Envoy in Xiao Yao San

Zhì Gān Cǎo 炙甘草

Honey-fried licorice root · Glycyrrhizae Radix praeparata (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) · 15 g in the classical formula

Role in the formula

Zhì gān cǎo is the envoy — the diplomat. Honey-frying warms licorice's character, and in that form it tonifies the middle burner alongside bái zhú and fú líng while doing its signature work: harmonizing the actions of all the other herbs into a single coherent prescription^[1].

Character

Sweet and warm (honey-fried), traditionally said to enter all twelve channels — the reason it appears in more formulas than almost any other substance. It moderates harsh properties, relieves spasmodic pain, and augments qi^[1].

In the pharmacy

The root of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, fried with honey. 15 g in the classical proportions — half the dose of the major herbs. Licorice is also the ingredient behind the formula's most important drug interactions: glycyrrhizin can affect blood pressure and potassium levels when taken in quantity or alongside certain medications.