Chinese: 炙甘草汤
Pinyin: Zhì Gān Cǎo Tāng
Other names: Prepared Licorice Decoction，
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that tonify Qi and Blood
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: AnemiaAtrial flutterHyperthyroidism and seven other conditions
- Augments the Qi
- Nourishes Yin
- Nourishes the Blood
- Restores the pulse
Contraindications: This formula is not recommended for use in its unmodified form in situations... This formula is not recommended for use in its unmodified form in situations where there is Heat due to Yin Deficiency or when severe diarrhea is present. see more
Source date: 220 AD
Source book: Discussion of Cold Damage
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Zhi Gan Cao Tang is a 10-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Liquorice (Gan Cao) as a principal ingredient.
Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that tonify Qi and Blood. Its main actions are: 1) augments the Qi and 2) nourishes Yin.
In Chinese Medicine health conditions are thought to arise due to "disharmonies" in the body as a system. These disharmonies are called "patterns" and the very purpose of herbal formulas is to fight them in order to restore the body's harmony.
In this case Zhi Gan Cao Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Lung Qi Deficiency or Qi and Blood Deficiency. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as irregular heartbeats, sick sinus syndrome or atrial flutter for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the ten ingredients in Zhi Gan Cao Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Zhi Gan Cao Tang helps treat.
The ten ingredients in Zhi Gan Cao Tang
Gan Cao is a king ingredient in Zhi Gan Cao Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Liquorice (Gan Cao)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
Gan Cao augments the Qi of the Middle Burner. Liquorice used here is pan fried with honey , thus it is more effective than the raw Liquorice in nourishing the Heart and restoring the heartbeat.
Di Huang is a deputy ingredient in Zhi Gan Cao Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
2. Unprepared Rehmannia (Di Huang)
Part used: Prepared dried root tuber
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLiver
Category: Herbs that cool the Blood
Di Huang sweet and cooling. It enriches and moistens so as to restore the Heart Yin and tonifies the Blood. Together with Zhi Gan Cao, it fills the vessels with Qi and Body Fluids, providing the basis for returning the pulse to its normal status.
Ren Shen is an assistant ingredient in Zhi Gan Cao Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
3. Ginseng (Ren Shen)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
Ren Shen strongly tonifies the Original Qi and thus all of the Organs. It also calms the Mind, which relieves the palpitations and anxiety, especially when combined with the chief ingredient. It assists the king ingredient Zhi Gan Cao in tonifying the Qi of the Spleen and Stomach (the Post-Heaven Qi), which is the root of the Heart Qi and the source of Blood generation.
Gui Zhi is an assistant ingredient in Zhi Gan Cao Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
4. Cinnamon Twigs (Gui Zhi)
Gui Zhi unblocks the flow of Heart Qi. Its combination with Ren Shen strengthens this effect. This is an important aspect of the treatment of palpitations, and Gui Zhi is found in every formula devised by Zhang Zhong-Jing for treating this symptom.
Mai Dong is an assistant ingredient in Zhi Gan Cao Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
5. Dwarf Lilyturf Roots (Mai Dong)
Part used: Dried root tuber
Nature: Cool
Meridian affinity: HeartLungStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Yin Deficiency
Mai Dong moistens Dryness in the Stomach and Lungs, which is thte Upper Burner. The combination of E Jiao, Huo Ma Ren and Mai Dong assists Sheng Di Huang in enriching the Yin, moistening Dryness, and cooling
Heat from Yin Deficiency.
E Jiao is an assistant ingredient in Zhi Gan Cao Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
6. Donkey-Hide Gelatin (E Jiao)
Part used: Solid glue prepared from the dried or fresh skin of donkeys
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: KidneyLiverLung
Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood
E Jiao effectively enriches the Yin, tonifies the Blood, and moistens Dryness. The combination of E Jiao, Huo Ma Ren and Mai Dong assists Sheng Di Huang in enriching the Yin, moistening Dryness, and cooling
Heat from Yin Deficiency.
Huo Ma Ren is an assistant ingredient in Zhi Gan Cao Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
7. Hemp Seeds (Huo Ma Ren)
Part used: Dried ripe fruit
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: Large intestineSpleenStomach
Category: Laxative herbs that drain downward
Huo Ma Ren nourishes the Yin and moistens the Intestines, which is located at the Lower Burner. The combination of E Jiao, Huo Ma Ren and Mai Dong assists Sheng Di Huang in enriching the Yin, moistening Dryness, and cooling
Heat from Yin Deficiency.
