Single Herb Glossary

Glossary Home

Back

Zhì Gān Cǎo 炙甘草

Pharmaceutical name	Glycyrrhizae Radix Honey fried licorice root “sweet herb”
Category	Tonify Qi
Key Properties	Tonifies SP Qi Moistens LU Moderates urgency & toxicity Drains Fire
Properties	(Dry fried) Sweet Warm
Tropism	All 12 chan;primarily HT, LU, SP, ST
Actions & Indications	Same as Gan Cao Increased ability to Tonify Middle Jiao Increased ability to Moisten
Dosages	1.5-9g; when a large dosage is required, 15-30g can be used
Contraindications (TCM)	Distention & Fullness of chest & abdomen or nausea/vomiting from overabundant dampness
Contraindications (Western)
Chemical Composition
Pharmacological Effects
Herb-Drug Interactions
Classical Formula(s)	San Jia Fu Mai Tang (Three-Shell Decoction to Restore the Pulse) 三甲復脈湯 Ren Shen Ge Jie San (Ginseng and gecko powder) 人參蛤蚧散 Si Ni Tang (Frigid extremeties decoction) 四逆湯 Bai Zhu Fu Zi Tang (White Atractylodes and Aconite Accessory Root Decoction) 白朮附子湯 Bu Fei E Jiao Tang (delete Ma Dou Ling) (Tonify the lungs with ass-hide gelatin 補肺阿膠湯（減馬兜鈴） Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San Ligusticum Chuanxiong Powder to be Taken with Gree 川芎茶調散 (川芎茶调散) Da Ding Feng Zhu (Major Arrest Wind Pearl) 大定風珠 Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang (Stephania and Astragalus Decoction) 防己黃耆湯 Ge Gen Huang Qin Huang Lian Tang (Kudzu, scutellaria, and coptis decoction) 葛根黃蓮黃苓湯 Gui Zhi Ren Shen Tang (Cinnamon Twig and Ginseng Decoction) 桂枝人参湯 Guo Qi Yin (Delayed Menstruation Decoction) 過期飲 Huang Lian Tang (Coptis Decoction) 黃蓮湯 Huang Qin Tang (Scutellaria Decoction) 黃芩湯 Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang (Restore and Revive the Yang Decoction) 回陽救急湯 Li Zhong Wan (regulate the middle pill) 理中丸 Ma Huang Tang (Ephedra Decoction) 麻黃湯 Ma Xing Shi Gan tang (Ephedra, Apricot Kernel and Lucorice Decoction) 麻杏石甘湯 Qiang Huo Sheng Shi Tang Notopterygium Decoction to Overcome Dampness 羌活勝濕湯 (羌活胜湿汤) Ren Shen Yang Rong Tang (Ginseng decoction to nourish luxuriance) 人參養榮湯 (人参养荣汤) San Zhong Kui Jian Tang (Decoction to Disperse Swelling and Ulcerate What is Hard) 散腫潰堅湯 Shao Yao Tang (Peony Decoction) 芍藥湯 Shen Ling Bai Zhu San (Ginsing, poria and white atractylodes powder) 蔘苓白朮散 Shen Su Yin (GinSeng and Perilla Leaf Drink) 參蘇飲 Sheng Hua Tang (Generating & Transforming Decoction) 生化湯 (生化汤) Sheng Ma Ge Gen Tang (Cimicifuga and Kudzu Decoction) 升麻葛根湯 Shi Pi Yin (Bolster the Spleen Decoction) 實脾飲 Shi Shen Tang (Ten-Miracle Decoction) 十神湯 Si Jun zi tang (Four-gentlemen decoction) (4 herbs) 四君子湯 Si Ni San (Frigid Extremities Powder) 四逆散 Tai shan pan shi san (Taishan bedrock powder) 泰山盤石散 (泰山盘石散) Tao He Cheng Qi Tang (Peach Pit Decoction to Order the Qi) 桃核承氣湯 (桃核承气汤) Zhi Shi Xiao Pi Wan (Immature Bitter Orange Pill to Reduce Focal Distention) 枳實消痞丸 Zhu Ye Shi Gao Tang (Lophatherum and Gypsum Decoction) 竹葉石膏湯 Xiao Yao San (Rambling Powder) 