Gan Cao Gan Jiang Tang, Licorice and Ginger Decoction, pairs Zhi Gan Cao with Gan Jiang. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that warm the Middle and dispel Cold, and records it as warming the Lungs and restoring the Yang of Spleen and Lung.

Herb

Amount

zhi gan cao

12 g

gan jiang

6 g

Actions and indications

Warms the Lungs and restores Spleen and Lung Yang

Lung atrophy of the deficiency-Cold type (Cold in the Lung)
Spitting up plenty of thin, clear, frothy saliva or sputum, with no cough and no thirst
Dizziness, with frequent clear urine or incontinence because the weak Lung above cannot control the lower body
Cold breath, spontaneous sweating and irritability
After wrongly applied sweating has damaged Yang: cold limbs and a dry throat, where Yang is restored first and Yin nourished afterwards

Warms the Middle Jiao and strengthens the Stomach

Spleen-Stomach deficiency abdominal pain that warmth and pressure relieve and cold worsens
Cold pain in the epigastrium, poor appetite and loose stools from a weak, under-warmed Middle Jiao
Bleeding from Spleen Yang deficiency
Externally contracted fever with Cold inside
Bland taste and a pale complexion
Tongue pale and moist without coat; pulse frail, or deep and slow, or wiry and tight

Modern uses

Enuresis
Urinary incontinence
Excessive drooling
Allergic rhinitis
Hayfever
Recurrent epistaxis
Recurrent metrorrhagia
Gastric prolapse
Ulcer
Chronic gastritis
Emphysema
Pulmonary tuberculosis

Symptoms

Abdominal pain

Absence of thirst

Bland taste in the mouth

Clear profuse urine

Cold breath

Cold limbs

Dizziness

Dry throat

Epigastric pain

Excessive salivation

Frequent urination

Irritability

Loose stools

Muscle spasms

Pain relieved by pressure

Pallor

Poor appetite

Preference for warmth

Spontaneous sweating

Urinary incontinence

Modifications

Urinary incontinence: + yi zhi ren, + wu yao

Epigastric and abdominal pain from Spleen-Stomach deficiency Cold: + gao liang jiang, + rou gui

Nosebleed, blood in the stool or vomiting of blood from deficiency Cold: + pao jiang, − gan jiang

Pulmonary tuberculosis: + fu ling, + xing ren, + zhi ban xia

Pulmonary tuberculosis with greater Qi deficiency: + fu ling, + xing ren, + zhi ban xia, + huang qi, + dang shen, + bai zhu

Pulmonary tuberculosis, marked dizziness: + fu ling, + xing ren, + zhi ban xia, + shi chang pu

Cautions

contraindication Unsuitable where there is Heat, Yin deficiency showing Heat, excess, or Damp-Heat

caution Too mild on its own for severe Yang collapse with icy limbs and a faint or barely palpable pulse

caution Prolonged or high-dose use of Zhi Gan Cao can lead to pseudoaldosteronism, with low potassium, raised blood pressure and edema

caution With diuretics, corticosteroids or digoxin: check potassium during prolonged use; the same applies in hypertension or kidney or heart disease

pregnancy Pregnant patients should take it only with a qualified practitioner overseeing

Pinyin

gan cao gan jiang tang

English Name

Licorice and Ginger Decoction

gan cao gan jiang tang

About gan cao gan jiang tang

Ingredients