Glycyrrhiza uralensis. G. inflata  甘 草 Gān cǎo   Chinese Licorice   Family: Leguminosae      
Glycyrrhiza glabra. is Common Licorice
Glycyrrhiza lepidota is American Licorice
PART USED: Dried root- It is usually collected in spring and autumn.
Nature- neutral    FLAVOR: Sweet.  CHANNEL:  Spleen, Stomach, Lung  
FUNCTIONS
GROUP: Tonify Qi
1. Revitalizes middle Heater and supplements energy.[1] Tone up Spleen, harmonize Stomach.
2. Clear Away Heat. Detoxifies.[1] Slows down acute diseases.[5]
3. Eliminate Sputum and relieve cough. Loosens phlegm.[1] Lubricates Lungs, counteracts toxic effects.
4. Harmonize and moderates herbs in formulas. Coordinates effects of other herbs.[5] To protect the middle Jiao, regulate temperate, and enhance the overall effects of a formula.
5. Relieve spasm and alleviate pain.
INDICATIONS
1. Spleen/Stomach deficiency, Vital Energy deficiency, Yang deficiency.  Splenic and gastric imbalance, abdominal pain,[1,5] vomiting and diarrhea.[1] Stomach and Spleen deficiency causing pain. Peptic ulcer. Digestive ulcer.[5] Poor appetite.[5] Fatigue.[5]
2. Cough and dysnea- Various types of cough and dyspnea. Productive cough.[1]  Parched and sore throat, swollen abscesses.[1] Sore throat, cough, palpitation.
3. Heart Yang deficiency- manifested as shortness of breath, chest pain and arrhythmia. Palpitations.[5]
4. Heat Conditions- Fever.[5]
      a/ Serious Heat condition such as skin infection. Ulcer, carbuncle.
      b/ Sore throat.[5] Cough.[5]
      c/ Drug and food poisoning.
5. Spasm and pain of the abdomen and leg, arthralgia of Wind Damp Cold type. Convulsions.[5]
6. Counteracting the toxicity or side effects of potent drugs such as Root or stem of Rhubarb, prepared Aconitum root, Aconitum root. Drug poisoning, food poisoning.[5]
7. Recently used for viral hepatitis, thrombocytopenic purpura and anaphalactoid purpura.
PATENT COMBINATIONS
CONTRAINDICATIONS
1. Edema and hypertension may ensue after a long period of administration.[3]
2. Incompatible with Euphorbiae- Kansui root, Genkwa flower and Euphorbice Pekinensis root.[3]
NOTE: For Stomach ulcers use powdered Gan cao and take 1 teaspoon each day.[4]
PREPARATIONS: Dried root and rhizomes  Decoction 3-9 g; up to 30 g for Heart Qi Deficiency, food and drug poisoning.[3] Decoction 1.5-3 g.[1] Dried root and rhizomes 1.5-9 g.[2]

- Abcessed lungs, suppurative pneumonia, and bronchitis without cough- Prepare 150 g licorice and 80 g dry ginger; boil in only enough water to cover the 2 ingredients; boil until the water is reduced by half; strain and drink 1 cup of the wam soup each time, twice a day.[5]
- Hysteria in women, anxiety and stress- Boil 10 g licorice with 20 g whole what kernels and 5 Chinese red dates- Ziziphus jujuba- Da zao. Drink as a soup. This is a time-hounored herbal formula in Chinese medicine.[5]
炙甘 草 Zhì gān cǎo  Honey baked licorice
PATENT COMBINATIONS
COMPARISONS
Licorice References
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Research

Effect of the extracts from Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch on the growth characteristics of human cell lines: Anti-tumor and immune activation activities.
Chung WT, Lee SH, Kim JD, Sung NS, Hwang B, Lee SY, Yu CY, Lee HY.
Abstract
Immune modulating activity of ethanol extracts from Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch was investigated by conserving growth characteristics of several human cell lines. All of the samples did not show severe cytotoxicity on normal human liver cell line, WRL-68, showing less than 25% inhibition of cell growth. The crude extract and its fractionized samples (F1 and F3) inhibited the growth of human hepatoma, Hep3B, down to ca. 70% of normal cell growth in adding 1.0 g l(-1) of fraction F3. The result of anticancer experiments was well matched to the results of antimutagenicity using Chinese Hamster Lung cell lines(CHL V79). In adding 1.0 g l(-1) of fraction F1, the growth of human B cell was enhanced, up to 60% of control growth. The secretion of two kinds of cytokines, Interleukin-6 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha from human B cells was also enhanced in adding the crude extract, but not the standards such as Glycyrrhizin (GL) or 18,beta-glycyrrhetinic acid (GM). It was found that both of the apoptosis and differentiation were more accelerated in supplementing the crude extract and fraction F1 than in adding the standards. A spot was found only in the crude extract and fractions, not standards by Thin Layer Chromatography(TLC) analysis. It tells that there must be another unknown component in crude and/or fraction F1 as a possible candidate of immune modulators. This component seems to be a derivative of a monomer, GM since its R(f) was close to the monomer. It was also interesting that glycyrrhizin, a major component in G. uralensis Fisch was biologically activated by first being hydrolyzed by an enzyme.
PMID: 19002915 PMCID: PMC3449970 DOI: 10.1023/A:1016111713056
Cytotechnology. 2001 Sep;37(1):55-64. doi: 10.1023/A:1016111713056. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov