甘草，味甘，气平，性温，可升可降，阳中阳也。他书说阴中阳者，误。无毒。反甘遂，
不
可同用，同用必至杀人。入太阴、少阴、厥阴之经。能调和攻补之药，消痈疽疖毒，实有神
功。尤善止诸痛，除阴虚火热，止渴生津。但其性又缓，凡急病最宜用之。故寒病用热药，
必加甘草，以制桂、附之热。热病用寒药，必加甘草，以制石膏之寒。下病不宜速攻，必加
甘草以制大黄之峻。上病不宜遽升，必加甘草以制栀子之动，缓之中具和之义耳。独其味甚
甘，甘则善动，吐呕家不宜
多服，要亦不可拘也。甘药可升可降，用之吐则吐，用之下则下，顾善用之何如耳。
或问中满症忌甘，恐甘草助人之胀乎？不知中满忌甘，非忌甘草也。中满乃气虚中满。气虚
者，脾胃之气虚也。脾胃喜甘，安在反忌甘草。因甘草性缓，缓则入于胃而不即入于脾。胃
气即虚，得甘草之补，不能遽然承受，转若添其胀满者，亦一时之胀，而非经久之胀也。故
中满之症，反宜用甘草，引人参、茯苓、白术之药，入于中满之中，使脾胃之虚者不虚，而
后胀者不胀，但不可多用与专用耳。盖多用则增满，而少用则消满也。专用则添胀，而同用
则除胀也，谁谓中满忌甘草哉。（〔批〕中满忌甘草，反用之以成功，可见药宜善用，何独
甘草哉？）
或问甘草乃解毒之圣药，古人盛称而吾子约言，岂甘草不可以解毒也？嗟乎。甘草解毒，
无
人不知，然尽人皆知解毒，而尽人不知用之也。愚谓甘草解毒，当分上、中、下三法。上法
治上焦之毒，宜引而吐之；中法治中焦之毒，宜和而解之；下法治下焦之毒，宜逐而泻之。
（〔批〕甘草解毒分上、中、下三法，实确而妙。） 吐之奈何？用甘草一两，加瓜蒂三枚，
水煎
服。凡有毒，一吐而愈。和之奈何？用甘草一两五钱，加柴胡三钱、白芍三钱、白芥子三钱
、
当归三钱、陈皮一钱，水煎服，毒自然和解矣。泻之奈何？用甘草二两，加大黄三钱、当归
五钱、桃仁十四粒、红花一钱，水煎服，毒尽从大便出矣。此三者，虽不敢谓解毒之法尽乎
此
，然大约亦不能出乎此。毋论服毒、中毒与初起疮毒，皆可以三法治之。此用甘草解毒之法
，人亦可以闻吾言而善用之乎。
或问甘草乃和中之药，攻补俱用，不识亦有不宜否？夫甘草，国老也，其味甘，甘宜于
脾胃
。然脾胃过受其甘，则宽缓之性生，水谷入之，必不迅于传导，而或至于停积瘀滞。夫水谷
宜速化者也，宜速化而不速化，则传于各脏腑，未免少失其精华，而各脏腑因之而不受其益
者有之。世人皆谓甘草有益而无损，谁知其益多而损亦有之乎。知其益而防其损，斯可矣。
或疑甘草在药中不过调和，无大关系，此论轻视甘草矣。甘草实可重用以收功，而又能调剂
以取效，盖药中不可缺之药，非可有可无之品也。
或疑甘草视之平平，世医无不轻之，先生独重者，何好恶与人殊乎？曰∶甘草乃夺命之
药，
如之何而忽之，诚观上、中、下解毒之妙，神效无比，亦可以悟甘草之宜重而不宜轻矣，况
调和百药更有殊功乎。
或问细节甘草，其性少寒，可泻阴火，不识阴虚火动之症，亦可多用之乎？吾谓甘草乃
泻火
之品，原不在细小也。细小泻火，岂粗大者反助火乎。惟是甘草泻火，用之于急症者可以多
用，用之于缓症者难以重加。盖缓症多是虚症，虚则胃气必弱，而甘草性过于甘，多用难以
分消，未免有饱胀之虞，不若少少用之，则甘温自能退大热耳。若阴虚之症，正胃弱也，如
何可多用乎，毋论粗大者宜少用，即细小者亦不可多用也。
甘草，味道甘甜，气性平和，性质温热，既能升散又能下降，属于阳中之阳。其他书籍说它是阴中之阳，这是错误的。甘草无毒。它与甘遂相反，不可一起使用，如果同用必定导致死亡。它进入太阴、少阴、厥阴这三条经脉。能够调和攻伐与补益的药物，消除痈疽疖毒，确实有神奇的功效。尤其擅长停止各种疼痛，清除阴虚引起的虚火，止渴并生津液。但是它的药性又比较缓和，凡是急病最适合使用它。所以治疗寒病使用热性药物时，必须加入甘草，用来制约肉桂、附子的燥热。治疗热病使用寒性药物时，必须加入甘草，用来制约石膏的寒凉。下部疾病不适宜快速攻下，必须加入甘草以制约大黄的峻猛之性。上部疾病不适宜迅速提升，必须加入甘草以制约栀子的扰动之性，这是在缓和之中蕴含了调和的意义罢了。唯独它的味道非常甘甜，甘味容易引发呕吐，经常呕吐的人不适宜多服，但这也不可以拘泥死板。甘味的药物可升可降，用它来催吐就能引起呕吐，用它来泻下就能引起腹泻，关键在于使用者如何善于运用罢了。
有人问：中满（胸腹胀满）症忌讳甘味药，是担心甘草助长人的胀满吗？不知道中满忌甘，并不是忌讳甘草。中满是因气虚导致的胀满。所谓气虚，是指脾胃之气虚弱。脾胃喜欢甘味，怎么反而忌讳甘草呢？因为甘草的药性缓和，缓则进入胃中而不立即进入脾脏。如果胃气已经虚弱，得到甘草的补益，不能立刻承受，反而好像增加了胀满感，这也只是一时的胀满，而不是长久的胀满。所以中满的症状，反而适宜使用甘草，引导人参、茯苓、白术等药物，进入中满的病位之中，使脾胃的虚弱不再虚弱，然后胀满自然消除，只是不可以多用和单独使用罢了。大概多用则会增加胀满，而少用则能消除胀满。单独使用则会增添胀满，而同用其他药物则能消除胀满，谁说中满忌讳甘草呢？（批注：中满忌讳甘草，却反用甘草取得成功，可见药物在于善于运用，何止是甘草呢？）
