Roots and rhizomesTonifyingRadix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae Praeparata cum Melle

Zhi Gan Cao (Honey-fried Licorice)

A practical guide to Zhi Gan Cao: what it is, how Traditional Chinese Medicine uses it, the classical formulas it appears in, and who should be careful with it.

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Last reviewed Oct 13, 2026

Quick Facts

Latin NameRadix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae Praeparata cum Melle
Chinese Name & Pinyin 炙甘草 · Zhi Gan Cao
Medicinal PartRoots and rhizomes
The herbZhi Gan Cao is honey-fried licorice, darker and slightly sticky. Sheng Gan Cao is a different form. Incompatible with Gan Sui, Da Ji, Hai Zao, and Yuan Hua.
Nature and channelsSweet, neutral. Enters the Heart, Lung, Spleen, and Stomach. Sweetness tonifies and moderates. After honey-frying it more clearly tonifies the spleen, boosts qi, and restores the pulse.
Pharmacopoeia lineTonifies the spleen and harmonizes the stomach. Boosts qi and restores the pulse. Used for spleen-stomach weakness, fatigue, Heart palpitations, and a bound or intermittent pulse.
Pattern cuesFatigue and poor appetite. Palpitations. Bound or intermittent pulse. Pale tongue.
In this articleZhi Gan Cao versus Sheng Gan Cao, Ren Shen, and Da Zao. Restoring the pulse versus clearing heat and resolving toxin. The incompatible list. Edema and blood pressure. Who should skip it.

What Is Zhi Gan Cao?

Zhi Gan Cao (炙甘草; Zhì Gān Cǎo; Latin: Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle; English: honey-fried licorice) is licorice root fried with processed honey. In Chinese medicine it is a qi-tonifying herb. It is sweet and neutral, enters the Heart, Lung, Spleen, and Stomach channels, and its core actions are to tonify the spleen and harmonize the stomach, and to boost qi and restore the pulse. It is not Sheng Gan Cao. Raw licorice clears heat and resolves toxin, transforms phlegm and stops cough, moderates spasm, and harmonizes a formula. Honey-fried licorice tonifies more and clears less. It is used to strengthen the spleen, boost qi, restore the pulse, and settle palpitations. Same plant; one clears, one tonifies. Do not combine it with Gan Sui, Da Ji, Hai Zao, or Yuan Hua. Western licorice candy and licorice extracts do not convert to Zhi Gan Cao Tang’s pulse-restoring dose. Large amounts for a long time can cause edema and swings in blood pressure. That belongs with a practitioner.

It is used most often for three patterns:

  • Spleen–Stomach qi deficiency — fatigue, poor appetite, loose stools
  • Heart palpitations and an intermittent or bound pulse — rule out a cardiac emergency first
  • A weak middle that needs moderating and harmonizing, with a tilt toward tonifying

The usual decoction dose is 2–10 g. Zhi Gan Cao Tang may use more. A practitioner must set that dose. Damp fullness, edema, high blood pressure, and a tendency to low potassium are cautions. Sweet, neutral, and cloying, it is not a daily “qi candy root.”

When middle qi is insufficient, or yin-blood is scant and the pulse-qi will not continue, fatigue and palpitations are common. Zhi Gan Cao is sweet and builds the middle. It tonifies, moderates, and restores the pulse, which is why it appears in Zhi Gan Cao Tang (Fu Mai Tang) and Si Jun Zi Tang. It sweet-clogs more than it moves. Focal distention, a greasy coating, and edema get worse if more tonification is added.

Zhi Gan Cao is not a catch-all qi or pulse herb. In damp obstruction with qi stagnation, or in edema that has not receded, using it alone can generate dampness. Raw or honey-fried, and how many grams it takes in Fu Mai Tang, should be decided by a licensed Chinese medicine practitioner after pattern diagnosis.

Zhi Gan Cao Honey Fried Licorice

Zhi Gan Cao: Materia Medica Profile

Identification & Quality Standard

Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae Praeparata cum Melle

Botanical Origin

The honey-fried root and rhizome of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., Glycyrrhiza inflata Bat., or Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (Fabaceae).

Production Regions

Processed throughout China from licorice of Inner Mongolia, Gansu and Xinjiang origin.

Quality Requirements

Superior medicinal material is sweet, lustrous from honey, and free of charring.

