Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang is a traditional herbal medicine that comprises equal amounts of licorice roots and paeony. It has been used in China and Japan to treat a wide range of ailments. Generally, the differentiating points for using Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang include the following: lack of harmony between the stomach and liver or spleen and liver, Yin fluids insufficiency with undernourished vessels and tendons (showing primarily as spasming, smooth muscle twitching or skeletal muscle), yin deficiency with heat, a red tongue with scanty moisture, mouth thirst, dry mouth, convulsions, pain syndromes, a wiry thin and rapid pulse.
The dosages of the original Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang formula are 4:4. Clinically, sometimes you can use a 3:1 or 4:1 dosage of Gan Cao with Bai Shao.
Benefits of Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang
Nerve Disorders
Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang can be used to treat a variety of nerve disorders. Today, it is used for Charlie horse, Parkinson’s syndrome, lack of strength in the muscles, spasming of the toes, fingers, and 4 limbs, muscle rigidity, long-term muscle spasm, facial muscle spasm, headaches because of blood vessels dilation or constriction, restless leg syndrome, sciatica pain, trigeminal neuralgia, intercostal neuralgia, and post-surgical anal stimulation.
According to modern research, Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang is a formula that treats the muscles (the smooth muscles and straie muscles) of the internal organs. This combination of herbs can help to control the excitement of the nerve endings. It can also treat the brain and muscles tissue when there is a lack of nourishment because of Yin deficiency. The symptoms include pain from spasming of the vessels, inhibition of stretching and bending, a wiry thin pulse and a red tongue with scanty moss.
Digestive Disorders
Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang is also effective for treating digestive system illnesses. It is primarily used for hypersensitivity and allergic-type gastrointestinal inflammation, chronic gastritis, gastrointestinal spasming (acute abdominal and stomach pain), duodenal and stomach ulcers, gastric polyps, acute cholestasis, chronic colitis, chronic gallbladder inflammation, acute gallbladder pain, viral hepatitis (A or B), geriatric intestinal blockage, post-surgical intestinal adhesions, pylorus blockage, acute appendicitis, acute edematous pancreatitis, as well as chronic constipation. The disharmony between the stomach and liver are the important points of differentiation.
Vascular System
When there is a differentiation of the pattern such as Yin deficiency with heat, blood congealed in the skin and muscles, heat struggling with blood or heat entering the blood level, it can lead to gastrointestinal purpura, joint type purpura, simple purpura, and allergic purpura. When there is a stomach and liver disharmony, spasming of the undernourished vessels and tendons, as well as Yin deficiency with heat, Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang can treat this.
Endocrine System Disorders
Polycystic ovarian syndrome, high testosterone bleeding patterns, infertility, bleeding disorders, and hyperprolactinemia can be treated when there is a stomach and liver disharmony, spasming of the undernourished vessels and tendons, as well as Yin Deficiency with heat.
Reproductive and Urinary Disorders
Kidney stones, urinary stones, acute renal pelvic nephritis, hematuria, frequent urination, incontinence, priapism, impotence bladder spasms, and uremia nerve damage. All of these can be treated when there is a spasming of the undernourished vessels and tendons, Yin deficiency with heat, as well as stomach and liver disharmony.
Gynecological Disorders
Inappropriate lactation, numbness, and twitching of the four limbs, headache, infertility, postpartum fever, postpartum abdominal pain, abdominal pain in pregnancy and dysmenorrhea can be treated when there are stomach and liver disharmony, spasming of the undernourished vessels and tendons, and yin deficiency with heat.
Constipation
The spleen is considered the ultimate Yin (Zhi Yin) as its fluid permeates the entire body. However, Zhi Yin also means far-reaching and we can say that the spleen also helps to distribute essence throughout the body. When there is insufficient spleen Yin, the body’s fluids become depleted and the intestines are usually the first to get affected by this. This is because the spleen manages the fluids proper movement on behalf of the stomach.
Symptoms of an insufficient spleen Yin include dry lips, lack of strength, emaciation, thirst without a desire to drink, hunger without a desire to eat, and a dry tongue coating. Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang is one of the well known classical formulas used to enrich spleen Yin. Zhang Xi Chun, an early modern physician praised this formula for its ability to transform Yin with sweet and sour flavors. He usually adds Ren Sheen because it has a strong ability to nourish the spleen Yin.
Spastic Cough
Bai Shao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) paired with Gan Cao (Glycyrrhiza Radix) comprises Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang (Peony and Licorice Decoction). The sweet and sour together transform the Yin and thus the herbs enrich the yang fluids of the lungs and moderate and soothe the lung Qi. According to pharmacological research, this formula is very effective in relaxing spasms in the smooth muscle of the bronchioles. Although the other herbs dosage in this formula can be changed, Gan Cao, Bai Shao, and Xuan fu Hua are key herbs and should not be deleted when you modify the formula.
Kidney Stone Pain
The combination of Wei Wan (Roasted Kidney Pill) and Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang is effective for treating lower pain in the lower abdomen. If the pain increases during the period the patient is taking the herbs, it is an indication that the stone is moving downward so a large dose of Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang can be used to alleviate pain and relax tension. Combining Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang and Da Huang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) can help to guide the urinary stones downward and expel it.
Post Herpetic Neuralgia
This is mostly attributed to a lack of nourishment as the fire toxin has caused the blood and Yin to be insufficient. So a combination of sweet and sour flavors can stop the pain and transform the Yin.
Other ailments include angina pectoris, pediatric abdominal pain, diabetes, osteo-proliferation on the heel, heel pain, lumbar sprain, tooth grinding, and many more