Honey-Fried Licorice Root
Chinese Prescription: Zhi Gan Cao Tang
English Translation: Honey-Fried Licorice Root
Formula Type: Tonifies the Qi and Blood
Actions: Augments the qi, nourishes the blood, enriches the yin, & restores the pulse.
Indications: The main pattern for which this formula is used presents with papitations that may be accompanied by anxiety, irritability, insomnia, emaciation, shortness of breath, constipation, a dry mouth & throat, a pale, shiny tongue, & a pulse that is consistently irregular, slow-irregular, or thin, faint, & forceless. This is another of the consumptive conditions with qi & blood deficiency.
Contraindications: This formula should not be used without modification in cases with heat from deficient yin or where there is severe diarrhea.
Pinyin | English | Suggested Dosage |
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view: Zhi Gan Cao |
Honey-fried Licorice | 12g |
view: Ren Shen |
Panax Ginseng | 6g |
view: Gui Zhi |
Cinnamon Twigs | 9g |
view: Sheng Di Huang |
Unprepared Rehmannia | 48g |
view: Mai Men Dong |
Ophiopogon | 9g |
view: E Jiao |
Donkey Hide Gelatin | [dissolve in strained decoction] - 6g |
view: Huo Ma Ren |
Hemp Seeds | [crush] - 9g |
view: Sheng Jiang |
Fresh Ginger | 9g |
view: Da Zao (Hong / Hei) |
Red or Black Date | 30 pieces |
Zhi Gan Cao / Licorice Root, honey-baked | |||
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Taste: Sweet • Temperature: Warm • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Qi | |||
Dosage2-12g |
Actions1. Tonifies the Spleen & augments the qi: commonly used for Spleen deficiency with shortness of breath, lassitude, & loose stools. Also for qi or blood deficiency patterns with an irregular or intermittent pulse & /or palpitations.2. Moistens the Lungs & stops coughing: for coughing & wheezing. Because of its neutral properties, it can be used for either heat or cold in the Lungs. 3. Clears heat & relieves fire toxicity: used raw for carbuncles, sores, or sore throat due to fire toxin. For this purpose, it can be taken internally or applied topically. 4. Moderates spasms & alleviates pain: for painful spasms of the abdomen or legs. 5. Moderates & harmonizes the characteristics of other herbs: by virtue of its sweet, neutral, & moderating properties, this herb moderates hot & cold herbs, & mitigates the violent properties of other herbs. Since it is said to enter all 12 primary channels, it can lead & conduct other herbs into the channels. 6. Used as an antidote for a variety of toxic substances, both internally & topically. 7. The raw root clears heat & relieves toxicity, the honey-fried tonifies the middle & moderates spasms. |
MeridiansAll 12 channels (principally the Heart, Lung, Spleen, & Stomach) |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of excess dampness, nausea, or vomiting. May be in compatible with jing da ji, yuan hua, gan sui, & hai zao, & may antagonize yuan zhi. The toxicity of gan cao is very low, but if taken long-term it may cause hypertension &/or edema. Glycyrrhetinic acid has been reported to cause a reduction in the activity of the thyroid & a reducation in the basal metabolic rate. |
Ren Shen / Panax Ginseng | |||
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Taste: Sweet, Slightly Bitter • Temperature: Slightly Warm • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Qi | |||
Dosage1-9g, up to 30 grams (hemorrhagic shock) |
ActionsRen Shen / Panax Ginseng is used in treating patterns of qi, yang & yin deficiency.1. Strongly tonifies the basal qi: for extreme collapse of the qi or abandoned conditions that manifest in shallow respiration, shortness of breath, cold limbs, profuse sweating, & a minute or weak pulse. The herb is used alone for this condition after severe loss of blood. 2. Tonifies the Lungs & augments the qi: for wheezing, shortness of breath, & labored breathing with exertion caused by Lung qi deficiency. There is usually also a concurrent failure of the Kidneys to grasp the qi. 3. Strengthens the Spleen & tonifies the Stomach: for lethargy, lack of appetite, chest & abdominal distention, chronic diarrhea, & in severe cases, prolapse of the stomach, uterus, or rectum. 4. Generates fluids & stops thirst: for wasting & thirsting disorders, as well as in cases when the qi & fluids have been injured by high fever & profuse sweating. 5. Benefits the Heart qi & calms the spirit: for palpitations with anxiety, insomnia, forgetfulness, & restlessness due to qi & blood deficiency. Notes: Red Ginseng is more warming than White Ginseng. American Ginseng is considered cool and is better suited for those patients having a tendency towards heat signs. |
