Sheng Jiang Gan Cao Tang
Star生姜甘草汤 (Fresh Ginger and Licorice Decoction)
Source: Important Formulas Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces (7th century)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Sheng Jiang Gan Cao Tang (Fresh Ginger and Licorice Decoction), from Important Formulas Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces (7th century).
Associated formula of Gan Cao Gan Jiang Tang.
Actions: Warms the Stomach and Lungs; Augments the qi
Indications: Lung atrophy with coughing, spitting of clear fluids, dry mouth, and thirst.
Usage: For Lung atrophy that is more qi deficiency than yang deficiency, hence cough and thirst are present.
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. 272.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sheng Jiang
as printed: Zingiberis Rhizoma recens (sheng jiang) 15g
|
15g | 41.67% | — | |
|
Gan Cao
as printed: Glycyrrhizae Radix (gan cao) 12g
|
12g | 33.33% | — | |
|
Ren Shen
as printed: Ginseng Radix (ren shen) 9g
|
9g | 25% | — | |
|
Da Zao
as printed: Jujubae Fructus (da zao) 12 pieces
|
12pieces | 100% | — |
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 42%
- sweet 46%
- bitter 13%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Lung 100%
- Spleen 100%
- Stomach 75%
- Heart 58%
- Kidney 25%
Share of the grams entering each channel, from 100% of the weighed grams.
1 herb without a dose in grams, so left out of every figure above: Da Zao.
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.
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Formula family
Full herb lists
- Gui Pi Tang = this formula + Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang + Long Yan Rou, Bai Zhu, Fu Shen, Mu Xiang, Suan Zao Ren and Yuan Zhi
- Gui Pi An Shen Tang = this formula + Si Jun Zi Tang + Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang + He Huan Pi, Long Yan Rou, Suan Zao Ren, Wu Wei Zi, Xiang Fu and Yuan Zhi
- Sheng Yang Yi Wei Tang = this formula + Xiao Chai Hu Tang + Tong Xie Yao Fang + Ze Xie Tang + Huang Qi, Du Huo, Fu Ling, Huang Lian and Qiang Huo
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.
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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