Zhi Gan Cao Tang, Honey-Fried Licorice Decoction, is Zhi Gan Cao, Ren Shen, Gui Zhi, Sheng Di Huang, Mai Men Dong, E Jiao, Huo Ma Ren, Sheng Jiang and Da Zao. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that tonify Qi and Blood.

Herb

Amount

12 g

6 g

9 g

48 g

9 g

6 g

9 g

9 g

30 g

Actions and indications

Augments Qi and nourishes Blood

Heart Qi Deficiency
Deficiency of Qi, Blood and Yin from worry and emotional strain injuring the Heart and Spleen
Fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, a thin frame and a wan complexion
Anxiety, irritability, restlessness, fright, poor memory, and insomnia with much dreaming
Spontaneous sweating
Early periods with a copious pale flow
Numbness through the body from exhaustion of Ying and Wei

Enriches Yin

Lung atrophy from Yin Deficiency, with a dry cough and little or no sputum, or sputum streaked with blood
Dry mouth, throat and tongue; dry, hard stools; rough skin; emaciation
Night sweats; heat in the palms, soles and chest

Warms and unblocks Heart Yang and restores the pulse

Palpitations with a knotted or intermittent pulse from Deficiency of both Yin and Yang
Tongue pale and shiny with little coat, or red; pulse knotted, intermittent, faint and forceless, or thready and rapid

Modern uses

Cardiac arrhythmia
Premature ventricular contractions
Supraventricular arrhythmia
Atrial fibrillation
Atrial flutter
Sick sinus syndrome
Palpitations
Rheumatic heart disease
Mitral stenosis
Mitral valve prolapse
Endocarditis
Viral myocarditis
Coronary artery disease
Angina pectoris
Congestive heart failure
Cor pulmonale
Hypertension
Hypotension
Arteriosclerosis
Thromboangiitis obliterans
Hyperthyroidism
Basedow's disease
Sympathetic nervous system overactivity
Neurasthenia
Neurosis
Anxiety
Insomnia
Forgetfulness
Pulmonary tuberculosis
Emphysema
COPD
Bronchial asthma
Cough
Dyspnea
Hyperpnea
Upper digestive tract bleeding from liver cirrhosis
Hepatitis C
Anemia
Postpartum fever
Lupus erythematosus
AIDS/HIV
Fatigue
Weakness
Spontaneous perspiration
Night sweats
Constipation

Symptoms

Anxiety

Constipation

Cough

Dream-disturbed sleep

Dry cough

Dry mouth

Dry skin

Dry stools

Dry throat

Early menstruation

Emaciation

Fatigue

Fear

Five-center heat

Hemoptysis

Insomnia

Irregular heartbeat

Irritability

Menorrhagia

Night sweats

Numbness

Pale menstrual blood

Palpitations

Poor memory

Restlessness

Shortness of breath

Spontaneous sweating

Weakness

Modifications

Lung atrophy: + gui zhi, + sheng jiang, + ge jie, + bai bu, − bai jiu

Chest pain and discomfort: + dan shen, + tao ren

Insomnia: + suan zao ren, − huo ma ren

Marked Lung Yin Deficiency: + bai he, + bei sha shen, − gui zhi, − sheng jiang

Insomnia, option with Suan Zao Ren and Bai Zi Ren: + suan zao ren, + bai zi ren, − huo ma ren

Insomnia, option with Suan Zao Ren and Long Chi: + suan zao ren, + long chi, − huo ma ren

Marked palpitations, with Ci Shi and Zhu Sha: + ci shi, + zhu sha

Nosebleed from Yin Deficiency: + sheng di huang, + mai men dong, + huang qin, + huang lian

Insomnia, option with Suan Zao Ren and Ci Shi: + suan zao ren, + ci shi, − huo ma ren