Macroscopic Features

Cylindrical slices, externally reddish-brown with honey sheen; fracture yellowish; sweet and slightly sticky.

Origin and Quality Identification

  • Prime Locations: Traditionally, the best quality herbs come from regions like Inner Mongolia, Gansu, and Xinjiang.
  • How to Spot Good Quality: Look for thick, round, or oval slices. The outer skin should be red-brown or gray-brown, with a slightly toasted yellow center displaying a distinct radial pattern. It should have a pleasant, sweet honey aroma and a mild, sweet taste.
  • Beware of Fakes: Be careful not to confuse it with other legume roots, which often have messy internal textures, lack the signature sweet honey scent, and taste much blander.

Traditional Properties & Historical Lineage

Nature, Flavour & Channel Tropism

Sweet; Slightly warmHeartLungSpleenStomach

1. Historical Records

  • Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing: Originally noted for treating cold and heat pathogens and detoxifying the body (referring mostly to the raw form, Sheng Gan Cao).
  • Ming Yi Bie Lu: Highlighted its ability to warm the digestive system and ease coughing and shortness of breath.
  • De Pei Ben Cao: Emphasized how its healing focus changes based on its pairings. For example, combining it with Bai Zhu (White Atractylodes Rhizome) tonifies the Spleen, while pairing it with Mai Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber) helps clear internal heat. The honey-fried version (Zhi Gan Cao) is specifically tailored for boosting Spleen Qi.

2. Evolution of Medicinal Understanding

Over centuries, TCM practitioners have refined their clinical understanding of this herb:

  • Digestive Support: It is heavily relied upon for individuals dealing with weak digestion, poor appetite, and chronic fatigue.
  • The Ultimate Harmonizer: It is famous for its ability to "smooth out" formulas, buffering the harsh or aggressive effects of other strong herbs to make a prescription gentler on the stomach.
  • Safety Precautions: TCM experts note it is not a cure-all. People with heavy "dampness," severe bloating, or water retention (edema) should avoid it, as its sweet, moisture-retaining nature can worsen these symptoms.

Zhi Gan Cao Honey Fried Licorice

Core Efficacies & Traditional Applications

Traditional Functions

Boosts qi, moistens the lung, harmonizes the middle, and moderates the actions of other medicinals. Apply to qi deficiency, palpitations, cough, and to harmonize harsh formulas.

1. Primary Focus: Tonifying the Spleen and Boosting Qi

  • Traditional Function: In TCM, Zhi Gan Cao (Honey-fried Licorice Root) is highly regarded for replenishing the Qi (vital energy) of the Spleen and Stomach, easing discomforts caused by digestive weakness.
  • Target Symptoms: It is ideal for Spleen and Stomach Qi deficiency. This often looks like chronic fatigue, a soft speaking voice, poor appetite, feeling full after eating very little, loose stools, or experiencing shortness of breath and chest tightness after mild exertion.
  • Common Pairings: To strengthen digestion, it is frequently combined with herbs like Dang Shen (Codonopsis Root), Bai Zhu (White Atractylodes Rhizome), and Fu Ling (Poria). A classic example is its use in the famous formula Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction).
  • When to Avoid: Do not self-prescribe if you have a condition TCM calls "dampness with fullness" (symptoms include severe bloating, zero appetite, and a thick, greasy tongue coating), or if you suffer from edema (water retention) or high blood pressure. Always consult a practitioner first.

2. Secondary Focus: Harmonizing Herbal Properties

  • Traditional Function: Zhi Gan Cao is the ultimate "peacemaker" in herbal medicine. It buffers the harsh, aggressive nature of other strong herbs, coordinating the formula so it works smoothly and gently matches the patient's condition.
  • Target Symptoms: It is used in complex formulas where strong herbs might upset the stomach. For example, if a prescription includes the strong purgative Da Huang (Rhubarb) or the intensely hot and dry Fu Zi (Prepared Aconite Root), adding this herb protects the digestive tract.
  • Common Pairings: It pairs with almost anything depending on the formula's goal—softening purgatives, reducing the drying effects of hot herbs, or warming up overly cold herbs.
  • When to Avoid: If your formula is already heavily loaded with tonifying herbs, or if you have heavy phlegm and damp-heat, adding more Zhi Gan Cao might "over-tonify" you and worsen the sluggishness.