MeridiansLung, Spleen |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of yin deficiency with heat signs, heat excess, or in the absence of significant qi deficiency. Contraindicated for hypertensive patient with ascendant Liver yang, & in cases of very high blood pressure (systolic over 180mmHg). Overdose can lead to headache, insomnia, palpitations, & a rise in blood pressure. The traditional antidote is mung bean soup. This herb may antagonize wu ling zhi & may be incompatible with li lu. Patients taking this herb are advised to abstain from drinking tea & eating tunips, as this may reduce the effect of the herb. |
Gui Zhi / Cinnamon Twig | |||
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Taste: Acrid, Sweet • Temperature: Warm • Category: Exterior Releasing - Warm • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage3-9g |
Actions1. Adjusts the nutritive & protective qi levels: for exterior cold from deficiency patterns where sweating occurs without any improvement in the patient's condition.2. Warms the channels & disperses cold: for wind-cold-damp painful obstruction in joints & limbs, especially the shoulders. Also for gynecological problems, such as dysmenorrhea, caused by cold obstructing the blood. 3. Unblocks the yang & transforms the qi: for edema due to accumulation of cold phlegm or weak movement of the yang qi. 4. Warms & facilitates the flow of yang qi in the chest: for palpitations due to obstruction to the flow of yang qi in the chest. This can be due to either stagnation or deficiency. 5. Warms & facilitates the flow in the blood vessels: for dysmennorrhea with or without abdominal masses. |
MeridiansHeart, Lung, Bladder |
CautionsContraindcated for warm-febrile diseases, yin deficiency with heat signs, & heat in the blood with vomiting. Use with caution during pregnancy or excessive menstruation. |
Sheng Di Huang / Rehmannia Root, Unprepared | |||
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Taste: Sweet, Bitter • Temperature: Cold • Category: Clear Heat • Sub Category: Cool Blood | |||
Dosage9-30g |
Actions1. Clears heat & cools the blood: for all warm-febrile diseases where heat enters the nutritive level causing very high fever, thirst, & a scarlet tongue. Also indicated in cases of hemorrhage due to heat entering the blood level.2. Nourishes the yin & generates fluids: for yin deficiency with heat signs, as well as injury to the body's fluids. Manifestations include dry mouth, continuous low-grade fever, & constipation. Also for throat pain associated with yin deficiency. 3. Cools the upward-blazing of Heart fire: for mouth & tongue sores, & for irritability, insomnia, afternoon or low-grade fevers, & malar flush. 4. Wasting & thirsting disorder. |
MeridiansHeart, Kidney, Liver |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of Spleen deficiency with dampness, yang deficiency, & in pregnant women with blood deficiency or Spleen or Stomach deficiency. |
Mai Men Dong / Ophiopogon | |||
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Taste: Sweet, Slightly Bitter • Temperature: Slightly Cold • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Yin | |||
Dosage6-15g |
Actions1. Moistens the Lungs & stops cough: used whenever the Lung yin has been injured with such signs as dry cough, thick sputum that is difficult to expectorate, & coughing up blood.2. Augments the Stomach yin & generates fluids: for dry tongue & mouth due to insufficient Stomach yin. 3. Clears the Heart & eliminates irritability: for irritability due to yin deficiency or a warm-febrile disese at the nutitive level. In both cases, the feverishness & irritability worsen at night. 4. Moistens the Intestines: for constipation, dry mouth, & irritiability as an the aftermath of a febrile disease or any pattern of yin deficiency. |
