Ganmai Dazao Decoction

Ganmai Dazao Decoction is a traditional Chinese herbal formula first documented in the classical text "Essentials from the Golden Cabinet" (Jin Gui Yao Lue) around 220 AD. It consists of three main ingredients: licorice root (Glycyrrhiza uralensis), wheat grain (Triticum aestivum), and jujube fruit (Ziziphus jujuba). The formula is designed to nourish the Heart and calm the Mind according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory. Its primary indications include emotional disturbances such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, mood swings, hysteria, distress, night sweats due to internal dryness or agitation of Heart Blood/Yin deficiency with Liver Qi stagnation. Mechanistically in TCM terms it tonifies Spleen Qi/Blood/Yin and harmonizes emotional imbalances by calming Shen ("spirit"). In modern research contexts it has been studied for its effects on depression—sometimes alone or combined with antidepressants—with mixed evidence regarding efficacy compared to standard antidepressant drugs[2][5][7]. The active component most associated with its effect is glycyrrhizic acid from licorice root[10].

Brand names

Happy Tea Gan Mai Da Zao Tang

Other names

Licorice Wheat and Jujube DecoctionLiquiruce Wheat and Jujube DecoctionLicorice and Jujube CombinationMai Gan Da Zao Tang