"Working in the Yo San herbal dispensary, I have noticed that Gan Cao is in almost every formula. Why is this?"
Answer:
You are right, and there are several reasons for this. First, Gan Cao (the root of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, commonly known as licorice root) is considered a “harmonizing” herb in Chinese medicine. This means that it can take all the other herbs in a formula and make them get along with each other. It can lessen potential harmful effects of other herbs. It can even detoxify herbs that have poisonous tendencies. Some herbs that would otherwise be too toxic to use can be rendered safe by a Gan Cao preparation.
Dr. John Chen(1) cites Gan Cao as being able to counteract poisoning from beef, drugs, herbicides, pesticides, lead and arsenic.A second reason Gan Cao is so widely used is that, as a Qi tonic, it protects the spleen against herbs in a formula that might be damaging. Spleen damage could occur from a formula that has a lot of cold ingredients, or heavy ingredients such as shells and stones. You will notice that many classical formulas contain the trio of herbs Sheng Jiang (Ginger root), Gan Cao and Da Zao (Zizyphus fruit). These are sometimes referred to as the “three sweets” because they nourish, protect and shield the body from ingredients that may be very bitter, strongly drying, or cold.
Another important reason why I include Gan Cao in formulas is its very sweet flavor. Even three grams of Gan Cao can make up for the extremely bitter flavor of such herbs as the “three yellows” (Huang Qin, Huang Lian and Huang Bai), yet this small amount will not essentially change the character of such a formula.
Some patients object to the flavor of Gan Cao, and for those people, Da Zao can be substituted. It also has harmonizing actions and is a sweet Qi tonic. Also, high doses and long term administration of Gan Cao should not be given to patients with hypertension. Usually Gan Cao is used in a small dosage (three grams). I make an exception to this dosage when I am treating abdominal pain or spasms: combining Gan Cao with Bai Shao (Paeonia lactiflora root), I use 10 grams of Gan Cao and at least 30 grams of Bai Shao.
A delicious energy drink that almost all people can benefit from (I call this “Julie’s Energy Tonic”) combines 30 grams of Huang Qi (Astragalus root), 12 grams of Dang Shen (Codonopsis root), 10 grams of either Gou Qi Zi (Lycium fruit) or Long Yan Rou (Longan fruit) and either four pieces of Da Zao or three grams of Gan Cao. This is a tea to gently boost the Qi and strengthen the spleen and the immune system. Most people, even children, can drink this on a daily basis.
Please direct any questions you may have to Julie Chambers, L.Ac. at info@juliechamberslac.com
(1) Chen, John and Tina Chen, Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology, Art of Medicine Press, 2004, p. 868