Gan Mai Da Zao Tang, Licorice, Wheat and Jujube Decoction, is Gan Cao, Fu Xiao Mai and Da Zao. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that nourish the Heart and calm the Spirit, and records it as moderating urgency and relaxing tension.

Herb

Amount

gan cao

9 g

fu xiao mai

9 g

da zao

10 g

Actions and indications

Nourishes the Heart and calms the Shen

Restless Organ (Zang Zao) disorder from a depleted, under-nourished Heart; also described as Heart Blood deficiency with Liver Qi stagnation
Sudden spells of sadness and crying, often with no clear trigger, and a feeling of being unable to govern one's emotions
Absent-mindedness, poor focus and disorientation, with odd speech or behaviour
Low mood, irritability, oversensitivity and self-consciousness
Insomnia or unsettled sleep, possibly with night sweats
The same picture around menstruation, after childbirth or at menopause
Tongue red or pale red with a thin or scanty coat; pulse thready and rapid

Harmonizes the Middle Jiao and tonifies Spleen Qi

Moderates urgency and relaxes tension

Frequent yawning and stretching
Tight abdominal muscles

Modern uses

Hysteria
Globus hystericus
Neurosis
Neurasthenia
Nervous exhaustion
Autonomic dystonia
Depression
General anxiety disorder
Bi-polar disorder
Mania
Schizophrenia
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Insomnia
Sleepwalking
Night terrors in children
Infantile night crying
Yawning
Epilepsy
Convulsions
Chorea
Parkinson's disease
Migraines
Spasms of the extremities
Gastrointestinal spasms
Uterine cramping
Cough from tracheal spasm
Hoarseness
Ectopic heartbeats
Sinus tachycardia
Premenstrual syndrome
Menopause syndrome
Male menopause
Impotence
Enuresis
Celiac disease

Modifications

Irritability and thirst: + mai men dong, + wu wei zi

Yin deficiency: irritable, sleepless, red tongue with little coat: + bai zi ren, + sheng di huang, + bai he

Insomnia: + bai he, + sheng di huang, + ye jiao teng

Insomnia, alternative herbs: + bai he, + dang shen, + long chi, + hu po, + wu wei zi, + mai men dong

Sleeplessness or remaining Yin-deficiency signs (alternatively add Suan Zao Ren Tang): + fu ling, + bai he

Palpitations with fear and fright: + ren shen, + huang qi

Palpitations with fear and fright, alternative herbs: + zhen zhu mu, + long chi

Bedwetting: + sang piao xiao, + yi zhi ren, + tu si zi

Night crying in infants: + chan tui, + wu wei zi, + wu zhu yu

Dry stools or constipation: + hei zhi ma, + he shou wu

Schizophrenia: + long gu, + mu li, + long chi

Mild schizophrenia: + gui zhi, + long gu, + mu li

Show all 37 modifications

Schizophrenia, Yin-deficient Heat: + long chi, + mu li, + bai he, + sheng di huang
Palpitations, breathlessness, poor appetite, swollen scalloped tongue and frail pulse (combined with Gui Pi Tang)
Sinus arrhythmia with a choppy pulse: + dang shen, + zi shi ying
A stronger sedative effect: + bai zi ren, + suan zao ren, + fu shen, + he huan hua
Liver Blood deficiency, dizziness, thin wiry pulse: + suan zao ren, + dang gui
Edema from prolonged intake of Gan Cao: + fu ling, + he huan pi
Neurasthenia: + bai he, + zhi mu
Neurasthenia, alternative herbs: + bai he, + sheng di huang, + ye jiao teng
Insomnia in neurasthenia: + bai he, + dang shen, + long chi, + hu po, + wu wei zi
Insomnia in neurasthenia, alternative herbs: + bai he, + long chi, + hu po, + sheng di huang, + bai shao, + fu ling, + suan zao ren, + zi shi ying
Yin deficiency: + bai he
Evident Qi deficiency: + dang shen, + huang qi
Hysteria with spasms (or combined with Bai He Gu Jin Tang): + bai shao, + zi shi ying
Hysteria: + dan shen, + yuan zhi, + bai zi ren, + suan zao ren, + ci shi, + long chi
Hysteria with abdominal pain: + bai shao
Hysteria, crying without cause: + sheng di huang, + mai ya, + e jiao, + long gu, + ji zi huang, − da zao
Epilepsy: + ming fan
Severe Shen disturbance: + suan zao ren, + yuan zhi, + fu shen, + wu wei zi
Restless organ disorder with Heat from Blood deficiency: + suan zao ren, + zhi mu
Restless organ disorder, Yin-deficient Heat: + bai he, + sheng di huang
Restless organ disorder, poor appetite, dry stools: + huo ma ren, + fu ling
Restless organ disorder, poor appetite, dry stools, alternative herbs: + bai he, + sheng di huang, + ye jiao teng
Menopausal insomnia, restlessness and irritability (any one of these herbs): + suan zao ren, + fu shen, + wu wei zi
Chorea (combined with Guizhi Jia Longgu Muli Tang): + yu jin, + gou teng, + qin jiao, + tian ma
Neurosis: + suan zao ren, + bai zi ren, + he huan hua, + long chi, + yu jin

Cautions

contraindication Contains wheat (Xiao Mai, Fu Xiao Mai), so unsuitable in celiac disease or wheat allergy

contraindication Suits restlessness of the deficient type; agitation driven by excess Heat or Phlegm-Fire needs a different approach

caution Long-term or high-dose licorice can cause sodium and fluid retention, higher blood pressure and low potassium; take care in hypertension, edema or kidney disease

caution Not a substitute for proper care of major or postpartum depression, an acute psychiatric crisis, mania or convulsions, which need medical assessment

Pinyin

gan mai da zao tang

English Name

Licorice, Wheat, and Jubjube Decoction

gan mai da zao tang

About gan mai da zao tang

Ingredients

Actions and indications

Nourishes the Heart and calms the Shen

Harmonizes the Middle Jiao and tonifies Spleen Qi

Moderates urgency and relaxes tension

Modern uses

Symptoms

Modifications

Cautions

Preparation

Names

Classification

Support