Glycyrrhiza, Licorice, Gan Cao 甘草

Liquorice, Dulcis radix (‘Sweet root’)
Gan Cao (TCM)
Yastimadhu (Ayurveda)
Shing Mnar   ཤིང་མངར  (Tibetan)
Asl us Soos (Unani)
Picture
Picture Ortus Sanitatis, Meydenbach, 1491
Picture New Kreuterbuch, Matthiolus, 1563

Picture G. glabra
Atlas der officinellen pflanzen (2), Felix, 1899

 Picture G. echinata
Darstellung und Beschreibung sammtliche, Berg, 1858
Picture







Left:
Three varieties of Licorice root available on the Chinese Market. The bottom is the highest quality being wild Licorice from XinJiang.
 Picture Licorice juice dried into round discs with
a sealed image out of Gerard’s Herbal.
Picture Picture
RUSSIAN LICORICE ROOT
1, Unpeeled root with gray and reddish-brown patches of cork. 2. Peeled root with small fissures. 3. Small peeled root. 4. Wood. 5. Thick cortex.
SPANISH LICORICE ROOT
1. Rhizome showing wrinkled surface. 2. Small bud. 3, Longitudinal section showing central pith and cortex. 4. Cross-section of rhizome.
Squibb’s Atlas of the Official Drugs, Mansfield, 1919

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Botanical name:


Glycyrrhiza spp.
There are around 20 species of Glycyrrhiza, a number of species have been used as a source of ‘Licorice’:
  1. G. glabra; regular ‘Licorice’, native to Eurasia
  2. G. echinata (syn. G. inermis, G. macedonica), German, Roman, Hungarian, East European or Chinese Licorice.
  3. G. glabra var. glanulifera, Russian Licorice
TCM uses G. uralensis, G. inflata (‘Chinese Licorice’). G. yunnanensis (‘Yunnan Licorice’) as well as G. glabra and others.
There is sufficient crossover of the above-named species to say they are synonymous in use, although some will be stronger than others.

Parts used:


1. Root;
2. Dehydrated Juice (Block Licorice)

Temperature & Taste:


Warm, moist. Sweet

Classifications:


2I. ANTISPASMODIC.    2L. EMOLLIENT.    2S. STRENGTHENING.   
3B. FEBRIFUGE & ANTIPYRETIC.    3E. DIURETIC.    3H. LACTAGOGUE.    3L. ANTI-TUSSIVE.    3O. EMETICS
4d. PECTORAL.    4e. STOMACHIC.    4g. HEPATIC.    4h. NEPHRITIC.    4j. NERVINE

Uses:


1. Strengthens the Lungs, Clears Phlegm, Stops Cough:

2. Clears Heat and Poison, Benefits the Throat:

3. Clears Heat and Poison:

4. Clears Heat, Quenches Thirst:

5. Tonifies the Spleen and Qi, Benefits Digestion:

6. Strengthen the Kidneys:

7. Calms and Benefits the Liver (TCM, West):

8. Benefits the Heart Qi (TCM, Ayurveda, West):

9. Promotes Milk:

10. Emetic:

11. Harmonises, Moderates and Guides Medicines, Moderates Poison:

12. Externally:


Dose:


Powder: 500mg–3 grams (typically 1–2 grams);
Decoction: 2–9 grams (typically 3–6 grams);

Correctives:


… available in PRO version
Picture

Main Combinations:


Almond & Licorice
Anise & Licorice
Cinnamon & Licorice
Coltsfoot & Licorice
Elecampane & Licorice
Licorice & Comfrey
Peony & Licorice
Raisin & Licorice
Rose, Sandalwood & Licorice

1. Acute Sore Throat, Licorice with … available in PRO version
2. Cough in Children, Licorice with … available in PRO version
3. As a simple Pectoral decoction, Licorice with … available in PRO version
4. Cough, Bronchitis, Lung ulcers, Pleurisy, Licorice with … available in PRO version
5. Cough, Licorice with … available in PRO version
6. Cough, Hoarseness, loss of Voice, Asthma, spitting of Blood, Licorice with … available in PRO version
7. To strengthen the Lungs, Licorice with … available in PRO version
8. Consumption, Licorice with … available in PRO version
9. Combine Licorice with … available in PRO version
10. To promote Longevity, Virility and Intellect, and cure diseases of aging, Licorice with … available in PRO version
11. To promote Intelligence and as a Aphrodisiac, Licorice with … available in PRO version
12. Muscular pain, spasm and tension, cramps, Licorice with … available in PRO version
13. Heart tonic:
i. Licorice with … available in PRO version
ii. Licorice with … available in PRO version
14. Anemia, Licorice with … available in PRO version
15. Bleeding, vomiting Blood from Heat, Licorice with … available in PRO version
16. Edema, Licorice with … available in PRO version
17. To prepare for Birth, Licorice with … available in PRO version
18. To promote Milk in nursing mothers, Licorice with … available in PRO version
19. Acute Food Poisoning, Licorice with … available in PRO version
20. Baldness or Alopecia, Licorice with … available in PRO version
21. Wounds, Bruises, Burns, Licorice with … available in PRO version
22. To promote Hair growth, and for premature greying Hair, Licorice with … available in PRO version

Major Formulas


Infusion of Dr. Gill
Common Decoction
Decoction for Cough (Gabelhover)
Syrup of Licorice (Mesue)
Syrup of Maidenhair
Powder for Cold Cough
Powder of Licorice (Unani)
Black Troches for Cough (Trochisci Bechici) (Mesue)
Decoction to Strengthen the Lungs
Pills for Hot Cough (Zacharia)

Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang
Si Jun Zi Tang
Liu Jun Zi Tang
Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang
Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang
Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang
Li Zhong Wan
Er Chen Tang
Ba Zhen Tang
Shi Quan Da Bu Tang
Ma Huang Tang
Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang
Gui Zhi Tang
Gui Zhi Fu Zi Tang
Bai He Gu Jin Tang
Xiao Chai Hu Tang
Xiao Qing Long Tang
Da Qing Long Tang
Chai Hu Shu Gan San
Si Ni San
Ping Wei San
Zuo Gui Yin
You Gui Yin

Barberry 8 Powder (Skyer sun brgyad pa) (Tibetan Medicine)
Raisin 7 (Tibetan Medicine)
Clove 6 (Li shi drug pa) (Tibetan Medicine)
Tabasheer 9
Sandalwood 8 (Tsan dan brgyad pa) (Tibetan Medicine)
Sea Buckthorn 5 (Star bu 5) (Tibetan Medicine)

Cautions:


1. Not used in Phlegm conditions (without correction)
2. Full doses are not generally used on an extended basis; smaller doses as in powders is better for long-term use.
3. Edema, osteoporosis, and hypertension may be caused or aggravated by long-term use.
4. Incompatible with Euphorbia and Daphne species. (TCM)

Main Preparations used:


Licorice Juice, Syrup, Black Troches