INDIVIDUAL HERBS

Pharmaceutical Latin: Radix Glycyrrhizae
Radix Glycyrrhizae Preparata (Zhi Gan Cao)
Common English: Licorice Root
Baked Licorice Root
Ural Licorice Root
Herbs that Tonify Qi
Taste Temperature Entering Meridians Dosage
Sweet
Neutral (raw) (Gan Cao)
Warm (dry-fried) (Zhi Gan Cao)
Heart
Lung
Spleen
Stomach
(All twelve channels)
(Yang Wei)
1.5-14g
Large dosage up to 30g
Tincture: 1-4ml
Actions Indications/Syndromes

Tonifies the Spleen and augments Qi

Spleen Qi Deficiency with shortness of breath, lassitude and loose stools

Qi and Blood Deficiency with an irregular pulse and/or palpitations

Heart Qi Deficiency or Heart Yang Deficiency

Moistens the Lungs, resolves Phlegm and stops coughing

Lung Heat or Cold

Productive or non-productive coughing

Moderates spasms and alleviates pain

Painful muscle spasms of the abdomen and legs

Clears Heat and relieves Fire toxicity

Raw for Toxic Heat with sore throat or carbuncles and sores (Chuang Yung)

Antidote for many toxic substances (internal and topical)

Poisoning

Moderates and harmonizes the harsh properties of other herbs and guides the herbs to all twelve channels

 

CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • Contraindicated in those with Excess Dampness with nausea, vomiting and abdominal fullness.
  • Contraindicated in those who frequently drink wine.
  • Contraindicated in those who have hypertension, edema, hyperglycemic conditions, osteoporosis and general Excess secretions.
  • Large doses (over 35 gm during a one week period) can create a sodium/potassium imbalance in the blood creating edema and heart palpitations.
INCOMPATIBILITIES
  • Incompatible with Flos Genkwa Yuan Hua.
  • Incompatible with Rx. Euphorbiae seu Knoxiae Jing Da Ji.
  • Incompatible with Sargassum Hai Zao (it is frequently used with this herb).
  • Incompatible with Rx. Kansui Gan Sui
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS
  • This herb may alter the therapeutic effects of corticosteroids such as cortisone, prednisone (Orasone), dexamethasone (Decadron), hydrocortisone (Cortef) and methoprednisolone (Medrol).
  • Use with caution with cardioglycosides such as digoxin (Lanoxin).
  • This herb speeds the metabolism of drugs such as chloral hydrate, urethane, cocaine, picrotoxin, caffeine, pilocarpine, nicotine, and barbiturates and treats overdose of these agents.

Rx. Codonopsis
Dang Shen

Rx. Codonopsis
Dang Shen

(Rx. Ginseng)
(Ren Shen)
Poria

Fu Ling
(Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae)
(Bai Zhu)

Rx. Codonopsis
Dang Shen
Ram. Cinnamomi
Gui Zhi

Anorexia, fatigue and loose stools due to Spleen Deficiency.

Palpitations due to Heart Qi Deficiency.

Strengthens the Spleen and augments Qi.

Palpitations due to Heart Qi Deficiency.

Rx. Codonopsis
Dang Shen
(Rx. Ginseng)
(Ren Shen)
Ram. Cinnamomi
Gui Zhi

Rx. Rehmanniae
Sheng Di Huang

Colla Corii Asini
E Jiao

Hb. Ephedrae
Ma Huang
Sm. Armeniacae
Xing Ren
(Rz. Zingiberis Recens)
(Sheng Jiang)

Rx. Platycodi
Jie Geng

Heart Qi and Blood Deficiency with an irregular heart beat and palpitations.

Coughing or wheezing due to Wind-Cold Attacks the Lungs.

Pain and swelling of the throat.

Fol. Mori
Sang Ye
Rx. Platycodi
Jie Geng

Gypsum Fibrosum
Shi Gao
Sm. Armeniacae
Xing Ren

Rx. Paeoniae Alba
Bai Shao

Wind-Heat Invading the Lungs.

Coughing due to Lung Heat.

Moderates spasms and alleviates pain, for painful spasms of the leg or abdomen.

