licorice
Aliases：The Grand Elder、Sweet Herb、Sweet Root
Gancao Pian (Licorice Root Slices) is a prepared slice of Chinese medicinal. It is produced from the dried root and rhizome of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., Glycyrrhiza inflata Bat., or Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (Fabaceae family) through the processing steps of cleaning, cutting into slices, and drying.
Efficacy & Actions
Licorice slices can tonify the spleen and replenish qi, clear heat and detoxify, eliminate phlegm and relieve cough, soothe spasm and alleviate pain, and harmonize all medicinal herbs.
Indications
Licorice slices are mainly indicated for spleen-stomach disorders, heart disorders, cough, heat-toxin syndromes and pains. Spleen-stomach disorders Licorice slices treat lassitude, poor appetite and loose stools caused by spleen-stomach deficiency. It is often combined with qi-tonifying and spleen-strengthening herbs such as ginseng and atractylodes macrocephala. Heart disorders It gently tonifies heart qi, and is used for palpitations, shortness of breath and irregular intermittent pulse due to heart qi deficiency. Cough With modified herbal combinations according to specific symptoms, it works for various types of cough, including wind-cold cough, wind-heat cough, lung-dryness cough and damp-phlegm cough. Heat-toxin syndromes It exerts a good remedial effect on various heat-toxin conditions. It is commonly used for sores and abscesses caused by heat toxin to relieve local redness, swelling and pain. It also treats sore and swollen throat resulting from upward attack of heat toxin. Pain Licorice slices relieve pain, especially spastic pain in the abdomen due to spleen deficiency and liver hyperactivity, as well as spastic pain of limbs caused by deficiency of yin and blood. Clinically, it is frequently paired with white peony root to enhance the therapeutic effect.
Modern Pharmacology
Modern pharmacological studies have shown that licorice slices possess multiple effects, including anti-peptic ulcer, gastrointestinal function regulation, immunomodulation, anti-myocardial ischemia, antitussive, anti-asthmatic and expectorant actions, as well as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, detoxifying and liver-protective effects against liver injury.
Ingredients
Licorice slices contain triterpenoid saponins, flavonoids, coumarins, alkaloids, polysaccharides and other constituents. Triterpenoid saponins: Such as glycyrrhizic acid, uralsaponin A, uralsaponin B, 22-acetylglycyrrhizic acid, etc. Flavonoids: Such as liquiritigenin, liquiritin, isoliquiritin, isoliquiritigenin, neoliquiritin, neoisoliquiritin, licoricidin, etc. Coumarins: Such as glycycoumarin, glycyrrol, isoglycyrrol, neoglycyrrol, etc. Alkaloids: Such as 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4-methylquinoline, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2,4-dimethylquinoline, etc. Polysaccharides: Such as licorice glucan GBW, licorice polysaccharide UA, UB, UC, etc.
Usage & Dosage
IClinically, licorice slices are most commonly decocted into herbal decoction for oral administration, with a conventional dosage of 2 to 10 grams. They can also be formulated into pills, powders and other preparations. Note that the specific dosage varies from person to person due to differences in patients' conditions and physical constitutions. Patients shall strictly follow the dosage prescribed by physicians.
Contraindications
1. Incompatibility with Other Chinese Medicinals According to the “Eighteen Incompatibilities” (Shi Ba Fan) in TCM theory, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao) is incompatible with Sargassum (Haizao), Euphorbia pekinensis (Jing Daji), Euphorbia kansui (Hong Daji), Kansui Radix (Gansui), and Genkwa Flos (Yuanhua). Based on this theory, Gancao Tablets should not be used in combination with the above-mentioned Chinese medicinals. From both modern research and traditional medicinal experience, the concurrent use of Gancao Tablets with these herbs may lead to a series of adverse consequences, such as reducing the therapeutic effect of the medication (making the condition difficult to control) or altering the drug components, thereby producing toxic reactions and causing harm to human health. 2. Incompatibility with Western Medications (1) Gancao Tablets should not be used concurrently with aspirin. Clinical studies have found that concurrent use significantly increases the incidence of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and gastrointestinal ulcer bleeding, especially in patients with chronic gastritis or peptic ulcers. (2) Gancao Tablets should not be used concurrently with cardiac glycosides such as digitalis and digoxin. This is because glycyrrhetinic acid, produced after oral administration of Gancao Tablets, may exacerbate the cardiac toxicity of cardiac glycosides, potentially leading to heart failure and death. (3) Gancao Tablets should not be used concurrently with antidiabetic drugs such as insulin, tolbutamide, and phenformin. This is because Gancao Tablets antagonize the therapeutic effects of antidiabetic drugs, which is detrimental to the management of diabetes and may even worsen the condition. (4) Gancao Tablets should not be used concurrently with polycyclic alkaloids with strong basic properties such as quinine, reserpine, and ephedrine. Concurrent use may cause precipitation, hinder drug absorption, and reduce efficacy. (5) Gancao Tablets should not be used concurrently with furosemide, thiazide diuretics (e.g., hydrochlorothiazide), or phenylbutazone, as pharmacodynamic antagonism and increased adverse reactions may occur. (6) Gancao Tablets should not be used concurrently with the antihypertensive drugs reserpine and verticil (Rauwolfia alkaloids) over a long period. Long-term use of Gancao Tablets may cause sodium and water retention, leading to increased blood pressure and hindering disease control. (7) Gancao Tablets have an antagonistic effect on chloral hydrate and should not be used together. (8) Gancao Tablets should not be used concurrently with adrenocortical hormones (corticosteroids), as this may aggravate the side effects of the hormones. 3. Incompatibility with Foods According to some literature, Gancao Tablets should not be taken together with the following foods: pork, Chinese cabbage (also known as yellow sprout cabbage or heading cabbage), crucian carp, carp, silver carp, as well as sea vegetables (seaweed), kelp, Sargassum (seaweed), and sea eel (conger eel). The mechanism underlying these incompatibilities remains unclear.
Daily Consumption
Clinically, licorice slices are mostly decocted into herbal decoction for oral use, with a conventional dosage of 2–10 grams. They can also be made into pills, powders and other preparations. Note that the dosage varies individually due to differences in patients' conditions and physical constitutions. Patients must take this product strictly at the dose prescribed by physicians.
Medicinal Parts
dried root and rhizome
Selection & Storage
1. Store in a well-ventilated, dry place, protected from insects. 2. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place, protected from dust. 3. Store in a dry container, protected from moisture and insects. Keep tightly closed and store in a dry place.