Perilla frutescens, commonly known as perilla, is a herb traditionally used in East Asian medicine, especially in Chinese and Japanese herbal practice. It is often employed to address digestive complaints, including nausea and vomiting. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), perilla leaf (referred to as Zi Su Ye) is incorporated into formulas designed to "harmonize the stomach" and alleviate symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and morning sickness. Historical pharmacopoeias document its use for these purposes dating back centuries.

Modern scientific research on perilla's anti-nausea properties is limited. Some studies have investigated perilla's essential oils and flavonoids for their anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective effects, but direct high-quality clinical evidence for its efficacy in treating or preventing nausea and vomiting remains scarce. Most available data comes from animal studies or in vitro experiments, rather than robust human clinical trials. There are a few small studies and case reports suggesting potential benefit in the context of chemotherapy-induced nausea or functional dyspepsia, but these are not sufficient to provide strong scientific validation.

In summary, perilla's use for nausea and vomiting is primarily justified by tradition, with centuries of documented usage in herbal medicine. The scientific evidence is preliminary and does not yet validate its effectiveness with high confidence.