味甘气平无毒，入脾经。正禀土中冲和之阳气以生，故称为九土之精。诸毒遇土则
化，故能解诸百毒也，生寒炙温，梢去尿管涩痛，节消痈痘 肿，子除胸热，身则补
中，直选壮大横纹者佳。
甘草解诸毒、利咽痛，健脾胃，补三焦，止泻渴烦，和调药性，却脐腹急疼，脏
腑邪热，热药用之缓其热，寒药用之缓其寒，补脾而和中，润肺而解热。梢止茎中作
痛，节疗肿毒诸疮，但中满症禁用，虽行下焦，药勿加。
主治（痘疹合参） 生用泻火解热毒消疮疽，熟用能补三焦元气，健胃和中，解诸
药毒。凡痘疹常用，宜小者生者。如入补剂，宜大者炙者。若欲解疫疠毒瓦斯，疽症恶
毒，宜制作人中黄最佳。节生用，消肿导毒。
按∶甘草外赤内黄，备坤离之色；味甘气平，资戊己之功。调和群品，有元老之
称，普治百邪，得王道之用。甘味居中，而能兼乎五行，可上可下可内可外，有和有缓
有补有泻，益阴除热，有裨金宫，故咳嗽咽痛，肺痿均治。甘缓中和，专滋脾土，故泻
利虚热肌肉必需。理中汤用之，恐热药僭上也。承气汤用之，恐峻剂速下也。热药用之
缓其热，寒药用之缓其寒。甘能满中，故中满者勿用∶甘能缓急，故筋急者宜之。头入
吐药有功，梢达肾家清火，呕病酒病胀病俱禁用也。（甘草造人中黄法，用竹筒一段，刮去青皮，
一头开一小孔。将甘草纳入填满，油灰封固其孔，立冬日投于通衢无女人到厕中，至立春日取
起，清水洗净，置有风无日处，阴干半月后，劈开取出晒干，用之神治一切热毒疫毒。）
甘草味甘、气平，无毒，归入脾经。它正禀受土中冲和的阳气而生，因此被称为“九土之精”。各种毒物遇到土就能化解，所以甘草能解各种百毒。生甘草性寒，炙甘草性温；甘草梢能去除尿道涩痛，甘草节能消除痈痘肿胀，甘草子能清除胸中热邪，甘草身则能补益中气，挑选粗壮且横纹明显者为佳。
甘草能解各种毒物、利咽喉止痛，健脾胃，补三焦，止泻、止渴、除烦，调和药性，缓解脐腹急痛，清除脏腑邪热。热性药配伍甘草可缓和其热性，寒性药配伍甘草可缓和其寒性；它能补脾而调和其中，润肺而解除热邪。甘草梢能治疗茎中疼痛，甘草节能治疗肿毒和各种疮疡。但中满证禁用，虽然甘草能行下焦，但在用药时不要加入（指中满证）。
主治（结合痘疹病症参考）：生用能泻火、解热毒、消疮疽；熟用（炙用）能补三焦元气，健胃和中，解各种药物毒。凡是治疗痘疹常用，宜选用小个的生甘草。如果用于补益剂中，宜选用大个的炙甘草。如果想要解除疫疠毒气和疽症恶毒，制作成“人中黄”效果最佳。甘草节生用，能消肿导毒。
按语：甘草外赤内黄，具备坤（地）离（火）之色；味甘气平，资助戊己（脾胃）之功。调和众多药材，有“元老”之称，普遍治疗各种邪气，得王道之用。甘味居中，而能兼通五行，可上可下、可内可外，有和有缓、有补有泻，益阴除热，有益于肺（金宫），所以咳嗽咽痛、肺痿都能治疗。甘缓中和，专门滋养脾土，所以泻利、虚热、肌肉病变必需用到。理中汤中使用甘草，是担心热药过于僭越上行；承气汤中使用甘草，是担心峻猛药剂泻下过快。热性药配伍甘草可缓和其热性，寒性药配伍甘草可缓和其寒性。甘味能导致中满，所以中满证不要用；甘味能缓解急迫，所以筋脉拘急者适宜使用。甘草头入吐药有功，甘草梢能达肾家清火，呕吐病、饮酒病、胀病都禁用。（甘草制造人中黄的方法：取一段竹筒，刮去青皮，一头开一个小孔。将甘草纳入填满，用油灰封固小孔，在立冬之日投入四通八达且无女人进入的厕所中，到立春之日取出，用清水洗净，放在通风无阳光处，阴干半月后，劈开取出晒干，使用时神效，可治一切热毒疫毒。）
Licorice Root (Gancao) has a sweet taste and neutral nature, is non-toxic, and enters the Spleen Meridian. It is born from the harmonious Yang Qi of Earth, hence it is called the "Essence of Nine Soils." Various poisons are transformed when encountering Earth, thus Licorice Root can resolve myriad toxins. Raw Licorice Root is cold in nature, while roasted Licorice Root is warm; the tip (Sha) relieves painful dysuria, the nodes (Jie) reduce swelling from carbuncles and smallpox, the rootlets (Zi) clear heat in the chest, and the main stem tonifies the Middle Jiao. Those that are thick with prominent transverse striations are preferred.