Sheng Jiang is an assistant ingredient in Zhi Gan Cao Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
8. Fresh Ginger (Sheng Jiang)
Sheng Jiang strengthens the Stomach and enable it to cope with the tonifying substances in the formula. In concert with Da Zao, it also regulates the relationship between the Protective and Nutritive Qi. This function plays an important part in restoring vitality to individuals suffering from consumption, as it enables their systems to revive without developing other problems.
Da Zao is an assistant ingredient in Zhi Gan Cao Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
9. Jujube Dates (Da Zao)
Part used: Dried ripe fruit
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
Da Zao benefits the Spleen and nourishes the Heart. It assists the king ingredient Zhi Gan Cao in tonifying the Qi of the Spleen and Stomach (the Post-Heaven Qi), which is the root of the Heart Qi and the source of Blood generation.
Mi Jiu is an envoy ingredient in Zhi Gan Cao Tang. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
10. Rice Wine (Mi Jiu)
Part used: Fermented rice
Nature: Hot
Meridian affinity: Liver
Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood
Mi Jiu helping the assistant ingredients keep things moving. Although this condition is due to an underlying Deficiency, there is also an element of Stagnation due to both Cold and Dryness. Both must be treated if the condition is to be dealt with effectively.
Conditions and patterns for which Zhi Gan Cao Tang may be prescribed
It's important to remember that herbal formulas are meant to treat patterns, not "diseases" as understood in Western Medicine. According to Chinese Medicine patterns, which are disruptions to the body as a system, are the underlying root cause for diseases and conditions.
As such Zhi Gan Cao Tang is used by TCM practitioners to treat two different patterns which we describe below.
But before we delve into these patterns here is an overview of the Western conditions they're commonly associated with:
Irregular heartbeats Sick sinus syndrome Atrial flutter Atrial fibrillation Coronary artery disease Viral myocarditis Rheumatic heart disease Hyperthyroidism Anemia Upper GI bleeding secondary to cirrhosis
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Zhi Gan Cao Tang treats irregular heartbeats" for instance. Rather, Zhi Gan Cao Tang is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind irregular heartbeats.
Now let's look at the two patterns commonly treated with Zhi Gan Cao Tang.
The Lungs is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Lungs in Chinese Medicine
Lung Qi Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Empty (Xu)
Tongue color: Pale
Symptoms: Coughing Pale face Tiredness Weak voice Low energy Aversion to cold Aversion to speak Shortness of breath Propensity to catch colds Spontaneous daytime sweating
Zhi Gan Cao Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Lung Qi Deficiency. This pattern leads to symptoms such as spontaneous daytime sweating, aversion to speak, shortness of breath and coughing. Patients with Lung Qi Deficiency typically exhibit empty (Xu) pulses as well as Pale or normal color tongue.
The Lungs govern Qi and respiration. Therefore there will be shortness of breath and coughing in case of Lung Qi Deficiency. However the condition is not severe as it is mostly on exertion and not full-blown symptoms of bronchitis or asthma.
Symptoms like coughing can also appear if Lungs' Qi... read more about Lung Qi Deficiency
Qi is one of Chinese Medicine's vital subtances. Learn more about Qi in Chinese Medicine
Qi and Blood Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Slowed-down (Huan), Weak (Ruo), Fine (Xi)
Tongue coating: Partial absence of coating
Tongue color: Pale
Symptoms: Edema Fatigue Vertigo Anxiety Insomnia Dry hair Dry skin Dry lips Tingling Numbness Dry eyes Pale face Dizziness Pale lips Hair loss Tiredness Sore back Weak voice Sore knees Depression Low energy Poor memory Pale tongue Watery milk Palpitations Listlessness Loose stools Poor appetite Scanty periods Blurred vision Low milk supply Pale complexion General weakness Aversion to speak Pale color periods Shortness of breath Numbness in the skin Spontaneous sweating Lower abdominal pain Pale menstrual blood Numbness in the limbs Dream disturbed sleep Dull menstrual cramps Feeling of bearing down Thin and watery periods Withered and brittle nails Thin body lacking strength Pain relieved with massage Lethargic and withdrawn state Spontaneous flow of breast milk Menstruation decreases gratually No feeling of distension of the breasts Insufficient or absent lactation after childbirth
Zhi Gan Cao Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Qi and Blood Deficiency. This pattern leads to symptoms such as general weakness, fatigue, weak voice and pale face. Patients with Qi and Blood Deficiency typically exhibit slowed-down (Huan), weak (Ruo) or fine (Xi) pulses as well as Pale tongue with thin white coating .
The Qi and Blood are from the some origin and these two elements are transformable between each other. The Qi creates the Blood, and vice versa the Blood supplies Qi. Therefore it is quite common both patterns appear at the same time.
When general Qi is Deficient, the patients lack the energy to... read more about Qi and Blood Deficiency
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