3. Common Herb Pairings: Synergistic Duos

  • A golden pairing is Zhi Gan Cao and Da Zao (Jujube).
  • Why it works: Zhi Gan Cao excels at boosting Spleen Qi and harmonizing, while Da Zao is great at nourishing blood and calming the spirit. Together, they powerfully support the digestive system and soften each other's traits. This duo is perfect for fatigue, poor appetite, pale complexion, and palpitations. However, people with heavy phlegm-dampness should adjust the dosage or avoid it.

Zhi Gan Cao Honey Fried Licorice

Modern Research

Modern research offers useful context, but Traditional Chinese Medicine prescribes on whole-pattern diagnosis rather than isolated compounds.

1. Key Chemical Components

  • The primary active ingredients include triterpenoid saponins (especially glycyrrhizic acid), flavonoids, and polysaccharides.
  • Laboratory observations show that these compounds can interact with other herbal ingredients, which may provide a scientific basis for its traditional "harmonizing" effect in complex formulas.

2. Modern Pharmacological Focus

  • While modern research is ongoing, lab and animal studies suggest potential anti-inflammatory benefits and positive impacts on the immune system.
  • Research is exploring its effects on digestive health, but concrete human clinical trials confirming its direct ability to strengthen the digestive system are still limited and under investigation.

3. Limitations of Modern Research

  • Lab vs. Real Life: Results from test tubes and animal models cannot be directly translated to human clinical efficacy due to complex physiological differences.
  • Whole Herb vs. Extracts: Modern studies often use isolated chemical extracts (like pure glycyrrhizic acid). These function very differently than drinking a traditionally brewed whole-herb decoction, meaning dosages and effects cannot be simply swapped.
  • The Holistic Effect: In TCM, the healing power stems from the synergy of all compounds working together. The clinical value of Zhi Gan Cao cannot be fully judged by studying just a single active ingredient in isolation.

Zhi Gan Cao Honey Fried Licorice

Comparing Similar Herbs

1. Shared Traits with Similar Herbs

Zhi Gan Cao (Honey-fried Licorice Root) and Da Zao (Jujube) are easily confused because:

  • Both boost the "middle Qi" (digestion) and fight fatigue and poor appetite.
  • Both are staple sweet herbs used for Qi and blood deficiency.
  • Both require careful dosage—overusing Zhi Gan Cao causes bloating, while overusing Da Zao triggers internal dampness.

2. Core Differences

  • Nature and Flavor: Zhi Gan Cao is neutral and sweet. Da Zao is slightly warm and sweet.
  • Action Focus: Zhi Gan Cao is the expert at harmonizing formulas and tonifying Spleen Qi. Da Zao specializes in nourishing the blood and calming the mind (treating insomnia and palpitations).
  • Clinical Indication: Choose Zhi Gan Cao when you need to buffer other herbs or treat shortness of breath and chest tightness. Choose Da Zao for pale skin, cold hands/feet, and anxiety related to blood deficiency.
  • Contraindications: Avoid Zhi Gan Cao if you have high blood pressure or edema. Avoid Da Zao if you have heavy damp-heat or diabetes.

3. A One-Sentence Summary

Zhi Gan Cao (Honey-fried Licorice Root) is your go-to for harmonizing formulas and boosting Qi, while Da Zao (Jujube) is your expert for nourishing blood and calming the spirit.

Zhi Gan Cao Honey Fried Licorice

Classical Formulas Containing Zhi Gan Cao

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Formulas vs. Single Herbs

  • Synergy is Key: A formula is a balanced team. The healing power comes from how the herbs interact, so a single herb cannot simply replicate a full formula's effects.
  • Holistic Balance: The exact dosage and combination in a formula affect the entire body. Never try to mix or alter these formulas at home based on internet articles.

Diet & Daily Home Use

1. Home Herbal Teas and Meals

  • Zhi Gan Cao and Da Zao Tea:
    • Ingredients: 3g Zhi Gan Cao (Honey-fried Licorice Root), 5 Da Zao (Jujubes, pitted and torn).
    • Method: Steep in boiling water in a covered mug for 10 minutes. You can refill with hot water until the flavor fades.
    • Best For: Mild daily fatigue, weak appetite, or taking the "edge" off a harsh-tasting herbal brew.
    • Avoid If: You have damp-heat, severe bloating, or diabetes.
    • Frequency: 2-3 times a week. Do not drink it continuously long-term.
  • Zhi Gan Cao and Yam Porridge:
    • Ingredients: 5g Zhi Gan Cao, 20g Chinese Yam, 50g rice.
    • Method: Boil the herb in water for 20 minutes, remove the herb, and use that herbal water to cook the chopped yam and rice into a porridge.
    • Best For: Spleen Qi deficiency with mild indigestion (loose stools, feeling full instantly).