有人问：甘草是解毒的圣药，古人极力称赞而我却简略提及，难道甘草不可以解毒吗？唉！甘草解毒，没有人不知道，然而尽人皆知它能解毒，却尽人不知如何使用它。我认为甘草解毒，应当分为上、中、下三种方法。上法治疗上焦的毒邪，适宜引导其通过呕吐排出；中法治疗中焦的毒邪，适宜调和并化解它；下法治疗下焦的毒邪，适宜驱逐并泻下它。（批注：甘草解毒分上、中、下三法，确实确切而精妙。）如何呕吐呢？使用甘草一两，加上瓜蒂三枚，用水煎煮后服用。凡是有毒物，一次呕吐即可痊愈。如何调和呢？使用甘草一两五钱，加上柴胡三钱、白芍三钱、白芥子三钱、当归三钱、陈皮一钱，用水煎煮服用，毒邪自然就会和解消散。如何泻下呢？使用甘草二两，加上大黄三钱、当归五钱、桃仁十四粒、红花一钱，用水煎煮服用，毒邪就会全部从大便排出。这三种方法，虽然不敢说解毒的方法完全都在这里，但大致也不会超出这个范围。无论是服毒、中毒还是初起的疮毒，都可以用这三种方法来治疗。这就是使用甘草解毒的方法，人们也可以听从我所说的话而善于运用它吗？
有人问：甘草是和中的药物，攻法和补法都使用，不知道是否也有不适宜的情况？夫甘草，被称为国老，它的味道甘甜，甘味适宜于脾胃。然而脾胃如果过度受其甘味，就会产生宽缓的性质，水谷进入其中，必然不会迅速传导，以至于停滞积聚瘀滞。水谷是应该迅速消化的，如果应该迅速消化而不能迅速消化，那么传送给各个脏腑时，未免会稍微失去其精华，从而导致各个脏腑因此得不到益处。世人都说甘草只有益处没有损害，谁知道它益处多但也有损害呢？知道它的益处而防范它的损害，这样就可以了。有人怀疑甘草在药物中不过是起调和作用，没有太大关系，这种看法是轻视甘草了。甘草实际上可以重用以求得功效，而又能调剂以取得疗效，它是药物中不可缺少的，不是可有可无的物品。
有人怀疑甘草看起来平平常常，世间医生无不轻视它，先生却独自看重它，为什么喜好厌恶与别人不同呢？回答说：甘草是救命的药物，怎么能忽视它呢？诚然观察上、中、下解毒的奇妙之处，神效无比，也可以领悟到甘草适宜重用而不宜轻用，何况调和百种药物更有特殊的功效呢。
有人问：细小的甘草，其性质稍偏寒凉，可以泻阴火，不知道阴虚火动的症状，也可以多用它吗？我认为甘草是泻火的物品，原本不在于细小与否。细小的甘草能泻火，难道粗大的反而助长火势吗？只是甘草泻火，用于急症时可以多用，用于缓症时难以重加。因为缓症多是虚症，虚则胃气必然虚弱，而甘草性质过于甘甜，多用难以分散消除，未免有饱胀的忧虑，不如少量使用，则甘温自能退去大热。如果是阴虚的症状，正是胃气虚弱的时候，怎么能多用呢？不要说粗大的甘草宜少用，就是细小的甘草也不可以多用。
Licorice Root (Gancao), with a sweet taste, neutral qi, and warm nature, can ascend and descend; it is Yang within Yang. Other texts stating it is Yin within Yang are incorrect. It is non-toxic. It is incompatible with Kansui Root (Gansui) and must not be used together, as doing so may prove fatal. It enters the Taiyin, Shaoyin, and Jueyin meridians. It can harmonize purgative and tonifying herbs, eliminate carbuncles, ulcers, boils, and toxins, possessing truly miraculous efficacy. It is particularly adept at stopping various pains, clearing deficiency-fire, relieving thirst, and generating fluids. However, its nature is also slow/relaxing; therefore, it is most suitable for acute conditions. Thus, when treating cold diseases with hot herbs, Licorice Root must be added to moderate the heat of Cinnamon Twig (Guizhi) and Aconite Root (Fuzi). When treating heat diseases with cold herbs, Licorice Root must be added to moderate the coldness of Gypsum (Shigao). For diseases in the lower part that should not be attacked rapidly, Licorice Root