Introduction:
Gan Mai Da Zao Tang (甘麦大枣汤 – Licorice, Wheat and Jujube Decoction) is first mentioned in the Jin Gui Yao Lue (Essentials from the Golden Cabinet) by Zhang Zhong Jing (220 AD). It is in chapter 22 “Pulses and Patterns of Complicated Women’s Diseases”.
Zhang Zhong Jing says “Women suffering from anxiety are affected by sadness and crying, they are like lost souls and yawn frequently: use Gan Mai Da Zao Tang.”
I use this formula for depression and anxiety when the patient has a constitutional weakness or deficiency. It is one of the most effective formulas in Chinese Medicine, often transforming anxiety almost immediately. It is a powerful herb, yet its simplicity is profound.
- 甘麦大枣汤 Licorice, Wheat and Jujube Decoction
Ingredients:
This formula only has three ingredients and herein lies its beauty. They are: Gan Cao, Fu Xiao Mai and Da Zao, in their own right are powerful herbs, but all are very mild and are even considered as food supplements. Gan Cao is the herblicorice, which is mild and harmonious, tonifying the spleen and stomach, regulating digestive disorders and alleviating pain. Gan Cao is most used for its harmonizing properties, and many, if not most herbalists use it to harmonize and bring together the qualities of all of the herbs in a formula.
The next ingredient, Fu Xiao Mai, helps to stop any excessive sweating in patterns of deficiency, nourishing the heart, calming anxiety, resolving insomnia and relieving irritability. It is literally unripe wheat grain, a food, with great nourishing and healing properties.
The last ingredient, Da Zao, is a Chinese Date. Sweet in flavor, it is nourishing and tonifies the spleen, nourishes the blood and helps to relax restlessness and resolve emotional disturbances.
Individually, they constitute what many herbalists would call “Mild” herbs, with few if any side effects, and little strong reaction. When put together, they become an incredibly powerful formula to resolve uncontrolled anxiety and depression.
Can it help you?
The best patient for this formula is one who has regular bouts of anxiety, depression with other symptoms such as frequent crying or feelings of always needing to cry, restless sleep, possibly night sweats, frequent yawning and possibly stomach problems.
Traditionally this formula is discussed under the heading of women’s disorders, for “restless organ syndrome”. This organ was considered to be the womb by You Zai Jing, however another Chinese Master, Wu Qian, believed this organ to be the Heart. This explains why this formula is good at treating emotional problems when presented on a background of menopause, PMS or Post-Partum issues, as well as why it is very helpful to men having anxiety problems presented on a background of possible deficiencies.
With the appropriate diagnosis and set of symptoms, this simple and powerful formula is able to treat such problems as:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Premenstrual syndromes
- Postpartum depression
- Palpitations
- Hysteria
- Neurosis
- Emotional issues during menopause
- Bed wetting
- And many others!
How do you handle anxiety and stress? Is anxiety and the subsequent constant fatigue that accompany it a problem for you?
Make an appointment today to see if this formula, or another, equally powerful formula would be useful for you.
Read more about Kim Knight, MAcOM, LAc and her Chinese Herbal and Acupuncture practice
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