逍遙散 (逍遥散) Jia Wei Xiao Yao San (Modified Rambling Powder)加味逍遙散 Ba Zhen Yi Mu Wan (Eight Treasure Pill to Benefit Mothers) 八珍益母丸 Ba Zheng San (Eight Herb Powder for Rectification) 八正散 Bai Hu Tang (White Tiger decoction) 白虎湯 Ban Xia Xie Xin Tang (Pinellia Decoction to Drain the Epigastrium) 半夏瀉心湯 Bao Yuan Tang (Preserve the Primal Decoction) 保元湯 Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (Tonify the middle to augment the qi decoction) 補中益氣湯 Chai Hu Shu Gan San (Bupleurum Powder to Dredge the Liver) 柴胡疏肝散 Da Qing Long Tang (Major Bluegreen Dragon Decoction) 大青龍湯 Dang Gui Si Ni Tang (Tangkuei Decoction for Frigid Extremities) 當歸四逆湯 E Jiao Ji Zi Huang Tang (Ass-Hide Gelatin and Egg Yolk Decoction) 阿膠雞子黃湯 Er Chen Tang (Two Aged Decoction) 二陳湯 Ge Gen Tang (Kudzu Decoction) 葛根湯 Gui Ling Gan Lu Yin (Cinnamon and Poria Sweet Dew Drink) 桂苓甘露飲 Gui Pi Tang (Restore the spleen decoction) 歸脾湯 (归脾汤) Hou Po Wen Zhong Tang (Magnolia Bark Decoction for Warming the Middle) 厚朴温中湯 Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San (Agastache powder to Rectify the Qi) 藿香正氣散 (藿香正气散) Jia Jian Wei Rui Tang (Modified Solomon's Seal Decoction) 加減葳蕤湯 Jia Wei Xiang Su San (Augmented Cyperus and Perilla Leaf Powder) 加味香蘇散 Juan Bi Tang (Remove Painful Obstruction Decoction) 蠲痺湯 Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang (Poria, Cinnamon Twig, Atractylodis Macrocephalae, and Licorice Decoction) 苓桂朮甘湯 Liu He Tang (Harmonize the Six Decoction) 六和湯 Liu Yi San (Six-to-One Powder) 六一散 Ping Wei San (Calm the Stomach Powder) 平胃散 Sheng Yang Yi Wei Tang (Raise the Yang and Augment the Stomach Decoction) 升陽益胃湯 Shi Quan Da Bu Tang (All-inclusive great tonifying decoction) 十全大補湯 (十全大补汤) Wen Dan Tang (Warm Gallbladder Decoction) 溫膽湯 (温胆汤) Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction) 小柴胡湯 (小柴胡汤) Xiao Ji Yin Zi (Small Thistle Drink) 小蓟飲子 Xiao Jian Zhong Tang (Minor construct the middle decoction) 小建中湯 Xiao Qing Long Tang (Minor Bluegreen Dragon Decoction) 小青龍湯 (小青龙汤) Xie Bai San (Drain the White Powder) 瀉白散 (泻白散) Xuan Fu Dai Zhe Tang (Inula & Hematite Decoction) 旋覆代赭湯 Zhen Ren Yang Zang Tang (True Man's Decoction to Nourish the Organs) 真人養臟湯 Zhi Gan Cao Tang (Prepared licorice decoction) 炙甘草湯 (炙甘草汤) Zhong Man Fen Xiao Wan (Separate and Reduce Fullness in the Middle Pill) 中滿分消丸 Zhu Sha An Shen Wan (Cinnabar Pill to calm the Spirit) 朱砂安神丸 Zi Xue Dan (delete She Xiang, Zhu Sha; Ling Yang Jiao substituted with Shui Niu Jiao) (Purple Snow Special Pill) 紫雪丹（減麝香，朱砂；羚羊角用水牛角代替） Zi Yin Jiang Huo Tang (Decoction to Enrich the Yin and Direct Fire Downward) 滋陰降火湯 Gui Zhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction) 桂枝湯 Ba Zhen Tang (Eight-Treasure decoction) 八珍湯

Back

This information is a reference tool for Chinese herbal studies. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Please consult a primary health professional if you require health advisory.