Qi Deficiency: + huang qi

Irritability and fright: + huang qi, + wu wei zi

Yang Deficiency: + zhi fu zi

Show all 39 modifications

General fatigue and Deficiency: + tian men dong, + shu di huang
Poor appetite: + chen pi, + zhi ban xia
Cough in Lung atrophy: + jie geng, + zhi shi
Congested feeling in the chest: + fu ling, + xing ren
Edema: + fu ling, + che qian zi
Nausea and vomiting (combined with Wen Dan Tang)
Arrhythmias: + suan zao ren, + bai zi ren
Hepatitis C with Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency: + gui ban, + bie jia, + mu li, − ren shen, − gui zhi, − sheng di huang, − sheng jiang, − bai shao
Angina pectoris: + gui ban, + wu wei zi, + ji xue teng, − huo ma ren, − sheng jiang
Arrhythmia and palpitations in coronary heart disease: + dang shen, + dan shen, + dang gui, + xie bai, + zhi fu zi, − ren shen, − huo ma ren, − sheng jiang, − da zao
Spleen Yin Deficiency: + bai shao, − gui zhi
Marked palpitations, with Hu Po and Zhu Sha: + hu po, + zhu sha
Palpitations with badly depleted Heart Blood: + shu di huang, + bai shao, + e jiao
Palpitations with Liver Heat: + zhi zi, + chai hu
Palpitations with epigastric and abdominal fullness, poor appetite and a greasy or glossy coat: + zhi ban xia, + chen pi
Palpitations with severe insomnia: + wu wei zi, + bai zi ren, + ye jiao teng, + he huan pi, + long chi, + mu li
Poor memory and concentration, with palpitations: + shi chang pu
Palpitations, with Jiu Chao Dang Gui and Suan Zao Ren: + jiu chao dang gui, + suan zao ren
Palpitations from Deficiency of Blood and Yang: + zhi fu zi
Lupus with spontaneous sweating: − sheng di huang, − huo ma ren
Lupus with spontaneous sweating plus palpitations or arrhythmia: + suan zao ren, + ci shi, − sheng di huang, − huo ma ren
Lupus with spontaneous sweating plus dry, hard stools: − sheng di huang
Lupus with spontaneous sweating plus Blood Stagnation and chest pain: + tao ren, + dan shen, − sheng di huang, − huo ma ren
Sick sinus syndrome: + huang qi, + yu zhu, + hei zhi ma, + wu wei zi, − e jiao, − huo ma ren
Blood Stagnation in sick sinus syndrome: + huang qi, + yu zhu, + hei zhi ma, + wu wei zi, − e jiao, − huo ma ren
Advanced AIDS from Yin and Yang Deficiency (plus one or two of Dan Shen, Dang Gui, Hong Hua or Chi Shao): + shu di huang, + rou gui, + dan shen, + dang gui, + hong hua, + chi shao, − gui zhi, − sheng di huang, − huo ma ren
Marked palpitations, anxiety and restlessness (add one or more of these): + long gu, + mu li, + zhen zhu, + hu po

Cautions

contraindication Not for Heat from Yin Deficiency

contraindication Not for severe diarrhea

caution Its rich, sweet herbs weigh on digestion; take care where a weak Spleen and Stomach with Dampness shows as poor appetite, abdominal fullness or loose stools

contraindication Unsuitable for Excess or Damp patterns, and for palpitations due to Heat or Phlegm instead of Deficiency

caution Contains a large amount of licorice; long or heavy use is linked to fluid retention, higher blood pressure and low potassium, so supervision is needed

caution An irregular heartbeat needs professional assessment and should not be self-treated

Pinyin

zhi gan cao tang

English Name

Honey-Fried Licorice Decoction

zhi gan cao tang

About zhi gan cao tang

Ingredients

Actions and indications

Augments Qi and nourishes Blood

Enriches Yin

Warms and unblocks Heart Yang and restores the pulse

Modern uses

Symptoms

Modifications

Cautions

Preparation

Names

Classification

Support