2. Preparation Differences

  • Raw vs. Honey-Fried: Sheng Gan Cao (Raw Licorice) is better for clearing heat and sore throats. Zhi Gan Cao (Honey-fried) is specifically designed to boost digestion and harmonize.
  • Brewing: It does not need special cooking times (like pre-boiling). You can cook it directly with other ingredients. Just remember, tea dosages are much smaller than clinical prescription dosages.

3. Dosage and Usage Cycles

  • Dosage: Clinical doses range from 3-10g. For home wellness (teas/soups), keep it low at 2-5g.
  • Duration: Do not use it continuously for more than 2 weeks. Long-term use can affect electrolyte balance.
Zhi Gan Cao Honey Fried Licorice

Contraindications & Safety Warnings

1. Who Should Avoid It

  • Dampness and Bloating: If your stomach is heavily bloated, you have no appetite, and a thick tongue coating, avoid this herb.
  • Vulnerable Populations: Pregnant women, nursing mothers, young children, and the elderly should consult a doctor before use.
  • Organ Dysfunction: Those with liver or kidney issues must check with a physician to avoid extra strain on these organs.
  • Allergies: Do not use if you are allergic to legumes.

2. Medication Interactions and Dietary Notes

  • Drug Interactions: Zhi Gan Cao can interact with blood thinners, blood pressure medications (it can raise blood pressure/lower potassium), diabetes drugs, and sedatives. If you are on prescription meds, you must consult your doctor or pharmacist first.
  • Diet: Do not mix it randomly with other supplements or medications without professional advice.

3. Adverse Reactions and Overdose

  • Side Effects: Overuse can cause bloating, loss of appetite, and water retention (edema). Chronic overuse heavily disrupts electrolyte balance.
  • Emergency Response: If you experience allergic reactions, sudden breathing difficulties, persistent vomiting, or rapid worsening of your symptoms, stop using it immediately and seek emergency medical care.

