Baked Licorice

Baked Licorice, also known as zhi gan cao or radix glyxyrrhizae uralensis, is a commonly used herb in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It is associated with the heart, lung, spleen, and stomach meridians and has a sweet taste and neutral temperature.

One of the main functions of baked licorice is to tonify the spleen and augment qi, which can be helpful for those experiencing shortness of breath, lassitude, or loose stool. It can also moisten the lungs and stop coughing, making it useful for those with coughing and wheezing.

In addition to its respiratory benefits, baked licorice can also clear heat and reduce toxicity, making it useful for treating toxic heat, hot sores, ulcers, pyogenic skin infections, swollen and sore throat, and food or drug poisoning. It can also relieve spasms and alleviate pain, including abdominal or leg pain and muscle spasms.

Baked licorice is also known as an antidote for all varieties of toxic herbs and can reduce the toxicity of other herbs. It can also moderate cold herbs. However, it should be avoided in cases of excess dampness with distention, bloating, or vomiting. It can also cause edema if taken in large dosages or over a long period of time.

In summary, baked licorice is a versatile herb with a range of potential benefits, including tonifying the spleen, moistening the lungs, reducing toxicity, relieving spasms, and mitigating the effects of toxic herbs. However, it should be used with caution in certain cases and not taken in excess.