Licorice Root resolves various toxins, benefits the throat to relieve pain, strengthens the Spleen and Stomach, tonifies the Triple Burner, stops diarrhea, relieves thirst, alleviates irritability, harmonizes the properties of other herbs, relieves acute abdominal pain, and clears pathogenic heat from the Zang-Fu organs. When combined with hot-natured herbs, it moderates their heat; when combined with cold-natured herbs, it moderates their coldness. It tonifies the Spleen and harmonizes the Middle, moistens the Lungs and resolves heat. The tip treats pain in the urethra, and the nodes treat sores and ulcers. However, it is contraindicated in cases of fullness in the middle jiao; although it acts on the Lower Jiao, it should not be added in such conditions.
Indications (Reference for Smallpox and Rashes): Raw use purges fire, resolves heat toxins, and reduces carbuncles and ulcers; roasted use tonifies the Yuan Qi of the Triple Burner, strengthens the Stomach and harmonizes the Middle, and resolves drug toxicity. For treating smallpox and rashes, raw pieces are preferred, specifically smaller ones. If used in tonifying formulas, larger roasted pieces are preferred. To resolve epidemic pestilence toxins and malignant sores, preparing it as Renzhonghuang (Human-Excrement-Hollowed Bamboo Charcoal) is best. Raw nodes reduce swelling and guide out toxins.
Commentary: Licorice Root is red outside and yellow inside, possessing the colors of Kun (Earth) and Li (Fire); its sweet taste and neutral nature support the functions of Wu and Ji (Spleen and Stomach). It harmonizes various ingredients, earning the title of "Elder Statesman," and universally treats various pathogens, embodying the use of the King's Way. Sweet flavor resides in the center yet connects with the Five Elements; it can go up or down, inside or outside; it harmonizes and moderates, tonifies and drains; it benefits Yin and removes heat, aiding the Metal Palace (Lungs), thus treating cough, sore throat, and Lung萎 (Flaccidity). Its sweet moderation specifically nourishes Spleen Earth, making it essential for diarrhea, deficiency heat, and muscle disorders. In Lizhong Tang, it is used to prevent hot herbs from ascending excessively; in Chengqi Tang, it is used to prevent harsh purgatives from acting too rapidly. Hot herbs combined with it moderate their heat; cold herbs combined with it moderate their coldness. Sweetness can cause fullness, so it is avoided in cases of middle jiao fullness; sweetness can relieve urgency, so it is suitable for tendon spasms. The head aids emetic formulas, and the tip reaches the Kidney to clear fire. It is contraindicated in vomiting, alcohol-induced illness, and distension. (Method for preparing Renzhonghuang: Take a section of bamboo tube, scrape off the green skin, make a small hole at one end. Fill it tightly with Licorice Root, seal the hole with oil paste, and place it in a public thoroughfare toilet where no women enter on the day of Start of Winter. Retrieve it on the day of Start of Spring, wash it clean with water, dry it in the shade in a ventilated area without direct sunlight for half a month, then split open, take out, and sun-dry. It is divine in treating all heat toxins and epidemic toxins.)