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  2. 炙甘草汤

炙甘草汤

Name

Decoction of Prepared Licorice

  1. Zhi Gancao Tang
  2. 炙甘草湯

The Prescription of 炙甘草汤

Source

The book Shang Han Lun

Ingredients

Explanation

Zhi Gan Cao: The principal drug, being sweet in flavor and warm in nature, used in large dosage to replenish Qi, relieve spasm and nourish the heart.

Ren Shen and Da Zao: Invigorating Qi, strengthening the spleen, nourishing the heart.

Sheng Di, Mai Dong, Ma Ren and E Jiao: Enriching Yin-blood.

Gui Zhi and Sheng Jiang: Warming up Yang-Qi to promote the circulation of Qi and blood in the channels.

The Effect of 炙甘草汤

Effect

Replenishing Qi, nourishing blood, enriching Yin, restoring the circulation of blood.

Indications

Syndrome due to deficiency of both Qi and blood, marked by intermittent and knotted pulse, palpitation, or dry stools, light red tongue with little coating, dry cough without sputum or with blood-tinged sputum; including such diseases with the above symptoms as coronary heart disease, viral myocarditis, rheumatic heart disease and neurosism.

Contraindication

Because Zhi Gancao Tang is wet in nature, it can not be used to treat patients with interior heat due to Yin-deficiency.