must be added to moderate the harshness of Rhubarb (Dahuang). For diseases in the upper part that should not be lifted abruptly, Licorice Root must be added to moderate the agitating nature of Gardenia (Zhizi); this embodies the meaning of harmony within slowness. Its taste is exceptionally sweet; sweetness tends to induce vomiting, so those prone to vomiting should not take it in large amounts, though one should not be overly rigid about this rule. Sweet herbs can ascend or descend; using them to induce vomiting causes vomiting, using them to purge causes diarrhea—it all depends on how skillfully they are employed.
One might ask: "Fullness in the middle (Zhongman) contraindicates sweet flavors; does Licorice Root aggravate bloating?" One should know that avoiding sweet flavors for Zhongman does not mean avoiding Licorice Root specifically. Zhongman is fullness due to Qi deficiency. Qi deficiency refers to the deficiency of Spleen and Stomach Qi. The Spleen and Stomach delight in sweet flavors; why would they contraindicate Licorice Root? Because Licorice Root's nature is slow; being slow, it enters the Stomach but does not immediately enter the Spleen. If Stomach Qi is already deficient, receiving the tonification from Licorice Root, it cannot bear it immediately, seemingly increasing the bloating. This is merely temporary bloating, not chronic bloating. Therefore, for symptoms of Zhongman, it is actually appropriate to use Licorice Root to guide herbs like Ginseng Root (Renshen), Poria (Fuling), and Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome (Baizhu) into the area of fullness, making the deficiency of the Spleen and Stomach no longer deficient, after which the bloating will cease. However, it should not be used in large doses or exclusively. Generally, large doses increase fullness, while small doses reduce fullness. Exclusive use adds to bloating, while combined use eliminates bloating. Who says Zhongman contraindicates Licorice Root? (Commentary: Zhongman contraindicates Licorice Root, yet using it successfully demonstrates that drugs depend on skilled application, not just Licorice Root.)
