录又出荏子，藏器又出荠 。荏即水苏之色白
者，易于入肺，以肺之经气，起于中焦，上隔属肺，乃能布气四达故也。荠即水苏之色青者
，易于入肝，以肝之经气，终于中焦，中焦食气，乃能散精于肝故也。如泄痢酸水，正食气
不得散精于肝，致气冷痿厥，遂成五饮，变生种种形证耳。
（水苏独为中焦主，故可宣扬，复可宣摄；荏子独为上焦主，为经气之始；荠 独为下
焦主，为经气之终。而三苏之扬摄，又莫不繇中焦，次第以为分属者。然水苏枢之属，荏子
开之属，荠 阖之属矣。）
【《神农本草经》列为中品】
【气味】味辛，性微温，无毒。
【主治】主要能降气，消除积食，去除饮食停滞，驱除口臭，清除邪毒，辟除秽恶之气。长期服用可通神明，使身体轻盈并延缓衰老。
【气味】味辛，性温，无毒。
【主治】主要治疗咳嗽气逆、降气，温暖中焦，补益体质。其叶主要调理中焦，去除臭气。（出自《名医别录》）
【气味】味辛，性温，无毒。
【主治】主要治疗冷气引起的泄泻痢疾。生吃可去除胸中的酸水。捣碎后外敷可治疗蚂蚁叮咬。（出自《新修本草·本草拾遗》陈藏器注）
【考证】曰：水苏，就是紫苏。又名卢苏，各地都有生长。喜欢生长在水边，二月间都用种子播种，或者种子落在地里，次年自然萌发。茎呈方形，叶子圆形，叶端有尖，边缘呈锯齿状，肥沃土地生长的，叶片正面背面都呈紫色；贫瘠土地生长的，仅背面紫色而正面青色。七八月开红紫色的花，成穗状排列，结出的果实像芥菜籽一样，气味芳香，颜色褐黑，捣碎挤压出油，非常甘美。如果叶片正面背面呈白色的，就是荏子（白苏），种子香气不浓，但叶子味道更辛辣。如果叶片正面背面呈青白色的，就是荠苏，叶上有毛且气味腥臭。五月采集叶子，七月采集茎，九月采集果实，这样能获取植物得气最完整时的状态。如今市场上出售的茎叶，多是霜降后采摘的，这已经失去了植物的根本，气味都丧失了，不宜使用。《名医别录》单独列出了“苏”和“白苏”两条；苏即水苏，白苏即荏子，另外还有鱼苏、鸡苏两种。鱼苏，是与荏子同类的植物，又名[缺字]苏，形状类似茵陈，叶子大且香。吴地人用它煮鱼食用，因此得名鱼苏。鸡苏，又名回回苏，茎叶都是紫色，叶边锯齿极细密，叶面交错纽结如同剪绒状，宛然像鸡冠，因此得名鸡苏。王祯说：这就是水苏的异形变种，所以主治各种疾病也相同。
先父曾说：各种苏属于同一类植物，只是有家种和野生之分，以及颜色、香气、气味的差异。所以主治功效，看似不同实则相同。它们都适宜在水中生长，质地都柔润，虽然颜色香气气味稍分浓淡，但辛温芳烈之性是一致的，应当以《神农本草经》记载的水苏为正统。然而苏中有荏有荠，就像白术中有苍术和白术一样，何必另立门户。
【注释】曰：这是从功用角度解释名称。水取坎卦之刚健，以荡涤活泼的生命本体。苏则取震卦之动，以舒展阳气调和之用。再详细考察其色、香、气、味，体性生成，它是宣发清新、推陈致新的轻剂。所以气机下陷者，可使其宣发；气机上逆者，可使其宣摄。并可开发上焦，宣散五谷的精微气味，熏蒸肌肤，充盈身体，润泽毛发，如同雾露的灌溉，所以积食得以消除，毒邪得以去除，臭恶之气得以辟除，神明得以通达，身体轻盈并能延缓衰老。《名医别录》记载用于治疗吐血、鼻衄及血崩，这是因为气机不能宣发宣摄，气如风箱，血随气行。茎则偏于宣通，子则兼有宣发与宣摄之功，而药性稍缓。《名医别录》又列出荏子，《本草拾遗》又列出荠苏。荏即水苏中色白的品种，易于入肺，因为肺的经气起于中焦，穿过膈肌属络于肺，才能布散气机达于四末。荠即水苏中色青的品种，易于入肝，因为肝的经气终于中焦，中焦的水谷精气，才能散精于肝。如泄痢、酸水，正是由于食气不能散精于肝，导致气冷、痿厥，遂形成五饮，变化生出种种证候罢了。
（水苏独主中焦，故既可宣扬又可宣摄；荏子独主上焦，为经气之始；荠苏独主下焦，为经气之终。而三苏的扬摄作用，无不源于中焦，依次作为分属的依据。然而水苏属于枢机之属，荏子属于开启之属，荠苏属于闭合之属。）
[Classified as Middle Grade in the *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica)]
【Flavor and Nature】Pungent, slightly warm, non-toxic.
【Indications】Primarily descends Qi, eliminates food stagnation, removes dietary accumulation, dispels bad breath, clears pathogenic toxins, and wards off foul odors. Long-term consumption can clarify the mind and spirit, lighten the body, and retard aging.
【Flavor and Nature】Pungent, warm, non-toxic.
