Gui Zhi Gan Cao Tang
Star桂枝甘草汤 (Cinnamon Twig and Licorice Decoction)
Source: Shang Han Lun — Zhang Zhong-Jing (Eastern Han, c. 220)
Last updated October 20, 2026
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Description
Gui Zhi Gan Cao Tang (Cinnamon Twig and Licorice Decoction) is the formula given in Line 64 of the Shang Han Lun for heart palpitations after copious sweating, with the hands crossed over the heart and a desire for pressure (damaged heart yáng).
Source: Mitchell C, Feng Y, Wiseman N. Shang Han Lun: On Cold Damage, Translation & Commentaries. Paradigm Publications, 1999, p. 162.
Composition
Liquorice — estimated at the Chinese Pharmacopoeia's minimum content: about 313 mg of glycyrrhizic acid a day (zhi Gan Cao 31.25 g × 1.0 %). The EU Scientific Committee on Food considers 100 mg/day an upper limit for regular intake that protects most people. The estimate assumes all of it passes into what is taken, uses the pharmacopoeia's dry-weight minimum, and takes the amounts as one day's dose.
Sources
Sources: Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020, 甘草 and 炙甘草, assay (glycyrrhizic acid not less than 1.8 % in the dispensed slices and 1.0 % in honey-fried liquorice, by dry weight). EU Scientific Committee on Food, Opinion on glycyrrhizinic acid and its ammonium salt, SCF/CS/ADD/EDUL/225 Final, 2003. The Committee notes this limit may not protect people with high blood pressure, electrolyte or fluid-balance disorders, slow gut transit, or reduced 11β-HSD2 activity.
- 《中华人民共和国药典》2020年版一部 — 甘草, 饮片 甘草片【含量测定】甘草酸 不得少于1.8%（按干燥品计算） (opens in a new tab)
- 《中华人民共和国药典》2020年版一部 — 炙甘草【含量测定】甘草酸 不得少于1.0%（按干燥品计算） (opens in a new tab)
- EU Scientific Committee on Food, Opinion on glycyrrhizinic acid and its ammonium salt, SCF/CS/ADD/EDUL/225 Final (10 April 2003) (opens in a new tab)
- EMA/HMPC/108399/2024 — European Union herbal monograph on Glycyrrhiza glabra L.; Glycyrrhiza inflata Bat.; Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., radix, §4.9 Overdose (opens in a new tab)
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 33%, warm 67%.
Taste
- pungent 33%
- sweet 67%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Lung 100%
- Heart 100%
- Stomach 33%
- Spleen 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
[For] the above two ingredients use three shēng of water. Boil to get one shēng. Remove the dregs and take in one single dose. (Mitchell, Feng & Wiseman 1999, p. 162, Line 64)
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Formula family
Full equations
- Gui Zhi Gan Cao Long Gu Mu Li Tang = this formula + Long Gu and Mu Li. Gan Cao is the heaviest herb here; Gui Zhi is the heaviest in the catalogue's Gui Zhi Gan Cao Tang.
- Gui Zhi Ren Shen Tang = this formula + Li Zhong Wan. Relative doses differ by up to about 2× from the catalogue's Gui Zhi Gan Cao Tang.
- Tao He Cheng Qi Tang = this formula + Bai Hu Cheng Qi Tang + Tao Ren. Relative doses differ by up to about 2× from the catalogue's Gui Zhi Gan Cao Tang.
- Gui Zhi Jia Fu Zi Tang = this formula + Gui Zhi Fu Zi Tang + Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang. Relative doses differ by up to about 2× from the catalogue's Gui Zhi Gan Cao Tang.
- Gui Zhi Jia Ge Gen Tang = this formula + Ge Gen Tang. Relative doses differ by up to about 2× from the catalogue's Gui Zhi Gan Cao Tang.
- Chai Hu Gui Zhi Gan Jiang Tang = this formula + Chai Hu, Huang Qin, Mu Li, Gan Jiang and Tian Hua Fen. Relative doses differ by up to about 2× from the catalogue's Gui Zhi Gan Cao Tang.
- Da Qing Long Tang = this formula + Gui Zhi Qu Shao Yao Tang + Ma Xing Gan Shi Tang. Gan Cao is the heaviest herb here; Gui Zhi is the heaviest in the catalogue's Gui Zhi Gan Cao Tang.
- Ge Gen Tang = this formula + Gui Zhi Jia Ge Gen Tang + Ma Huang. Relative doses differ by up to about 2× from the catalogue's Gui Zhi Gan Cao Tang.
- Gui Zhi Er Yue Bi Yi Tang = this formula + Gui Zhi Jia Gui Tang + Yue Bi Tang. Relative doses differ by up to about 2× from the catalogue's Gui Zhi Gan Cao Tang.
- Hou Po Qi Wu Tang = this formula + Gui Zhi Qu Shao Yao Tang + Hou Po San Wu Tang. Gan Cao is the heaviest herb here; Gui Zhi is the heaviest in the catalogue's Gui Zhi Gan Cao Tang.
- Huang Lian Tang = this formula + Gan Jiang Ren Shen Ban Xia Wan + Huang Lian and Da Zao. Relative doses differ by up to about 2× from the catalogue's Gui Zhi Gan Cao Tang.
- Ge Gen Jia Ban Xia Tang = this formula + Ge Gen Tang + Xiao Ban Xia Tang. Relative doses differ by up to about 2× from the catalogue's Gui Zhi Gan Cao Tang.
