Gan Cao 40 packets 1 gram

Brand: TCM Zone 5:1 Singles

English name: Licorice Root Granules

Chinese name: Gan Cao Granules

Unit Size: box of 40/1 gm packets

Potency: 5:1 extract granules

Taste: Sweet - Bensky

Properties: Neutral - Bensky

Contraindications: Contraindicated in those with distention and fullness of the chest and abdomen or vomiting from overabundant dampness - Bensky

Chinese Symptomology: Shortness of breath, lassitude, loose stools due to Spleen deficiency; Irregular or intermittent pulse and/or palpitations due to qi or blood deficiency; Cough, wheezing due to heat or cold in the Lungs; Painful spasms of the abdomen or legs (used with Bai Shao); Carbuncles, sores, sore throat due to fire toxin; toxic ingestion (used an antidote)

Actions: Tonifies the Spleen qi, moistens the Lungs, moderates urgency and toxicity - Bensky

Pattern: Spleen deficiency; Qi or blood deficiency; Heat or cold in the Lungs; Fire Toxicity

Channels Entered: Heart, Lung, Spleen and Stomach - Bensky

Ingredients: Gan Cao - Licorice Root

Excerpted from Bensky: Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica

• Tonifies the Spleen and augments the qi: commonly used for Spleen deficiency with shortness of breath, lassitude, and loose stools. Also for qi or blood deficiency patterns with an irregular or intermittent pulse and/or palpitations.
• Moistens the Lungs and stops coughs: for cough and wheezing. Because of its neutral properties, it can be used for either heat or cold in the Lungs and for either productive or nonproductive coughs.
• Moderates spasms and alleviates pain: for painful spasms of the abdomen or legs. Traditionally, this effect is only seen when combined with Paeoniae Radix Alba (bai shao), as in Peony and Licorice Decoction (Shao yao gan cao tang).
• Clears heat and resolves fire toxicity: used unprepared for carbuncles, sores, or sore throat due to fire toxin. For this purpose, it can be taken internally or applied topically.
• Also used an an antidote for a variety of toxic substances, both internally and topically.
• Moderates and harmonizes the characteristics of other herbs: by virtue of its sweet, neutral, and moderating properties, this herb moderates hot and cold herbs, and mitigates the harsh properties of other herbs. Because it it said to enter all twelve primary channels, it can lead and conduct other herbs into the channels. It is often used to moderate such combinations as Aconiti Radix lateralis preparata (zhi fu zi) and Zingiberis Rhizoma (gan jiang); Gypsum fibrosum (shi gao) and Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (zhi mu); and Rhei Radix et Rhizoma (da huang) and Natrii Sulfas (mang xiao).

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