Chinese Medicine Gem

Licorice root (Gan Cao) is the most frequently used herbs among more than 700 kinds of Chinese herbs commonly used in Chinese medicine therapies. According to statistics, prescriptions containing licorice root account for 79% or more. The history of using licorice root, whether in the East or the West, can track back to 4000 years ago.

Why licorice root is so important?

• Licorice root is of sweet nature and work to
• Licorice root invigorate spleen-stomach and replenish Qi;
• Licorice root clear heat-toxicity;
• Licorice root moisten lung for removing phlegm;
• Licorice root harmonize miscellaneous properties of herbs;
• Licorice root relieve emergency and stop pain.

Chen Xiu Yuan (1753~1823), a famous herbalist in Qing Dynasty, ever had an insightful view about Treatise on Febrile Diseases by Zhang Zhong Jing. He said:

“The key to decode Treatise on Febrile Diseases was that Zhang Zhong Jing liked to use sweet-natured herbs due to stomach Qi was the priority concern for any diseases. And licorice root was the most important sweet-natured herb to invigorate spleen-stomach and replenish Qi. “

Spleen and stomach are the source of energy for the whole human body. As long as stomach Qi remains, one can survive. On the contrary, if stomach Qi loses, one must die. So the least thing we may do is to ruin the stomach Qi during any therapies with Chinese medicine. This is the utmost principle we must follow anytime, anywhere.

Licorice root’s history

In China, licorice root was first documented in “Er Ya” B.C.200. And the using licorice root as medicine was found in the book of “Shen Nong’s Herbal Classic” in the Han Dynasty, in which licorice root was regarded as one of the top grade drugs.

Licorice root in “Shen Nong’s Herbal Classic”

“Licorice root rules all pathogenic cold-heat in five visceras and six organs, strengthens bones and tendons, grows muscles, increases strength, and remove toxicity for eliminate carbuncles.”

Licorice root in “Ming Yi Bie Lu”

Licorice root is fairy grass, honey grass, the teacher of the king, and is rated as the “king of medicines.”

Licorice root by Zhen Quan

Zhen Quan, a famous doctor in Tang dynasty, claimed:

“Licorice root rules 72 kinds of toxicities from milk stone, treats 1200 kinds of toxicities from vegetation.”

Licorice root by “Tu Jing Ben Cao” by Su Song in Song Dynasty

“In the area of Huguang in China, people there always travel with a few pieces of licorice root for contingencies. They usually just try a small amount of food first, and then chew licorice root to test. If they do not vomit, it indicates that the food is safe and can enjoy it boldly.
In the area of Jiangzhe, people there always tie a piece of licorice root on the baby’s wrist, which is allowed to be sucked because licorice root is sweet and harmless. “

Licorice root’s alias

There are a lot of alias for licorice root in China, such as honey grass, sweet grass, beauty grass, elf grass, pink grass etc., among them the alias of Guo Lao (the teacher of the king) is the most special one.

Tao Hong Jing, a famous physician in Qi Liang period of Nan dynasty, said:

“Licorice root is the king of the herbs, which can be seen in almost all classical formulas. Guo Lao is the respectful title of the teacher of the king. Guo Lao is not the king, but the king’s knowledge is from him.”

“Raw licorice root can clear fire, and prepared licorice root can dispel superficies cold, relieve the emergency as well as ordinary syndrome, and harmonize various drugs to make them not fight to each others.”

Li Shi Zhen ever said:

“Given that licorice root can reconcile various drugs, it is acclaimed as the name of ‘Guo La’.”

The story about licorice root

In the Ming Dynasty, there was an imperial physician named Sheng Yin, who was the favorite physician of Emperor Renzong and Xuanzong. One morning, Sheng Yin entered into the Royal pharmacy, and all of a sudden he had headache and dizziness and fell to the ground. Other imperial physicians were panic because they did not know what caused it.

Then the emperor ordered to collect physicians outside the court for the treatment. One folk herbalist recommended himself and dispensed a dose of decoction to Sheng Yin. And Sheng Yin was revived just after a while. The emperor was quite surprised and asked what magic drugs he used. The herbalist then replied that: “Due to Sheng Yin did not eat breakfast that day and his stomach Qi was too weak to resist the steaming of drugs odors and therefore he fainted because of the toxicity of miscellaneous drugs. The only drug can clear toxicity of miscellaneous drugs is licorice root. So I just boiled the sole licorice root decoction to him and it is not magic drug.” The emperor immediately asked Sheng Yin, and indeed he did not eat breakfast.

And the emperor bestowed a lot of money and gifts to this experienced folk herbalist.

Licorice root is not magic drug, but it can play a magic role in Chinese medicine treatments if using licorice root properly. Actually our ancient herbalists had been telling us about that all the time.