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甘草 Gancao
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Chinese Name |
甘草 |
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Chinese Pinyin |
Gancao |
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English Name |
Liquorice Root |
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Latin Pharmaceutical Name |
Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma |
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Category |
Roots and rhizomes |
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Origin |
The dried root and rhizome of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.(Fabaceae). |
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Production Regions |
Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Gansu, Xinjiang, Ningxia. |
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Macroscopic Features |
Cylindrical, outer skin unevenly tight. Externally reddish-brown or grayish-brown, with obvious longitudinal wrinkles, grooves, lenticels and loose thin scars of root. Firm texture; fractured surface is slightly fibrous, yellowish-white and powdery. Rhizome surface has scars of bud; fractured surface has pith in the center. faint odor; sweet and distinctive taste. Pieces are angle-cut slices. |
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Quality Requirements |
Superior medicinal material has tight outer skin, reddish-brwon color, firm texture, yellowish-white fractured surface and powdery. |
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Properties |
Sweet; neutral |
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Functions |
Supplements the spleen, boosts qi, clears heat, resolves toxin, dispels phlegm, relieves cough, relaxes tension, relieves pain, harmonizes the nature of other medicinals. |
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Processed Form |
Processed gan cao: Sub-spherical or oval slice, externally reddish-brown or grayish-brown, slightly lustrous; cut surface is yellow to dark yellow. Slightly sticky texture, with burnt smells; sweet taste. Sweet and neutral property. Supplements spleen and stomach, boosts qi and recovers pulse. |
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Technical Terms |
'Chrysanthemum center’: This refers to radial lines seen on the cut surface of medicinal material that appear similar to an open chrysanthemum flower, also called ‘chrysanthemum lines (ju hua wen)’. |
| Link |
 Medicinal Plant Images Database
Phytochemical Image Database
Chinese Medicinal Formula Images Database
Chinese Medicine Specimen Database
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Permanent URL：https://sys01.lib.hkbu.edu.hk/cmed/mmid/detail.php?pid=B00129 |
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