Herb module

Gan Cao

Licorice RootGlycyrrhiza uralensis

The sweet root that harmonizes a formula, guiding other herbs and smoothing their edges so they work together.

Licorice root appears in a large share of Chinese herbal formulas. In Spleen Meridian™ it is used to strengthen Spleen Qi and moisten the Lungs. It also does a quieter job: it harmonizes the other herbs and guides them, the way a good conductor keeps an orchestra playing together.

Best functions

Traditionally used to tonify the Spleen and augment Qi
Moistens the Lung, resolves Phlegm, and stops cough
Moderates spasm and eases pain
Harmonizes and guides the other herbs in a formula, and acts as an antidote to many toxins
Research has looked at glycyrrhizin, its key compound, for its calming effect on inflammation

Fascinating facts

Zoi's sheet notes that licorice enters all 12 meridians, which is part of why it can reach and harmonize so many herbs at once.
Known as "the great harmonizer," licorice appears in more than 70 percent of classical Chinese herbal formulas.
Both "Gan Cao" ("sweet herb") and the Greek-derived "Glycyrrhiza" ("sweet root") point to its sweet taste.
Licorice is a member of the pea family. Much of the black licorice candy sold today gets its flavor mostly from anise.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine

Gan Cao, or licorice, is warm to neutral-warm with a sweet flavor. It is a tonic herb, and it enters all twelve meridians.

Go deeperDownload the fact sheet on the Spleen Meridian page

Biomedical deep dive

Gan Cao Licorice Root

From the Zoi Medicinals fact sheets’ Biomedical Details, with lines from Noa’s herb notes marked “Noa’s notes”.

On the fact sheet

Gan Cao (Licorice Root, Radix Glycyrrhizae) is warm & neutral-warm enters all 12 meridians; tonifies Spleen, augments Qi, moistens the Lung, resolves Phlegm and stops cough, moderates spasm and alleviates pain, antidote for many toxins, harmonize and guides other herbs. Spleen Meridian sheet

Key active constituents

Triterpene saponins, named in a cited review title on the Spleen Meridian sheet.

Pharmacology and mechanisms

Licorice (Glycyrrhizae) has anti-ulcer properties, promoting healthy mucus secretion and strengthening the cells lining the digestive tract.
Glycyrrhizin (licorice's main sweet compound) is anti-inflammatory; it inhibits phospholipase A2 and COX, enzymes that start inflammatory signals. Noa’s notes
Antiviral activity against hepatitis C, influenza and herpes simplex. Noa’s notes
Adrenocortical action: inhibits 11β-HSD (an enzyme that inactivates cortisol) and mimics aldosterone at high doses. Noa’s notes

What the research says

Clinical studies showed licorice has anti-ulcer properties, supporting healthy mucus secretion and stronger GI-tract cells (Asl and Hosseinzadeh, Phytother Res 2008).

Safety, interactions and cautions

Every Zoi fact sheet: do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding unless directed by your health care practitioner.
Avoid long-term high doses: can cause pseudoaldosteronism (fluid retention, high blood pressure) and low potassium (hypokalemia). Noa’s notes
Contraindicated with kidney disease. Noa’s notes
May interact with blood-pressure medicines, diuretics and corticosteroids. Noa’s notes
Contraindicated with digoxin (a heart medicine) at high doses. Noa’s notes

In these Zoi formulas

Spleen Meridian (#8 on the fact sheet)

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.