Licorice: The Five Zang and Six Fu and Its Relatively Unbiased Nature

Licorice appears frequently in classical formulas. We particularly value phrases in the Shennong Bencao Jing such as “grows the flesh, strengthens sinews and bones, and doubles qi and strength.” When unpacked, these phrases suggest that licorice is not merely a substance that harmonizes other medicines, but can connect multiple zang-fu layers.

Licorice’s effects of growing flesh, strengthening sinews and bones, and increasing qi and strength suggest that it does more than harmonize medicines; it spans multiple organ layers.

“Flesh” belongs to the Spleen; “sinews” to the Liver; “bones” to the Kidney; “qi” is related to the Lung; and “strength” can connect with the Heart’s governance of the force moving blood through the vessels. When the Bencao Jing says licorice treats cold-heat pathogenic qi of the five zang and six fu, the claim is not treated here as vague generality. It is read as suggesting that, through relatively unbiased Earth nature and sweet flavor, licorice can touch multiple layers of imbalance across the zang-fu.

We note that its frequent use in formulas relates to this relatively non-partisan quality and its ability to harmonize across organs and layers, while acknowledging that it still has a somewhat Yin-leaning side. Licorice can therefore relax urgency and harmonize the middle while also functioning as a negative-feedback and coordinating force within a formula.