Gan Mai Da Zao Tang甘麦大枣汤
Licorice, Wheat and Jujube Decoction
Ingredients3 herbs
Indications
Restless organ disorderarising from depletion of Heart yin and qi with the middle burner undernourished. The spirit has no substance to rest in, so emotion escapes control and the person cannot account for their own tears.
Clinical Manifestations
- Weeping or emotional lability without an identifiable cause
- Restlessness with frequent yawning and stretching
- Insomnia accompanied by a vague, unaccountable unease
- Emotional upset around menopause or after childbirth
- Night crying and restlessness in young children
Health Categories
Modern Applications
Common adjustments
- Marked insomnia — add Suan Zao Ren 酸枣仁 and Bai Zi Ren 柏子仁
- Constrained mood with irritability — add He Huan Pi 合欢皮, or combine with a Liver-spreading formula
- Yin deficiency with dryness and heat — add Bai He 百合 and Sheng Di Huang 生地黄
- Palpitations with easy fright — add Long Gu 龙骨 and Mu Li 牡蛎
- Spontaneous or night sweating alongside the agitation — use Fu Xiao Mai 浮小麦 in place of whole wheat, as the commercial preparation does
Contraindications
Gentle, but licorice is present in quantity and is taken here over weeks: prolonged use can cause fluid retention, puffiness or a rise in blood pressure, so it is monitored in patients with hypertension or edema and in anyone on potassium-depleting diuretics. It is not sufficient on its own for phlegm-fire agitation, and severe or worsening psychiatric symptoms — particularly any thought of self-harm — need proper clinical assessment rather than a herbal formula alone.
For licensed practitioners’ reference only — not a self-treatment guide.
Pregnancy
Generally regarded as compatible with pregnancy under practitioner supervision — all three ingredients are foods — but the licorice load still warrants review in anyone with raised blood pressure or swelling.
Related Formulas
References
Source Jin Gui Yao Lue 《金匮要略》 · Eastern Han
「妇人脏躁，喜悲伤欲哭，象如神灵所作，数欠伸，甘麦大枣汤主之。」
- Classical source (public domain), cited in the source-quote section.
2. Scheid, Bensky, Ellis & Barolet. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. — composition & dosage cross-checked.
3. 《方剂学》（全国中医药行业高等教育规划教材）— pattern analysis cross-checked.
Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.