Choose pesticide free whole Gan Cao or top quality granulated Gan Cao
Because it has the property of increasing the absorption of other herbs (harmonizing), you'll find a small amount of Gan Cao in many traditional tonic formulas. This makes Chinese licorice root the most often used herb in Chinese medicine.
PROPERTIES Gan Cao (Sweet Herb)
Organs Effected by Licorice root (Gan Cao)
Gan Cao (Licorice Root's) TCM Functions
- Benefits the Spleen
- Moistens the Lungs
- Stops Coughing
- Clears Heat
- Detoxifies Fire Poison
- Stops Spasms
- Harmonizes and Potentiates Other Herbs
How to Use Licorice Root (Gan Cao)
- Whole herb - 3 grams - 12 grams. Usually used in small amounts to potentiate all the tonic herbs in a formula. Boiled from for 10 - 40 minutes
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Granules - 1 - 2 grams, 2-3 times a day. Usually combined with other herbs
Gan Cao Side Effects & Contraindications
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Contraindicated in Excess Dampness
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Can cause nausea when taken in excess
- Traditionally considered incompatible with strong diuretics such as DA JI, YUAN HUA, GAN SUI
- Incompatible with HAI ZAO (seaweed)
Herbs Often Combined with Licorice (Gan Cao)
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REN SHEN(Ginseng) or DANG SHEN for fatigue from Spleen Deficiency
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JIE GENG for sore throat
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JIN YIN HUA for acne
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BAI SHAO for muscle spasms
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XING REN for dry cough
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GUI ZHI and HAN FANG JI for edema
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PU GONG YIN (dandelion) for poisonous swellings
- HAI PIAO XIAO (cuttlefish bone) and WA LENG ZI (cockle shell) for gastric acid
Statements are for educational purposes and are not meant to substitute for the advice of you health care provider. Pregnant women and nursing mothers should consult their health care provider before taking any herbal remedy.