Rx. Paeoniae Alba
Bai Shao

Rx. Scutellariae
Huang Qin

Rx. Paeoniae Alba
Bai Shao

Rx. Bupleuri
Chai Hu
Rx. Angelicae Sinensis
Dang Gui
(Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae)
(Bai Zhu)

Endoconcha Sepiae
Hai Piao Xiao
Per. Citri Reticulatae
Chen Pi

Abdominal pain and dysenteric diarrhea from Damp-Heat.

Hypochondriac pain due to Liver Qi Stagnation.

Peptic ulcer pain.

Endoconcha Sepiae
Hai Piao Xiao
Concha Arcae
Wa Leng Zi

(Per. Citri Reticulatae)
(Chen Pi)
(Mel)
(Feng Mi)

Flos Lonicerae
Jin Yin Hua

Hb. Taraxaci
Pu Gong Ying

Gastric discomfort with hyperacidity.

Epigastric pain caused by Stomach ulcer.

Damp rashes or acne.

Internally or externally for abscesses or other toxic swellings.

Flos Lonicerae
Jin Yin Hua

Hb. Taraxaci
Pu Gong Ying

(Fr. Forsythiae)
(Lian Qiao)
(Hb. Violae)
(Zi Hua Di Ding)

Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata
Shu Di Huang
Cx. Cinnamomi
Rou Gui
Sm. Sinapis
Bai Jie Zi
(Colla Cervi Pantotrichum)
(Lu Jiao Jiao)

Flos Genkwa
Yuan Hua

Yang sores marked by redness, swelling and pain.

Chronic Yin-type swellings that do not ulcerate or have dark purplish ulcerations that do not close.

Topically for chilblain. (frostbite)

Rx. Platycodi
Jie Geng

Rx. Sophorae Tonkinensis
Shan Dou Gen
Rx. Scrophulariae
Xuan Shen
(Fr. Arctii)
(Niu Bang Zi)

Sm. Armeniacae
Xing Ren
Bul. Fritillariae Cirrhosae
Chuan Bei Mu

Sm. Phaseoli Radiati
Lu Dou

Flos Lonicerae
Jin Yin Hua

(Glycinis Testa)
(Lu Dou Yi)

Sore throat with significant swelling or pus.

Heat induced dry cough.

Antidote for a wide variety of toxins.

Rx. Ginseng
Ren Shen

Fr. Arctii
Niu Bang Zi

Sm. Phaseoli Radiati
Lu Dou

Relieves palpitations and anxiety.

Strongly clears the throat and Lungs to treat Wind-Heat attacks the Lungs or Fire toxin flaring upwards.

Antidote for poisoning from toxic herbs such as Aconite Fu Zi, Chuan Wu or Crotonis Ba Dou.

As a summertime beverage to prevent Summerheat and Heat rash and to reduce the probability of poisoning from spoiled food.

Fr. Jujube
Da Zao
Fr. Tritici Levis
Fu Xiao Mai

Fr. Jujube
Da Zao
Fr. Tritici Levis
Fu Xiao Mai

Fossilia Ossis Mastodi
Long Gu
Concha Ostreae
Mu Li
Sm. Zizyphi Spinosae
Suan Zao Ren
Sm. Platycladi
Bai Zi Ren

Fol. Mori
Sang Ye
Rx. Platycodi
Jie Geng

Flos Chrysanthemi
Ju Hua
Sm. Armeniacae
Xing Ren

Dry or restless organ disorder.

Dry organ disorder with Shen disturbance.

Cough and wheezing due to Wind-Heat.

Rz. Zingiberis
Gan Jiang
Hb. Asari
Xi Xin
Fr. Schisandrae
Wu Wei Zi

Rx. Glehniae
Bei Sha Shen
Rx. Ophiopogonis
Mai Men Dong
Colla Corii Asini
E Jiao
Flos Farfarae
Kuan Dong Hua

Rz. Dioscoreae
Shan Yao
Saccharum Granorum
Yi Tang
Ram. Cinnamomi
Gui Zhi
Rz. Zingiberis
Sheng Jiang
Fr. Jujube
Da Zao

Coughing due to Wind-Cold with sputum.

