Zhi Gan Cao Tang
Star炙甘草汤 (Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis Decoction)
Source: Shang Han Lun (c. 220)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Zhi Gan Cao Tang (Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis Decoction), from the Shang Han Lun, is used to tonify the Heart-Qi; nourish blood and Yin; stimulate Heart-Yang; relieve palpitations.
Presentation: chronic palpitations; irregular pulse; Heart-Qi deficiency with blood, Yin and Yang deficiency; pulse: irregular.
Syndrome: Syndrome of Heart-Qi deficiency.
Composition strategy:
- treats chronic palpitations by tonifying and stabilizing the Qi-blood and Yin-Yang relationships, addressing both Qi function and its material base (Yin and blood)
Cautions:
- Yang-stimulating herbs should be in small dosage as they consume Qi and Yin
- with obvious Yin deficiency (red tongue without coating, thready rapid pulse) the warm-pungent herbs should not be used
Source: Yang Y. Chinese Herbal Formulas: Treatment Principles and Composition Strategies. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2010, p. 146.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Gan Cao
as printed: Zhi Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae radix preparata)
|
12g | 13.19% | Jun (Chief) | directly tonify Heart-Qi |
|
Ren Shen
as printed: Ren Shen (Ginseng radix)
|
6g | 6.59% | Jun (Chief) | directly tonify Heart-Qi |
|
Da Zao
dose printed as 5–10 pieces; as printed: Da Zao (Jujubae fructus)
|
pieces | — | Jun (Chief) | directly tonify Heart-Qi |
|
Sheng Di Huang
as printed: Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae radix)
|
30g | 32.97% | Chen (Deputy) | tonify blood, nourish Yin to house the Qi |
|
Mai Men Dong
as printed: Mai Men Dong (Ophiopogonis radix)
|
10g | 10.99% | Chen (Deputy) | tonify blood, nourish Yin |
|
E Jiao
as printed: E Jiao (Asini corii colla)
|
6g | 6.59% | Chen (Deputy) | tonify blood, nourish Yin |
|
Huo Ma Ren
replaces Yang's Hei Zhi Ma; Chen and Qiao (and the Shang Han Lun formula) use Ma Ren
|
9g | 9.89% | Chen (Deputy) | nourishes Yin and blood, moistens dryness |
|
Sheng Jiang
as printed: Sheng Jiang (Zingiberis rhizoma recens)
|
9g | 9.89% | Zuo (Assistant) | stimulate Heart-Yang, move Qi and blood |
|
Gui Zhi
as printed: Gui Zhi (Cinnamomi cassiae ramulus)
|
9g | 9.89% | Zuo (Assistant) | stimulate Heart-Yang, move Qi and blood |
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 nature not shown: the chief herb (Da Zao) has no dose in grams.
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 44%, neutral 30%, warm 26%.
Pairs warm and cool. 26% of the weighed grams are warm or hot and 44% cool or cold — the net is their average, not the whole story.
Taste
- pungent 15%
- sweet 60%
- bitter 25%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Heart 74%
- Lung 57%
- Spleen 51%
- Kidney 46%
- Stomach 44%
- Liver 40%
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.
Preparation
Source: cook in about 1 liter of liquid (7/15 rice wine, 8/15 water); now decocted with 10ml rice wine added at the end. Divide into three doses per day. Today half the sheng di dose and only 5-10 jujube are used; Codonopsis often replaces Ginseng at 2-3 times the dose.
Source: Scheid V, Bensky D, Ellis A, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. Eastland Press, 2009, p. 356.
Relationships
Full-screen graph →Click a node for details · double-click to expand it · Ctrl/⌘ + scroll or two fingers to zoom and pan.
Formula family
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.
📝 Notes
Public notes from the community and your own private notes on Zhi Gan Cao Tang.
No notes yet.