BAKED LIQUORICE COMBINATION
Zhi Gan Cao Tang
‘Honey-Fried Liquorice Decoction’
Source: Treatise on Febrile Diseases Caused by Cold (Shang Han Lun, 200)
Keywords
palpitations, irregular pulse, heart disease
Ingredients
Glycyrrhiza uralensis (zhi Gan Cao, fried liquorice)
Panax ginseng (Ren Shen, ginseng)
Rehmannia glutinosa (Sheng Di, raw rehmannia)
Cinnamomum cassia (Gui Zhi, cinnamon twigs)
Dermo equus asinus (E jiao, ass-hide glue)
Ophiopogon japonicus (Mai Dong, ophiopogon)
cannabis sativa (ma ren, hemp seed)
Zingiber officinalis (Sheng Jiang, ginger)
Zizyphus jujuba (Da Zao, Chinese date)
Major therapeutic action
Augments the qi, nourishes Blood, moisturises the body, strengthens the Heart and regulates heartbeat.
Protects cardiac muscles, inhibits arrhythmia, improves the anoxia tolerance.
Indications
* This is the main formula used for the purpose of restoring a regular rhythm to the pulse or for strengthening a very weak pulse.
* With the appropriate key symptoms, this formula can be used for biomedical
conditions such as viral myocarditis, rheumatic heart disease, pulmonary heart
disease, coronary heart disease, arrhythmia, neurasthenia, mitral stenosis,
mitral valve prolapse, hyperthyroidism, emphysema.
Key symptoms for use
* emaciation and weakness
* shortness of breath
* palpitations with anxiety
* irritability
* insomnia
* constipation
* dry mouth and throat
* pulse: irregular or weak
* For symptoms having bias to deficiency of Heart qi, add Ren Shen. This effectively increases the dosage of ginseng.
* For symptoms having bias to deficiency of Body Fluid and Blood deficiency, add Mai Men Dong/Tian Men Dong.
* For chest pain or discomfort combine with Dan Shen or with Tao Ren/Hong Hua.
The typical dose is three grams twice daily, before meals. In severe cases or the early stages of treatment (the first two weeks), a 50-100% increase in dose may be used, then reduced as the treatment takes effect.
Cautions and contraindications
None noted.
Palpitation and irregular pulse caused by internal heat caused by deficiency (night sweats, heat in the
palms and soles, tongue with a red tip).