Gan Jiang Ling Zhu Tang (Licorice, Ginger, Poria and Atractylodes Decoction)

Licorice, Dried Ginger, Poria and Atractylodes Decoction

Jin Gui Yao Lue, c. 220 CE

• Gan Jiang (warm/disperse cold) – chief; Fu Ling, Bai Zhu (drain damp/strengthen Spleen)
• Zhi Gan Cao

• Warms the Spleen and disperses cold-damp

Cold-damp lodged in the lower back: a cold, heavy, aching lower back and hips as if ‘sitting in water’, worse in cold damp weather, with normal urination and no thirst.

Tongue: pale with a white greasy coat. Pulse: deep and slow (or soggy).

With marked Kidney involvement, add Kidney-warming herbs.

For cold-damp low back; not for damp-heat or Kidney yin deficiency back pain.