MeridiansHeart , Lung , Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases with diarrhea due to cold frm deficiency, & in cases of congested fluids. May antagonize kuan dong hua & counteract ku shen & bai mu er. |
E Jiao / Donkey Hide Gelatin | |||
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Taste: Sweet • Temperature: Neutral • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Blood | |||
Dosage3-15g pill or dissolved into strained decoction or wine |
Actions1. Tonifies the blood: for such symptoms as dizziness, sallow complexion, & palpitations due to blood deficiency.2. Nourishes the blood & stops bleeding: for any type of bleeding, but is best for consumptive disorders with coughing of blood, blood in the stool, excessive menstrual bleeding, or uterine bleeding. 3. Nourishes & moistens the yin: for yin deficiency with such symptoms as irritability & insomnia in the aftermath of a febrile disease. Also used for dry Lung coughs due to yin deficiency or consumption. |
MeridiansKidney, Liver, Lung |
CautionsContraindicated in cases with exterior disorders. Use with caution in cases of Spleen &/or Stomach deficiency. May counteract da huang. |
Huo Ma Ren / Cannabis oval green-brown Seeds | |||
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Taste: Sweet • Temperature: Neutral • Category: Downward Draining • Sub Category: Moist Laxative | |||
Dosage9-15g, up to 45g as principal herb |
Actions1. Nourishes & moistens the Intestines: for constipation in the elderly, in the aftermath of a febrile disease, post partum & in cases of blood deficiency.2. Nourishes the yin: mildly tonifies the yin & primarily used in cases of yin deficiency with constipation. |
MeridiansLarge Intestine, Spleen, Stomach |
CautionsOverdosage or long-term use may result in vaginal discharge or spermatorrhea. Severity of overdose symptoms are related to the dosage. Symptoms include nausea & vomiting, diarrhea, numbness of the extremities, irritability, chorea, miosis, & in very severe cases coma & death. Treatment is based on gastric lavage, fluids, & symptomatic therapy. |
Sheng Jiang / Ginger (market fresh) Rhizome | |||
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Taste: Acrid • Temperature: Warm • Category: Exterior Releasing - Warm • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage3-9g |
Actions1. Releases the exterior & disperses cold: for exterior cold patterns.2. Warms the middle burner & alleviates vomiting: for cold in the Stomach, especially where there is vomiting. 3. Disperses cold & stops coughing: for coughing due to both acute wind-cold cough patterns & chronic Lung disorders with phlegm. 4. Reduces the toxicty of other herbs: for detoxifying or treating overdoses from other herbs such as fu zi or ban xia. 5. Adjusts the nutritive & protective qi: for patients suffering from exterior deficiency who sweat without an improvement in their condition. |
MeridiansLung, Spleen, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of Lung heat, or Stomach heat with vomiting. |
Da Zao (Hong / Hei) / Red or Black Jujube Date | |||
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Taste: Sweet • Temperature: Neutral • Category: Tonic / Harmonize • Sub Category: Tonify Qi | |||
Dosage3-12 pieces (10-30 grams) |
Actions1. Tonifies the Spleen & augments the qi: for weakness, shortness of breath, lassitude, reduced appetite, & loose stools due to Spleen & Stomach deficiency.2. Nourishes the blood & calms the spirit: for wan appearance, irritability, & severe emotional lability due to restless organ disorder. 3. Moderates & harmonizes the harsh properties of other herbs. |
MeridiansSpleen, Stomach |
CautionsSince hong zao aids dampness, generates heat, & may readily induce fullness in the middle burner, it is contraindicated in cases of excess dampness, food stagnation, intestinal parasites, or damp-phlegm disorders with such symptoms as epigastric distention & bloating. |