Honey-fried licorice root

炙甘草

replenishes qistrengthens the spleenmoistens the lungssoothes cough調和諸藥

Licorice root stir-baked with honey, sold as glossy yellow-brown oval slices. Intensely sweet, a couple of slices, about six grams, are enough to round and harmonise a whole tonic soup pack; it is a supporting seasoning-herb rather than a bulk ingredient.

TCM properties

Nature · neutral　Flavour · sweet　Meridians · heart、lung、spleen、stomach

Traditional food therapy

In the tradition it is the harmoniser, tonifying qi and the spleen, moistening the lungs and mellowing every other herb in the pot; hence its standing place in ten-treasure style tonic packs.

Cautions — read first

Not for people heavy with damp and bloated, or holding water
Not to be used with 甘遂 (kansui), 大戟 (euphorbia), 芫花 (genkwa) or 海藻 (sargassum), under the classical 十八反 list of eighteen clashes
Taken long term or in large amounts it can cause water and sodium retention, raised blood pressure and low potassium. Take care if you have high blood pressure.
For the full 十全大補湯 formula: not while you have a cold with fever, not for dry heat or yin deficiency with rising fire, and pregnant women need a practitioner's guidance

Preparation

It goes straight into the soup bag. Use a small amount, about 6 g a pot.

Origin · Geo-authentic (道地) source

內蒙古（梁外甘草）及甘肅

Availability in Australia

Herbal shops / specialists

Pairs well with

Codonopsis root White atractylodes rhizome Poria Chinese angelica root Cinnamon bark Astragalus root

Soups that use this ingredient · 1

Ten-treasure tonic chicken soupNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

十全大補雞湯

replenishes qinourishes blooddispels coldWinter

百子櫃Codonopsis root· to taste百子櫃White atractylodes rhizome· 12 g百子櫃Poria· 12 g百子櫃Honey-fried licorice root· 6 g百子櫃Chinese angelica root· 9 g百子櫃Sichuan lovage rhizome· 6 g… +6

“The pot she makes when someone needs looking after.”