Gan Cao Gan Jiang Tang
Star甘草干姜汤 (Licorice and Ginger Decoction)
Source: Jin Gui Yao Lue (c. 220)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Gan Cao Gan Jiang Tang (Licorice and Ginger Decoction), from Essentials from the Golden Cabinet (c. 220).
Actions: Warms the Lungs; Strengthens the Stomach
Indications: Cold extremities, absence of thirst, a dry throat, excessive salivation with spitting up of clear fluids, absence of coughing, irritability, dizziness, frequent urination, a pale, moist tongue without a coating, and a pulse that is either frail or submerged and slow.
Pattern: Deficiency cold Lung atrophy
Modifications:
- Incontinence of urine: add Alpiniae oxyphyllae Fructus (yi zhi ren) and Linderae Radix (wu yao)
- Epigastric and abdominal pain from Spleen-Stomach deficiency cold: add Alpiniae officinarum Rhizoma (gao liang jiang) and Cinnamomi Cortex (rou gui)
- Nosebleeds, blood in the stool, or vomiting of blood from deficiency cold: use Zingiberis Rhizoma preparata (pao jiang) instead of raw Zingiberis Rhizoma (gan jiang)
Commentary: Treats deficiency-cold Lung atrophy (salivation without cough or thirst) indirectly by warming the Stomach to generate metal; foundation of Regulate the Middle Pill and Frigid Extremities Decoction; also effective alone for bleeding from Spleen yang deficiency.
Category: Formulas that Warm the Middle and Dispel Cold.
Source: Scheid V, Bensky D, Ellis A, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. Eastland Press, 2009, p. 270.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Gan Cao
as printed: Glycyrrhizae Radix preparata (zhi gan cao) 12g
|
12g | 66.67% | tonifies the qi; with ginger warms and strengthens the Stomach to nurture earth and generate metal | |
|
Pao Jiang
as printed: Zingiberis Rhizoma preparata (pao jiang) 6g
|
6g | 33.33% | warms the Lungs, disperses cold, and restores chest yang; blast-fried to reduce its dispersing harshness |
Dui Yao — Core Herb Pairs
The classical two-herb combinations at the heart of this formula, as recorded on the herbs' own pages — each pair has an action neither herb has alone.
Energetics dose-weighted
The formula's overall nature, taste balance and channel reach, weighted by each herb's dose. Classical formulas often pair warm and cool herbs on purpose, so a net figure summarises the mix — it doesn't describe every herb in it.
Nature
Net slightly warm (+0.67)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: neutral 67%, hot 33%.
Taste
- pungent 17%
- sweet 67%
- bitter 17%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Spleen 100%
- Lung 67%
- Stomach 67%
- Heart 67%
- Kidney 33%
- Liver 33%
Share of the grams entering each channel, from 100% of the weighed grams.
Dose-weighted from each herb's recorded nature, taste and channels (missing values are left out, never counted as neutral). It describes the composition — it is not a recommendation.
Preparation
Decoction.
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Formula family
Full herb lists
- Wu Yao Shun Qi San = this formula + Jie Geng Tang + Bai Zhi, Chen Pi, Chuan Xiong, Jiang Can, Ma Huang, Wu Yao and Zhi Ke
- Shao Yao Hou Po Tang = this formula + Xiao Yao San + Tong Xie Yao Fang + Bai Zhi, Che Qian Zi, Dang Shen, Hou Po, Huang Bai, Huang Lian, Huo Xiang, Qin Pi, Wu Wei Zi, Xiang Fu, Yi Yi Ren and Yin Chen
Each entry reads as the larger formula written out: “+” adds its other catalogue cores, then the herbs none of them hold. A catalogue formula counts as a core only when at least 80% of its herbs are present, no more than 1 is absent, and the absent herb is not its chief.
Formula Network
Formulas that share herbs with this one — the closer to the centre, the stronger the match. Click a node to explore.
Similar Formulas by composition
Match score combines dosage-weighted composition (cosine, 70%) with shared-herb overlap (Jaccard, 30%).
Traditional formula information is for educational purposes only. Herbal formulas should be prescribed by a qualified practitioner — dosages and combinations are individualized and can interact with medications.
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