Zhi Gan Cao Tang, also known as Honey-Fried Licorice Decoction, is a famous Chinese medicine prescription from Treatise on Febrile Diseases. It is mainly used to treat symptoms of deficiency of Qi and blood in the heart, such as palpitations and pulsation . This article will introduce the composition, efficacy, modern application and precautions of Honey-Fried Licorice Decoction in detail.
Explanation of the recipe of Zhi Gan Cao Tang
Main drug : roasted licorice root:
Roasted licorice is the main ingredient of this prescription, and its main function is to replenish qi and strengthen the heart qi.
Licorice has the effects of harmonizing various medicines, relieving pain, and detoxifying. Roasted licorice is used in this recipe in large quantities, reaching 4 liang, in order to enhance its effect of replenishing qi and tonifying the heart . Modern pharmacological research has found that licorice has the effect of anti-arrhythmic, which is consistent with its traditional use.
Assistant drugs (auxiliary drugs) : Radix Rehmanniae, Ginseng:
Raw Rehmannia root is a ministerial drug, and its main function is to nourish yin and replenish blood. Raw Rehmannia root is sweet, cool and moist, and can nourish yin and replenish blood. Together with roasted licorice root, it can play the role of replenishing qi and nourishing blood. "Famous Doctors' Records" says that Rehmannia root "replenishes the deficiency of internal injuries of the five internal organs, dredges blood vessels, and replenishes qi and strength", which is consistent with its role in this prescription.
Ginseng is another ministerial drug, and its main function is to nourish the heart and spleen. Ginseng has the effects of greatly replenishing vital energy, nourishing the spleen and lungs, promoting fluid production and quenching thirst, calming the mind and improving intelligence. It can enhance the function of the heart and improve the symptoms of deficiency of both qi and blood.
Auxiliary drugs (assisting the main and secondary drugs): donkey-hide gelatin, ophiopogon japonicus, hemp seed
Donkey hide gelatin is an adjuvant drug, and its main function is to nourish the heart yin and blood. Donkey hide gelatin has the effects of nourishing yin and moistening dryness, replenishing blood and stopping bleeding. It can enrich the blood vessels and improve the symptoms of insufficient heart qi and blood.
Ophiopogon japonicus is another adjuvant, and its main function is to nourish yin and nourish the heart. Ophiopogon japonicus has the effects of nourishing yin and moistening the lungs, clearing the heart and removing troubles. It can nourish the heart yin and improve symptoms such as palpitations and insomnia.
Hemp seed is an adjuvant drug, and its main function is to moisten the intestines and promote bowel movements. Hemp seed has the effects of moistening the intestines and promoting bowel movements, nourishing blood and relieving dryness, and can improve the symptoms of dry stools.
Guiding drugs: ginger, cinnamon twig, jujube
The main function of ginger is to warm the heart and yang and promote blood circulation. Ginger has the effects of warming the middle and dispelling cold, relieving exterior symptoms and harmonizing the middle, and stopping vomiting. It can warm the heart and yang and promote blood circulation.
The main function of cinnamon twig is to warm the heart yang and dredge the blood vessels. cinnamon twig has the effects of warming the meridians and dredge the blood vessels, assisting yang and transforming qi, etc. It can warm the heart yang and promote blood circulation.
The main function of jujube is to nourish the heart and spleen. Jujube has the effects of nourishing the middle and replenishing qi, nourishing blood and calming the mind. It can nourish the heart and spleen and improve the symptoms of insufficient qi and blood.
In terms of usage, the traditional method is to boil the above herbs with seven liters of sake and eight liters of water until three liters are left, remove the residue and add donkey-hide gelatin to dissolve it, and take one liter of warm water three times a day. The modern method is to decoct it in water and drink it after the donkey-hide gelatin is dissolved.
Pathogenesis of Zhi Gan Cao Tang
Zhi Gan Cao Tang is a famous prescription in Treatise on Febrile Diseases for treating palpitations and irregular pulses. Its pathogenesis is mainly caused by sweating, vomiting, diarrhea or blood loss after typhoid fever, or by deficiency of yin and blood and weak yang due to various diseases.
When there is insufficient blood in the body, the blood vessels cannot be fully filled. In addition, the insufficient Yang Qi cannot effectively promote blood circulation, resulting in an inconsistent pulse and the phenomenon of pulse stuttering.
At the same time, insufficient blood will also make the heart not get enough nourishment, or the heart yang will be weak and unable to warm the heart, leading to palpitations. During treatment, it is necessary to nourish the heart yin, replenish the heart blood, strengthen the heart qi, and warm the heart yang to restore the normal pulse and stabilize the palpitations.
The pathogenesis of Zhigancao Tang mainly involves deficiency of Qi and blood in the heart, which is specifically manifested in the following aspects:
Deficiency of Heart Qi: When the heart qi is weak, it cannot promote blood circulation, resulting in a weak pulse and the phenomenon of irregular pulse.
Deficiency of heart blood : Insufficient heart blood can not nourish the heart vessels, resulting in malnutrition of the heart vessels and symptoms such as palpitations and restlessness.
Deficiency of Heart Yang : Heart Yang is weak and cannot warm the heart meridians, resulting in cold heart meridians and symptoms such as spontaneous sweating and palpitations.
Deficiency of Heart Yin : Insufficient heart yin can not nourish the heart vessels, resulting in dryness of the heart vessels, dry mouth, dry tongue, dry stools, etc.
