Pinyin: gan cao/gan cao (zhi)

ENGLISH NAME: Chinese Licorice (Root & Rhizome)

LATIN NAME: Glycyrrhizae Radix Et Rhizoma

Properties: sweet, neutral
Channels Entered: Spleen, Stomach, Lung and Heart

CHINESE THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS

1. Tonifies Spleen, Benefits Qi
2. Moistens the Lung, Stops Cough
3. Relieves Pain
4. Clears Heat, Eliminates Toxins
5. Treats Poisoning
6. Harmo.nizes Other Herbs

DOSAGE
3 to 10 grams in decoction.

CAUTIONS I CONTRAINDICA TIONS

Sweet in nature, Gan Cao can create dampness and is, therefore, contraindicated in cases of nausea, vomiting, chest and abdominal fullness and distention due to accumulation of dampness.

Gan Cao is incompatible with Gan Sui (Radix Euphorbiae Kansui), Da Ji (Radix Euphorbiae seu Knoxiae), Yuan Hua (Flos Genkwa) , and Hai Zao (Sargassum).

Large dosages or chronic usage of Gan Cao are contraindicated in cases of edema, kidney disorders, hypokalemia, hypertension, and congestive heart failure.