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Source: Jīn Guì Yào Lüè 金匮要略

Alternate Chinese names: 甘草小麦大枣汤

Ingredients:

• Gān cǎo (甘草 Glycyrrhizae Radix, licorice [root]) 9g
• Huái xiǎo mài (淮小麦 Tritici Fructus Levis, light wheat [grain]) 9–15g
• Dà zǎo (大枣 Jujubae Fructus, jujube) 10 pieces

Action: Nourishes the heart and quiets the spirit.

Indication: Visceral agitation (zàng zào) with abstraction, sorrowfulness, weepiness, lack of emotional control, vexation and agitation. Tongue: Red with scant fur. Pulse: Fine and rapid.

Category: Spirit-quieting formulas / Nourishing spirit-quieting formulas

Method: Decoct with water.

Rationale: There are many causes for visceral agitation (zàng zào). This formula treats conditions of insufficiency of heart yīn with the spirit failing to keep to its abode. The sovereign agent is wheat (or Fú xiǎo mài), a cool, sweet agent that nourishes and regulates heart yīn and quiets the heart spirit. Gān cǎo used raw harmonizes the center and relaxes tension; it enhances the heart-yīn-nourishing action of the Fú xiǎo mài. Dà zǎo with Gān cǎo regulates and nourishes the five viscera, and with Fú xiǎo mài helps to nourish heart yīn.

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