Specific pathogenesis analysis
Deficiency of Yin-blood and Yang-Qi : When Yin-blood is insufficient, the blood vessels cannot be filled. In addition, Yang-Qi is weak and unable to stimulate the blood vessels, so the pulse and Qi are not connected, resulting in irregular pulse. When Yin-blood is insufficient, the mind is not nourished, or the heart-Yang is weak and cannot warm the heart vessels, resulting in palpitations.
Asthenia due to fatigue : Yin and blood deficiency and weak Yang Qi lead to weak lung Qi, Qi reflux, dry cough without sputum, or coughing up saliva, small amount of saliva, thin body, shortness of breath, restlessness and insomnia, spontaneous sweating, dry throat and tongue, dry stool, weak pulse, etc.
The efficacy and indications of Zhi Gan Cao Tang
Insufficient heart yang and weak heart qi and blood are the common underlying phenomena of many diseases. Blood deficiency syndrome refers to the general term for insufficient blood in the body, which leads to a lack of nourishment in all parts of the body and causes symptoms of weakness.
This condition is often caused by excessive fatigue, excessive thinking, weak spleen and stomach, insufficient Qi and blood production, or excessive blood loss. It may also occur after a long-term illness, and even blood deficiency may occur in the late stages of febrile disease.
Common symptoms of blood deficiency syndrome include pale or sallow complexion, pale lips, easy fatigue, shortness of breath and laziness, headache, dizziness, palpitations, insomnia and dreaminess, numbness of hands and feet, scanty and delayed menstruation or amenorrhea in women, pale red tongue, and weak and deep pulse. The arrhythmia or palpitations caused by this meridian pattern can be improved by using "Glycyrrhiza Decoction".
Zhigancao Tang is a tonifying agent for yin, yang, qi and blood. The key points of syndrome differentiation are irregular pulse, palpitations, weakness and lack of qi, and pale tongue with little coating. Modern pharmacological research has found that the licorice in Zhigancao Tang has the effect of anti-arrhythmia.
In addition, the raw rehmannia root in the recipe has the effect of nourishing yin and blood, and together with the roasted licorice root, it can nourish qi and blood. Ginseng and jujube can nourish the heart and spleen, while donkey hide gelatin, ophiopogon japonicus and hemp seed can nourish the heart yin, nourish the heart blood and swell the blood vessels. Cinnamon twig and ginger can warm the heart yang, dredge the blood vessels, make the qi and blood flow smoothly and help the pulse to continue.
Its main benefits include:
Invigorating Qi and nourishing Yin : Licorice soup can invigorate the heart Qi, nourish the heart Yin, and improve the symptoms of deficiency of both Qi and blood.
Tonify Yang and restore pulse : This prescription can warm and unblock the heart Yang and restore the normal pulse beat. It is particularly suitable for symptoms such as irregular pulse and palpitations.
Harmonize the middle and relieve urgency : Licorice soup has the effect of harmonizing the middle and relieve urgency, and can improve symptoms such as chest tightness and chest pain.
Nourishing the heart and calming the mind : This prescription can nourish the heart qi, benefit the heart blood, nourish the heart yin, dredge the heart meridians, and improve symptoms such as palpitations and insomnia.
Detoxification and anti-inflammation : Licorice soup has the effects of detoxification, anti-inflammation and anti-infection, and can improve immunity. It is especially suitable for diseases such as viral myocarditis5 .
Modern Application of Licorice Decoction
Modern medical research on Zhi Gan Cao Tang mainly focuses on the therapeutic effect on the cardiovascular system. Studies have shown that Zhigancao Tang has a significant anti-arrhythmic effect and can effectively improve symptoms such as palpitations and pulsation. Zhigancao Tang is often used for functional arrhythmias and extrasystoles. It can be used with or without dosage for patients with coronary heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, viral myocarditis, hyperthyroidism, etc. who have palpitations, shortness of breath, pulsation, and those with insufficient yin and blood and weak yang qi. It can also be used for dry coughs caused by deficiency of both qi and yin.
In addition, licorice soup is also used to treat a variety of cardiovascular diseases, such as coronary heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, viral myocarditis and hyperthyroidism.
In terms of clinical application, Zhi Gan Cao Tang is not only used to treat cardiovascular diseases, but also used for many other diseases. For example, studies have shown that Zhi Gan Cao Tang has a good therapeutic effect on diseases such as leukopenia, prolonged diarrhea in children and chronic constipation in the elderly. In addition, Zhi Gan Cao Tang is also used to improve symptoms such as chronic gastritis, adrenal insufficiency, hypotension and fatigue.
Modern pharmacological research has further revealed the various active ingredients of Zhigancao Tang, such as glycyrrhizic acid and glycyrrhetinic acid, which have multiple biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic and immunomodulatory. These research results not only confirm the traditional therapeutic effects of Zhigancao Tang, but also provide a scientific basis for its application in modern medicine.
Notes
When using this prescription for patients with pulmonary tuberculosis due to deficiency of both qi and yin, attention should be paid to the dosage of ginger, cinnamon and wine in the prescription, because warming medicines have the disadvantage of consuming yin fluid, so they should be used with caution.
Conclusion
As a traditional Chinese medicine prescription, Zhi Gan Cao Tang has significant effects of invigorating qi and nourishing yin, promoting yang and restoring meridians. It is widely used in modern medicine to treat various cardiovascular diseases, such as functional arrhythmia, coronary heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, etc. However, it should be used with caution for those with yin deficiency and internal heat. Through a deep understanding of Zhigancao Tang, we can better combine traditional Chinese medicine wisdom with modern medicine to provide patients with more effective treatment options.