Gan Cao
| Gan Cao in TCM:Explore the properties of Gan Cao according to Chinese
Nutrition and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM):
Factoids:
English Name: licorice root
Pharmacuetical Name: Radix Glycyrrhizae
Properties: sweet, neutral
Temperature: neutral
Channels: LU, ST, SP, HT
Flavors: sweet
Tonifies: qi
Special Properties:
disperses cold, clears heat, eliminates toxins, resolves phlegm, resolves dryness
Alternate Forms:
- sheng - clear heat and relieve fire toxicity, dispels phlegm
- zhi- tonify middle, moderate spasms, moistens LU
Actions / Indications:
- Tonifies SP and HT qi (lassitude, loose stools, qi
and blood deficiency with irregular or intermittent pulse and/or palpitations,
shortness of breath, zang zao)
- Dispels phlegm, Stop cough (wheezing with phlegm;
coughing; heat or cold in LU; can also moisten LU, use for cough without
phlegm)
- Clears heat; Relieves Toxicity; Treats Poison (
sores throat due to fire toxin, carbuncles, used internally or topically;
used as antidote for variety of toxic substances including food, herbs,
and drugs)
- Moderates Spasms; alleviates Pain (abdominal pain
due to deficiency or cold of middle jiao, painful spasms of abdomen
or legs)
- Moderates and Harmonizes properties of other herbs
(moderates harshness of other herbs; harmonizes middle jiao in combination
with other herbs, particularly with sheng jiang)
- Moderates and Harmonizes properties of other herbs
(moderates harshness of other herbs; harmonizes middle jiao in combination
with other herbs, particularly with sheng jiang)
Other Notes:
- Pharmacologically Gan Cao is a mineralcorticoid (increases re-absorption
of sodium and water), glucocorticoid (enhances effect of coritsone),
anti-inflammatory, antiarrythmic, immuno-stimulant, gastrointestinal
aid, antispasmodic, antitoxin, and is also hepatoprotective.
- Shaoyao-Gancao-tang (SGT), a traditional Chinese formulation, is often used together with antibiotics such as amoxicillin and metronidazole (AMPC-MET) for the treatment of peptic ulcers in Japan.
- Gan Cao is used in Gan Cao Xie Xin Tang to treat Stomach Qi Deficiency with Cold and Heat in the Interior
Contraindications:
- (cc: excess dampness; nausea and vomiting)
- (cc: incompatible with harsh expellants gan sui, yuan hua, and da
ji)
- (cc: according to shi ba fan incompatible with hai zao)
- (cc: long term overdose can lead to hypertension or edema)
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