One might ask: "Licorice Root is the holy medicine for detoxification; ancients praised it highly, yet you speak briefly of it. Can Licorice Root not detoxify?" Alas! Everyone knows Licorice Root detoxifies, yet everyone knows it detoxifies but no one knows how to use it properly. I believe detoxification with Licorice Root should be divided into three methods: Upper, Middle, and Lower. The Upper method treats toxins in the Upper Jiao, guiding them out via vomiting; the Middle method treats toxins in the Middle Jiao, harmonizing and resolving them; the Lower method treats toxins in the Lower Jiao, expelling and purging them. (Commentary: Dividing Licorice Root detoxification into Upper, Middle, and Lower methods is indeed accurate and profound.) How to vomit? Use one liang of Licorice Root and three melon seeds (Gua Di), decocted in water and taken orally. For any poison, one dose of vomiting brings recovery. How to harmonize? Use one liang and five qian of Licorice Root, plus three qian each of Bupleurum Root (Chaihu), White Peony Root (Baishao), White Mustard Seed (Baijiezi), Angelica Sinensis Root (Danggui), and Tangerine Peel (Chenpi), decocted in water and taken orally; the toxin will naturally resolve. How to purge? Use two liang of Licorice Root, plus three qian of Rhubarb (Dahuang), five qian of Angelica Sinensis Root (Danggui), fourteen Peach Kernels (Taoren), and one qian of Safflower (Honghua), decocted in water and taken orally; the toxin will exit entirely through the stool. These three methods, while I dare not claim they cover all detoxification techniques, generally encompass the main approaches. Whether poisoning, accidental ingestion of toxins, or initial onset of sores/toxins, all can be treated by these three methods. This is the method of using Licorice Root for detoxification; can people hear my words and apply them skillfully?
One might ask: "Licorice Root is a harmonizing herb, used in both purgative and tonifying formulas; are there cases where it is unsuitable?" Licorice Root, known as the 'State Elder' (Guolao), has a sweet taste, which is suitable for the Spleen and Stomach. However, if the Spleen and Stomach receive too much sweetness, their nature becomes loose and slow; food and drink entering them will not conduct quickly, leading to stagnation and accumulation. Food and drink should be digested quickly; if they fail to do so, the essence transmitted to the Zang-Fu organs will be diminished, causing these organs to miss out on benefits. People say Licorice Root has benefits but no harms; who knows that while its benefits are many, it also has harms? Knowing its benefits and guarding against its harms is sufficient. Some suspect Licorice Root merely harmonizes other herbs and has little significance; this view underestimates Licorice Root. Licorice Root can indeed be used in heavy doses to achieve results and can adjust formulas to gain efficacy; it is an indispensable herb, not one that is optional.
Some doubt that Licorice Root appears ordinary and is despised by most physicians, yet you value it highly. Why do your preferences differ from others? I reply: Licorice Root is a life-saving herb; how can it be ignored? Observing the miraculous effects of the Upper, Middle, and Lower detoxification methods, which are unparalleled, one can realize that Licorice Root should be valued heavily rather than lightly. Moreover, its special merit in harmonizing hundreds of herbs is significant.
One might ask: "Small-sized Licorice Root has a slightly cold nature and can drain Yin fire. Can it be used in large doses for symptoms of Yin deficiency with fire agitation?" I consider Licorice Root a fire-draining substance; its efficacy does not depend on size. If small roots drain fire, do large ones not assist fire? However, regarding Licorice Root draining fire: it can be used in larger doses for acute conditions, but heavy addition is difficult for chronic/slow conditions. Slow conditions are often deficiency patterns; deficiency implies weak Stomach Qi. Since Licorice Root is overly sweet, using it in large doses makes it hard to disperse and eliminate, risking bloating. It is better to use small amounts, as sweet-warm properties can naturally retreat high fever. In cases of Yin deficiency, the Stomach Qi is weak; how can it tolerate large doses? Regardless of whether the root is large or small, it should not be used in large quantities.