- Yi Yi Ren Tang = this formula + Gui Zhi Tang + Cang Zhu, Dang Gui, Ma Huang and Yi Yi Ren. Relative doses differ by up to about 1.8× from the catalogue's Gui Zhi Gan Cao Tang.
- Zhi Gan Cao Tang = this formula + Sheng Jiang Gan Cao Tang + E Jiao, Huo Ma Ren, Mai Men Dong and Sheng Di Huang. Gan Cao is the heaviest herb here; Gui Zhi is the heaviest in the catalogue's Gui Zhi Gan Cao Tang.
- Zhe Chong Yin = this formula + Tao Hong Si Wu Tang + Chuan Niu Xi, Mu Dan Pi and Yan Hu Suo. Relative doses differ by up to about 5× from the catalogue's Gui Zhi Gan Cao Tang.
- Bian Zhi Xin Qi Yin = this formula + Ban Xia San Ji Tang + Bie Jia, Bing Lang, Fu Ling, Mu Tong, Sang Bai Pi, Wu Zhu Yu, Zhi Shi and Zi Su Zi. At the proportions of the catalogue's Gui Zhi Gan Cao Tang.
- Jiu Wei Bing Lang Jia Wu Fu Tang = this formula + Fu Ling Gan Cao Tang + Da Huang Gan Cao Tang + Ju Pi Tang + Bing Lang, Hou Po, Mu Xiang, Wu Zhu Yu and Zi Su Ye. Proportions not compared: no dose entered for Gan Cao and Gui Zhi.
- Feng Yin Tang = this formula + Gui Zhi Gan Cao Long Gu Mu Li Tang + Liu Yi San + Da Huang Gan Cao Tang + Bai Shi Zhi, Chi Shi Zhi, Gan Jiang, Han Shui Shi, Shi Gao and Zi Shi Ying. At the proportions of the catalogue's Gui Zhi Gan Cao Tang.
- Wen Jing Tang = this formula + Gui Zhi Tang + Da Ban Xia Tang + Wu Zhu Yu, Chuan Xiong, Dang Gui, E Jiao, Mai Men Dong and Mu Dan Pi. Relative doses differ by up to about 2× from the catalogue's Gui Zhi Gan Cao Tang.
- Zai Zao San = this formula + Sheng Jiang Gan Cao Tang + Qi Fu Tang + Xi Xin, Chuan Xiong, Fang Feng, Qiang Huo and Chi Shao. At the proportions of the catalogue's Gui Zhi Gan Cao Tang.
- Nu Shen San = this formula + Gui Zhi Ren Shen Tang + Xie Xin Tang + Xiang Lian Wan + Bing Lang, Chuan Xiong, Dang Gui, Ding Xiang and Xiang Fu. Proportions not compared: no dose entered for Gan Cao and Gui Zhi.
- Yao Tong Fang Yi Hao = this formula + Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang + Chuan Niu Xi, Du Huo, Ge Gen, Ji Xue Teng, Mu Dan Pi, Mu Gua, Wei Ling Xian, Xu Duan, Xue Jie and Yan Hu Suo. Proportions not compared: no dose entered for Gan Cao and Gui Zhi.
- Ma Huang Sheng Ma Tang = this formula + Gan Cao Gan Jiang Fu Ling Bai Zhu Tang + Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang + Dang Gui, Huang Qin, Ma Huang, Sheng Ma, Shi Gao, Tian Men Dong, Yu zhu and Zhi Mu. Relative doses differ by up to about 2× from the catalogue's Gui Zhi Gan Cao Tang.
- Shou Wu Pian = this formula + Gui Zhi Tang + Si Wu Tang + Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang + Ge Gen, He Shou Wu, Hei Zhi Ma, Mo Han Lian, Nu Zhen Zi and Sang Shen. Proportions not compared: no dose entered for Gan Cao and Gui Zhi.
- You Bi Tang = this formula + Ge Gen Tang + Da Huang Gan Cao Tang + Jie Geng Tang + Bai Zhi, Chuan Xiong, Huang Qin, Shi Gao and Xin Yi (Hua). Proportions not compared: no dose entered for Gan Cao and Gui Zhi.
- Shi Liu Wei Liu Qi Yin = this formula + Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang + Jie Geng Tang + Bai Shao, Bai Zhi, Bing Lang, Chuan Xiong, Fang Feng, Hou Po, Mu Xiang, Ren Shen, Wu Yao, Zhi Ke and Zi Su Ye. Proportions not compared: no dose entered for Gan Cao and Gui Zhi.
- Shu Yu Wan = this formula + Fang Feng Xiong Gui Tang + Fu Ling Gui Zhi Gan Cao Tang + Li Zhong Wan + Bai Lian, Bai Shao, Chai Hu, Da Dou (Huang) Juan, E Jiao, Jie Geng, Mai Men Dong, Shan Yao, Shen Qu and Xing Ren. Gan Cao is the heaviest herb here; Gui Zhi is the heaviest in the catalogue's Gui Zhi Gan Cao Tang.
- Zhu Yu Tang = this formula + Zhe Chong Yin + Fu Ling Gui Zhi Gan Cao Tang + Liang Fu Wan + Da Huang, Dan Shen, Ding Xiang, E Zhu, Er Cha, Ji Xue Teng, Lian Zi, Lu Lu Tong, Qiang Huo, Qin Jiao, Qing Pi, San Leng, Sang Zhi, Sheng Ma and Xue Jie. Proportions not compared: no dose entered for Gan Cao and Gui Zhi.
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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