Cough and wheezing due to Dryness.

Abdominal pain due to Middle Jiao Deficiency Cold.

Rx. Paeoniae Alba
Bai Shao

Rz. Coptidis
Huang Lian
Rx. Scutellariae
Huang Qin
Rx. et Rz. Rhei
Da Huang
Sm. Arecae
Bing Lang

Mel
Feng Mi

Rx. Paeoniae Alba
Bai Shao

Fr. Chaenomelis
Mu Gua
Caul. Spatholobi
Ji Xue Teng

Diarrhea, dysentery, and abdominal pain caused by Damp-Heat.

Burns topically.

Drug poisoning internally.

Leg cramps due to Blood Deficiency.

Talcum (15g)
Hua Shi

Sm. Armeniacae
Xing Ren

Sm. Phaseoli Radiati
Lu Dou

Flos Lonicerae
Jin Yin Hua

Glycinis Testa
Lu Dou Yi

12g Gan Cao, for herbicide or pesticide poisoning in decoction 3 times daily.

Lead poisoning.

Arsenic poisoning.

  1. It improves digestion.
  2. It has anti-aging properties.
  3. It prevents drying of membranes.
  4. It occurs in about 2/3 of all formulas. It has both an ascending and descending nature.
  5. It treats both Internal and External diseases.
  6. It sensitizes organs to the effects of other herbs.
  7. This herb inhibits the growth of cancer cells.
  8. This herb tonifies in mediating formulas, clears fever in cooling formulas, dispels pathogens in the muscles in diaphoretic formulas and nourishes the Blood and expels toxins in relaxing formulas.
  9. For Wei (atrophy) Syndrome, use Gan Cao alone.
  10. For uncomplicated sores, use alone topically.
  11. For erysipelas, use alone in decoction topically.
  12. For red lesions, with eczema and itching, use alone in decoction topically.
  13. For a mild sore throat, use alone.
  14. When extremely Hot or extremely Cold herbs are used, this herb must be added to mediate the intensity.
  15. When Cold and Hot herbs are used in the same formula, this herb must be included to harmonize the properties.
  16. For food poisoning from beef, use alone as a decoction.
  17. It neutralizes the toxicity of Rx. Aconiti Lateralis Preparata Zhi Fu Zi.
  18. It controls the warm property of Rz. Zingiberis Gan Jiang to prevent damage to Yin.
  19. It prevents the cold properties of Gypsum Fibrosum Shi Gao and Rx. Anemarrhena Zhi Mu from damaging the Stomach.
  20. It reduces the initial peak effect of Rx. et Rz. Rhei Da Huang and Natrii Sulfas Mang Xiao and prolongs the overall duration of their effects.
  21. It reduces the initial peak effect of Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae, Bai Zhu, Rx. Codonopsis Dang Shen, Rx. Rehmanniae Shu Di Huang, and Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui, and prolongs their overall effects.
  22. Both Gan Cao and Maltose Yi Tang tonify the Qi of the Middle Jiao, moderate urgency and relieve pain. Gan Cao resolves toxicity, but does not nourish Blood. It moistens the Lungs to stop cough but has less fluid generating capability than Yi Tang which generates fluids especially in the Lungs, relieves thirst and nourishes Blood.
  23. Dry-fried Licorice Chao Gan Cao has enhanced warming ability. Dry-frying with bran boosts its ability to harmonize the Stomach.
  24. Honey-prepared Licorice Mi Zhi Gan Cao has increased ability to tonify the Middle, augment the Heart and Spleen and harmonize the properties of other herbs.
  25. Licorice tips Gan Cao Shao are cool in nature, drain Fire and resolve toxicity. They excel in treating Damp-Heat Pouring Downward into the Bladder and causing urethral pain.
  26. It boosts adrenal and pancreatic weaknesses, especially in those with functional blood sugar Deficiency.
  27. Powdered Rx. Glycyrrhizae Gan Cao Fen is considered to be of higher quality than regular Rx. Glycyrrhizae Gan Cao.