Tonify qi
Gan Cao
甘草
Licorice root
Glycyrrhiza uralensis
Harmonizes formulas. Also the herb most likely to cause trouble if eaten daily in quantity.
Not for self-dosing. This page is not a formula, not a strength, and not a substitute for a licensed herbalist or physician.
Category
Neutral · Sweet
Meridians entered
Traditional uses
Sweet, said to tonify the spleen, moisten the lung, and moderate spasms and the harshness of other herbs. Raw and honey-fried are different preparations. It enters almost every classical formula in a small amount for a reason.
Common pairings
- Bai Shao 白芍
A pair for cramping pain: sweetness and sourness, the idea of moderating a spasm.
- Da Zao 大枣
Two sweeteners that harmonize. Easy to overdo.
Cautions
Not for self-dosing or for daily licorice candy as medicine. Can raise blood pressure, lower potassium, and interact with many drugs. Care in pregnancy and with heart or kidney disease. This is the important caution.
Points with a similar aim
Great Abyss
Wrist-pulse point for lung qi and the vessels category.
Use caution
Supreme White
Inner-foot source point for spleen and damp teaching patterns.
Sea of Qi
Just below the navel, the “sea of qi” people warm with a palm.
Use caution
Spirit Gateway
The navel. Palm warmth only. Not a needle point in modern teaching.
Use caution