---
title: "Gan Cao"
url: "https://books.drcassone.com/21/traditional-medicines-of-east-asia/477/gan-cao"
---

 ![gan cao, glycyrrhizae radix.jpg](/u/gan-cao-glycyrrhizae-radix-FnOaQr.jpg) 

# Gan Cao

### Glycyrrhizae Radix

_sweet, neutral, warm_

#### PRIMARY FUNCTION:

_**Tonify Qi**_

CLASSICAL MANIFESTATIONS:
- Apathy
- Loose stool
- Heart system abnormalities
 - Irregular or intermittent pulse
 - Heart palpitations
- Pulmonary disorders
 - Cough
 - Wheeze
 - Sore throat (lung system)
 - Shortness of breath
- Pain
 - Muscle spasm
- Skin disorders
 - Carbuncles
 - Sores
- Toxicity

Gan Cao is sweet and neutral. It enters the lung, large intestine,
stomach, spleen, heart, small intestine, kidney, urinary bladder, san
jiao, gallbladder, pericardium, and liver systems. Its tonifying
effect is so useful that Gan Cao shows up in many formulas when
treating deficiency conditions. Consider it a major adrenal gland
tonic.

**Channels:** lung, large intestine, stomach, spleen, heart,
bladder, small intestine, kidney, pericardium, san jiao,
liver, gallbladder

COMMON APPLICATIONS AND CLINICAL
POSSIBILITIES:
- Hypoadrenia
 - Low aldosterone
- Dysglycemia
 - Diabetes
- Fatigue
- Hypothyroid
- Hypogonadism
 - Low libido
 - Erectile dysfunction
 - Poor stamina
- Cough
- Wheeze
 - Bronchodilation
- Muscle spasms
- Diarrhea
- Numbness in the limbs
 - Vasodilation
- Inflammation
- Allergies
- Antitumor
- Low blood pressure

**Formulas:**
- Ba Zheng San
- Bai He Gu Jin Tang
- Bao Chan Wu You Fang
- Bao Yin Jian
- Bu Huan Jin Zheng Qi San
- Cang Er Bi Dou Yan Fang
- Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang
- Chai Hu Qing Gan Tang
- Chen Xiang Jiang Qi Tang
- Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San
- Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan
- Da Qin Jiao Tang
- Dang Gui Yin Zi
- Dao Chi Qing Xin Tang
- Dao Chi San
- Ding Chuan Tang
- E Jiao Ji Zi Huang Tang
- Fang Feng Tong Sheng San
- Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang
- Fu Yuan Huo Xue Tang
- Gan Cao Gan Jiang Fu Ling Bai Zhu Tang
- Gan Mai Da Zao Tang
- Ge Gen Huang Lian Huang Qin Tang
- Ge Gen Jia Ban Xia Tang
- Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang
- Gui Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang
- Gui Zhi Shao Yao Zhi Mu Tang
- Huang Lian Wen Dan Tang
- Huang Long Tang
- Huang Tu Tang
- Jiao Ai Tang
- Jie Geng Tang
- Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang
- Ju Pi Zhu Ru Tang
- Li Yan Cha
- Liang Ge San
- Ling Gan Wu Wei Jiang Xin Tang
- Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang
- Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang
- Liu Yi San
- Long Dan Xie Gan Tang
- Ma Huang Lian Qiao Chi Xiao Dou Tang
- Mai Men Dong Tang
- Mu Xiang Liu Qi Yin
- Ping Gan Kai Yu Zhu Xue Tang
- Pu Ji Xiao Du Yin
- Qing Fei Tang
- Qing Gu San
- Qing Re Gu Jing Tang
- Qing Shu Yi Qi Tang
- Qing Wen Bai Du Yin
- Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang
- Ren Shen Bai Du San
- Shao Yao Tang
- Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang
- Shi Wei Bai Du San
- Shi Wei San
- Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang
- Si Miao Yong An Tang
- Su Zi Jiang Qi Tang
- Suan Zao Ren Tang
- Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang
- Wan Dai Tang
- Wen Dan Tang
- Wen Pi Tang
- Wu Hu Tang
- Wu Ji San
- Xia Ru Yong Quan San
- Xian Fang Huo Ming Yin
- Xie Huang San
- Xin Jia Huang Long Tang
- Xin Yi Qing Fei Yin
- Xing Su San
- Xuan Yu Tong Jing Tang
- Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang
- Yang He Tang
- Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang
- Yi Gan San
- Yue Bi Tang
- Zai Zao San
- Zhen Gan Xi Feng Tang
- Zhen Ren Huo Ming Yin
- Zhen Ren Yang Zang Tang
- Zhi Sou San

**Contraindications:** Gan Cao should not be prescribed to
patients with excess damp patterns and should be prescribed
cautiously to patients with hypertension

**Zoo Image:** a robber ferret is stealing a spleen T&T barbell in a museum, he
passed The Antidote sculpture, Herbs in Harmony painting, and The Gasp,
and he has leg spasms and a T scarf

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