Library

*Ben Cao Ming Yi Bie Lu* records that Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae) warms the middle, directs qi downward, treats irritability, fullness, shortness of breath, and cough due to injury of the zang organs, stops thirst, unblocks meridians, benefits blood and qi, and resolves the toxicity of hundred herbs. It is the essence of the nine types of earth-grown herbs, calming seventy-two kinds of mineral substances and one thousand two hundred kinds of grass herbs. Li Dongyuan stated: Gancao has a thin qi and strong flavor; it can ascend and descend, belonging to yang within yin. For those with insufficient yang, tonification is achieved through sweet flavors; sweet-warmness can eliminate great heat. Therefore, when used raw, its qi is neutral, tonifying spleen and stomach insufficiency while greatly clearing heart fire. When moxa-burned, its temperature becomes warm, tonifying yuan qi of the san jiao (Triple Burner) and dispersing exterior cold, eliminating pathogenic heat, relieving sore throat, moderating righteous qi, and nourishing yin blood. Whenever heart fire invades the spleen, causing abdominal urgency and pain, or contraction of the abdominal skin, it should be used in double dosage. Its nature can relieve urgency and harmonize various medicines so they do not conflict; thus, hot medicines become less heating, cold medicines become less cooling, and mixed cold-heat formulas achieve balance through its use. Wang Haogu said: Regarding the uses of the five flavors, bitter drains, acrid disperses, sour collects, salty softens, and sweet ascends and diffuses. But why does materia medica state that Gancao directs qi downward? This is because sweet flavor primarily acts on the middle jiao, possessing ascending, descending, floating, and sinking properties; it can go up or down, outside or inside, having harmonizing and moderating functions, as well as tonifying and draining effects. The way of residing in the center is complete. Zhang Zhongjing used Gancao in Fuzi Lizhong Tang fearing excessive upward movement, and in Tiaowei Chengqi Tang fearing rapid downward purgation; both intend to moderate the action. Xiao Chaihu Tang contains the coldness of Chai Hu (Radix Bupleuri) and Huang Qin (Radix Scutellariae), and the warmth of Ren Shen (Radix Ginseng) and Ban Xia (Rhizoma Pinelliae); Gancao is used there for harmonization. Jianzhong Tang uses Gancao to tonify the middle and relieve spleen urgency. Fengsui Dan uses Gancao to relieve kidney urgency and generate yuan qi, reflecting the intent of sweet tonification. It is also said: Sweetness causes middle-fullness; those with middle-fullness should avoid sweet flavors, as sweetness is moderating and clogs qi, which is unsuitable for middle-fullness. Generally, roasted Gancao is used for tonification when there is no fullness, whereas raw Gancao is used for draining when there is middle-fullness, guiding other medicines directly to the site of fullness. Sweet flavor enters the spleen, returning to what it favors; this is the principle of ascending, descending, floating, and sinking. The classics state: "Tonify with sweet, drain with sweet, moderate with sweet," which is correct. Li Shizhen said: Gancao is red on the outside and yellow inside, combining the colors of Kun (Earth) and Li (Fire). With strong flavor and thin qi, it fully embodies the virtue of Earth, harmonizes all products, possesses the merit of a senior statesman, treats hundred pathogenic factors universally, obtains the transformation of the Kingly Way, assists imperial power without people knowing, and conceals divine功 (merit) without claiming credit. It can be called the good minister among medicines. However, patients with middle-fullness, vomiting, or alcoholism do not like its sweetness. Furthermore, Daji (Radix Euphorbiae Pekinensis), Yuan Hua (Flos Genkwa), Gansui (Radix Kansui), and Hai Zao (Thallus Sargassii) are contrary to it. Is this not the meaning that moderation cannot save confusion, and that gentlemen are often envied by villains?