2. Strategies for combining herbs (To Harmonize)

[Guest guest]

" Harmonizing " can be a difficult concept to explain.

 

The following is taken from Dui Yao: The Art of Combining Chinese

Medicinals, Philippe Sionneau, translated by Bernard Cote.

 

" Some medicinals are often prescribed to balance, reconcile, and make

coherent the simultaneous action of other medicinals. These

harmonizing medicinals all have a sweet flavor. This flavor is

associated with the earth phase which is harmonizing and centering

and which is a reference point around which the other phase spread

and interact. " (p. 7)

 

Herbs that harmonize a formula can take the edge off other herbs and

thus cut down on possible side effects. They also make possible the

smooth combining of herbs with opposite properties. Sionneau

illustrates this when he talks about what mix-fried Radix

Glycyrrhizae (mix-fried licorince root, aka Zhi Gan Cao) does in a

formula:

 

" Zhi Gan Cao balances the actions of many medicinals. For example,

it lessens the warming action of Gan Jiang (dry Rhizoma Zingiberis} "

(dried ginger) " and Fu Zi (Radix Lateralis Praeparatus Aconiti

Carmichaeli) and preserves yin. It tempers the colling action of Shi

Gao (Gypsum Fibrosum) and Zhi Mu (Rhizoma Anemarrhenae Aspheloidis)

and protects the stomach. It lessens the precipitation or purging

action of Da Huang (Radix Et Rhizoma Rhei) " (rhubarb root and

rhizome) and Mang Xiao (Mirabilitum) and protects the correct qi. It

tempers the supplementing action of Dang Shen (Radix Codonopsitis

Pilosulae), Huang Qi (Radix Astragali Membranaceir) " (astragalus

root) " , and Shu Di Huang (cooked Radix Rehmanniae) and allows for the

prolonged use of supplements. It reconciles substances having

opposite actions or natures such as Gan Jiang and Huang Lian (Rhizoma

Coptidis Chinensis). " (p. 9.)

 

Sionneau lists 4 harmonizing " herbs " : Zhi Gan Cao (mix-fired licorice

root), Gan Cao (licorice root), Da Zao (Fructus Zizyphi Jujubae)

(jujube berries or fruit), and honey. (For simplicity sake, all

healing substances in the TCM Materia Medica are refered to

as " herbs " ).

 

The way an herb is prepared can change its properties. Frying an herb

tends to make it more warming than it otherwise would be. Thus Zhi

Gan Cao (mix-fried licorince root) has more of a warming effect on

the body than Gan Cao (licorice root) has. Mixed fried or honey fried

licorice often gets used when the person is too Cold and needs

warming up. Gan Cao (licorice root) tends to be used when the person

is too Hot. (These are not hard and fast rules.)

 

Sionneau includes a caution for all forms of licorice root: " In case

of edema, oliguria, anuria, or hypertension, the use of Zhi Gan Cao

and Gan Cao must be reduced and short in duration. In case of edema

and oliguria, Gan Cao Shao (Extremitas Radicis Glycyrrhizae ) can be

prescribed. In all of these cases, Gan Cao can be replaced by Da Zao

(Fructus Zizyphi Jujubae). " (p. 9.)

 

Both licorice and jujube fruit are classified as Qi tonic herbs.

(They supplement Qi.) But when they're used as harmonizing herbs, a

lower dose is used than when they are used as Qi tonic herbs.

Licorice root has an advantage that jujube does not. Licorice root

enters all 12 main meridians/ channels; jujube enters the Stomach and

Spleen. That's why you see licorice used as a harmonizing herb more

often than jujube. Often when jujube is used instead of licorice it

is because licorice is contraindicated (see above, hypertension,

edema, etc.), OR there's something else in the formula that clashes

with licorice. (Part of an herbalist's training is learning what

herbs do not go together.) BTW, licorice is use in formulas more

often than any other herb because of those harmonizing properties and

that it enters all 12 of the main channels.

 

A further word on the cautions and contraindications of licorice:

Back in the days before scientists isolated aldosterone, cortisone,

and other adrenal hormones, licorice root was used to treat adrenal

deficiency (Addison's disease). It's a harmonizing herb, but it also

can have some very powerful effects on the body.

 

There's another use of licorice in a formula. It can give a more

acceptable taste to decoctions that otherwise a person would have

problems drinking. If you've ever chewed a piece of licorice root,

you know why one nickname for licorice is " wood candy " . Part of the

training for TCM herbalists is that they have to taste herbs,

identify their flavors and other effects on the body (like if they

warm or cool the body). In post 3 in this series we'll be looking at

using the flavor of herbs as a strategy in combining.

 

BTW, " licorice " candy made and sold in the US does not contain

licorice. You can buy the real thing in other countries.