Gan Mai Da Zao Tang Glycyrrhiza-Triticum-Jujuba Decoction is first mentioned in the Jin Gui Yao Lue 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 [shen ling] and yawn frequently: use Gan Mai Da Zao Tang.”
I use this formula for depressed mood and anxious mood occurring against a background of deficiency (which may be of Qi or Blood). I call this one of the “magic” formulae because the very simple ingredients do not explain the profound effect of this formula. In fact, the ingredients (only three) are mild foods: licorice, wheat husks and dates.
Since this formula has only three ingredients, I sometimes add it to another formula I am using.
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- Giovanni
- With over 37-years of research and clinical experience, Giovanni Maciocia lectures, offers continuing education courses online and has written seven textbooks of Chinese medicine which have been acclaimed world-wide and translated into nine languages. He has also created two categories of formulae: The Three Treasures for the treatment of various common complaints and the Women’s Treasure for the treatment of gynaecological complaints. Giovanni Maciocia, whose Chinese name Ma Wan Li means “horse of ten-thousand miles”, has been teaching acupuncture and Chinese medicine internationally since 1974 and is one of the most highly respected practitioners of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine in Europe. Because Giovanni reads Chinese, he has unique access to both old as well as modern Chinese medicine textbooks. While firmly rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, he innovatively adapts Eastern theories to Western conditions. Giovanni is Visiting Associate Professor of the Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Giovanni currently lives and works in Santa Barbara, California.