【Indications】Primarily treats cough with rebellious Qi, descends Qi, warms the Middle Jiao (Middle Burner), and tonifies the physique. The leaves primarily regulate the Middle Jiao and remove foul odors. (From *Bielu* / *Additional Records by Famous Physicians*)
【Flavor and Nature】Pungent, warm, non-toxic.
【Indications】Primarily treats dysentery and diarrhea caused by cold qi. Consumed raw, it removes sour fluid from the chest. Crushed and applied externally, it treats ant bites. (From Chen Cangqi's notes in *Xinxiu Bencao* / *Supplement to the New Revised Materia Medica*)
[Textual Research] It is said: Shuisu (Perilla frutescens var. frutescens) is Zisu (Purple Perilla). Also known as Lusu, it grows everywhere. It prefers growing near water. In the second lunar month, it is sown by seed, or seeds fall to the ground and sprout naturally the following year. The stem is square, leaves are round with pointed tips and serrated edges. Those grown in fertile soil have purple coloration on both leaf surfaces; those in poor soil are purple only on the underside and green on top. In the seventh and eighth months, they bloom with reddish-purple flowers arranged in spikes, producing fruits resembling mustard seeds. They have a fragrant odor, brown-black color, and when crushed, yield an oil that is very sweet and delicious. If the leaf surfaces are white, it is Renzi (White Perilla); its seeds are not very fragrant, but the leaves are more pungent. If the leaf surfaces are greenish-white, it is Qisū (Qisu); it has hairy leaves and a fishy odor. Leaves are harvested in the fifth month, stems in the seventh, and fruits in the ninth, thereby obtaining the plant at its most complete state of receiving Qi. Currently, the stems and leaves sold in markets are mostly harvested after frost; these have lost their fundamental essence, and their flavors and natures are depleted, making them unsuitable for use. *Bielu* separately lists "Su" and "White Su"; Su refers to Shuisu, and White Su refers to Renzi. There are also two other types: Yusu (Fish Perilla) and Jisu (Chicken Perilla). Yusu is of the same category as Renzi, also known as [missing character] Su, resembling Yinchen (Artemisia capillaris), with large leaves and a strong fragrance. People in Wu use it to boil fish for eating, hence the name Yusu. Jisu, also known as Huihuisu (Huihui Perilla), has purple stems and leaves, extremely fine and dense serrations on the leaf margins, and leaf surfaces that interlock like cut velvet, resembling a rooster's comb, hence the name Jisu. Wang Zhen stated: This is merely an异形 (variant form) of Shuisu, thus its therapeutic indications for various diseases are also the same.
My late father once said: All types of Su belong to the same species, differing only in whether they are cultivated or wild, and in their colors, fragrances, and flavors. Therefore, their therapeutic efficacies appear different but are essentially the same. They all thrive in moist environments, and their textures are soft and moist. Although their colors, fragrances, and flavors vary in intensity, their pungent, warm, aromatic, and potent nature is consistent. We should regard the Shuisu recorded in the *Benjing* (*Shennong Bencao Jing*) as the orthodox standard. However, since Su includes Renzi and Qisu, just as Baizhu (Atractylodes macrocephala) includes Cangzhu (Atractylodes lancea) and Baizhu, why establish separate categories?
[Commentary] It is said: This explains the name based on function. Water takes the rigid quality of Kan (☵) trigram to cleanse the lively physical constitution. Su takes the dynamic quality of Zhen (☳) trigram to unfold the usage of harmonizing Yang Qi. Further detailing its color, fragrance, flavor, nature, generation, and formation, it is a light agent that promotes freshness and eliminates stale matter. Thus, for descending Qi, it can promote dissemination; for ascending/rebellious Qi, it can promote regulation. It can also open the Upper Jiao (Upper Burner), disseminate the flavors of the five grains, fumigate the skin, fill the body, and moisten hair, akin to the irrigation of mist and dew. Hence, food stagnation is eliminated, toxins are removed, and foul odors are repelled; the mind and spirit can be clarified, the body lightened, and aging retarded. *Bielu* records its use for treating hematemesis (vomiting blood), epistaxis (nosebleed), and metrorrhagia (uterine bleeding). This is because Qi fails to disseminate and regulate properly; Qi acts like a bellows, and Blood follows Qi. The stems tend towards promoting circulation and unblocking, while the seeds possess both disseminating and regulating functions, with a milder nature. *Bielu* further lists Renzi, and *Supplement* lists Qisu. Renzi is the white-colored variant of Shuisu, which easily enters the Lung Meridian, because the Lung meridian Qi originates in the Middle Jiao, passes through the diaphragm to connect with the Lung, thereby distributing Qi to all four extremities. Qisu is the green-colored variant of Shuisu, which easily enters the Liver Meridian, because the Liver meridian Qi terminates in the Middle Jiao, where food Qi can scatter essence to the Liver. Conditions such as dysentery and sour fluid arise precisely because food Qi cannot scatter essence to the Liver, leading to cold Qi, flaccidity, and厥 (Jue/cold limbs), subsequently forming the Five Drinks (Wuyin) and manifesting as various pathological signs.
(Shuisu exclusively governs the Middle Jiao, thus capable of both disseminating and regulating; Renzi exclusively governs the Upper Jiao, being the beginning of meridian Qi; Qisu exclusively governs the Lower Jiao, being the end of meridian Qi. Yet the dispersing and regulating actions of the three Sus all originate from the Middle Jiao, sequentially assigned to their respective domains. However, Shuisu belongs to the Pivot (Shu) category, Renzi belongs to the Opening (Kai) category, and Qisu belongs to the Closing (He) category.)