Frequently Asked Questions About Zhi Gan Cao

What is Zhi Gan Cao? Are Sheng Gan Cao and licorice slices the same?
Official Gan Cao is the dried root and rhizome of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, G. inflata or G. glabra. Zhi Gan Cao is sliced licorice stir-fried with refined honey until no longer sticky. The pharmacopoeial name is Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata Cum Melle. Sheng Gan Cao leans toward clearing heat, resolving toxin and transforming phlegm to stop cough. Zhi Gan Cao leans toward tonifying the Spleen, harmonizing the Stomach and boosting qi to restore the pulse. Write Zhi Gan Cao or Mi Zhi Gan Cao; do not treat raw licorice as honey-fried. Do not combine with Hai Zao, Da Ji, Gan Sui or Yuan Hua.
What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Zhi Gan Cao?
According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Gan Cao is sweet and neutral, enters the Heart, Lung, Spleen and Stomach channels; honey-fried licorice acts to tonify the Spleen and harmonize the Stomach, and boost qi to restore the pulse. It is used for Spleen-Stomach weakness, fatigue, fearful throbbing of the Heart and bound or intermittent pulse. Sweet, it tonifies the middle, eases urgency and harmonizes formulas—but also assists damp and congests qi. Use caution with large or long courses in exuberant damp with fullness, edema and hypertension.
How do you choose raw versus honey-fried Gan Cao?
Clearing heat and toxin, sore throat, sores and phlegm-heat cough more often use Sheng Gan Cao. Spleen-Stomach weakness, fatigue, Heart throbbing and bound pulse more often use Zhi Gan Cao. Both can ease urgency and harmonize; restoring the pulse favors the honey-fried form. Do not treat honey-fried slices as “sweeter snack licorice.” Long large doses can cause edema, raised blood pressure and low potassium.
What is the usual dosage? Can it be drunk daily as a qi-Heart tea?
The pharmacopoeial decoction dose for Gan Cao is 2–10 g (also given as 3–10 g). A practitioner may raise the amount in Zhi Gan Cao Tang. It is not a four-season “honey-fried licorice Heart tea.” Damp fullness, edema and hypertension only grow more congested by sweetness. Bound pulse and palpitations need assessment; it does not replace arrhythmia care.
What are the contraindications? Can it be used in pregnancy?
Use caution or avoid large long courses in exuberant damp with middle fullness and in edema. Use caution in hypertension, hypokalemia and heart failure. Do not combine with Hai Zao, Jing Da Ji, Hong Da Ji, Gan Sui or Yuan Hua (Eighteen Incompatibilities). Small harmonizing amounts in pregnancy formulas are often acceptable; large long courses need a practitioner. Stop if edema, rising blood pressure or weakness appear.
Can Zhi Gan Cao tonify the Spleen, restore the pulse and ease urgency?
It can help Spleen-Stomach qi vacuity and Heart qi insufficiency. Bound or intermittent pulse with Heart throbbing joins ginseng, raw rehmannia, Ass-hide glue, Ophiopogon, cinnamon twig and hemp seed in Zhi Gan Cao Tang (Restore the Pulse Decoction). Spleen vacuity joins Codonopsis, Atractylodes and Poria in Si Jun Zi Tang. Easing urgency joins peony. Sweet-warm, it tonifies the middle and restores the pulse—not a specific for every palpitation, every fatigue or every stomachache. Serious arrhythmia and heart failure are emergencies.
Can Zhi Gan Cao be drunk daily as a qi, Heart-nourishing or harmonizing tea?
Spleen vacuity fatigue and bound-pulse palpitations may enter a short formula; damp fullness and hypertension only grow more swollen with sweetness. “Honey-fried licorice nourishes the Heart” does not replace ECG and electrolyte assessment. Tonifying the Spleen, harmonizing the Stomach and boosting qi to restore the pulse should name Zhi Gan Cao 2–10 g, and avoid Hai Zao and Gan Sui type herbs.
How do you choose among Zhi Gan Cao, Sheng Gan Cao, Da Zao, Huang Qi and Ren Shen?
Honey-fried licorice is sweet, neutral leaning warm: tonifies the Spleen, harmonizes the Stomach and boosts qi to restore the pulse—Heart-Lung-Spleen-Stomach, also easing urgency and harmonizing. Raw licorice is sweet-neutral leaning cool: stronger at clearing heat, resolving toxin and transforming phlegm to stop cough. Jujube is sweet-warm: tonifies the middle, boosts qi, nourishes Blood and calms the spirit. Astragalus is sweet and slightly warm: tonifies qi, raises Yang, secures the exterior and promotes urination. Ginseng is sweet, slightly bitter and slightly warm: greatly tonifies original qi, restores the pulse, secures desertion, generates fluid and calms the spirit. Bound-pulse restoration favors Zhi Gan Cao; heat-toxin sore throat favors Sheng Gan Cao; nourishing Blood favors Da Zao; raising Yang and securing the exterior favor Huang Qi; great vacuity on the verge of desertion favors Ren Shen. They may be paired; damp fullness, edema and the Eighteen Incompatibilities forbid large licorice.
Which herbs is Zhi Gan Cao combined with? What are the representative formulas?
Heart throbbing with bound pulse joins ginseng, raw rehmannia, Ass-hide glue, Ophiopogon, cinnamon twig, hemp seed, ginger and jujube in Zhi Gan Cao Tang. Spleen vacuity joins Codonopsis, Atractylodes and Poria in Si Jun Zi Tang. Write Zhi Gan Cao 2–10 g; do not combine with Hai Zao, Da Ji, Gan Sui or Yuan Hua.
How do you choose and store Zhi Gan Cao?
Choose yellow to deep-yellow slices with a slight sheen, a toasted-honey aroma, a sweet taste and no stickiness. Moldy, burnt-black and syrup-adulterated lots are discarded. Store airy and dry against moths. Buy honey-fried licorice; do not use it long if damp is full; do not replace tonifying the Spleen, harmonizing the Stomach and boosting qi to restore the pulse with raw licorice or an unidentified sweet root by equal weight.

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Medical Disclaimer — This article is provided for educational purposes only and describes traditional Chinese medicine concepts. It is not medical advice, and it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using any herb, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a diagnosed condition.

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Zhi Gan Cao (Honey-Fried Licorice): Tonify the Spleen, Benefit Qi, and Restore the Pulse