Licorice / Glycyrrhiza Uralensis (gan cao)  甘草

Nature: Neutral; sweet; attributive to all twelve organs.

Characteristics: The roots of a perennial herb. It is a general drug, one of the most ancient herbs and is highly praised and frequently used for enhancing the overall immune response throughout the body. It improves the taste of other herbs, harmonizes and prolongs their effects in formulas and benefits all of the vital organs and their meridians.

Therapeutic effects: Invigorate vital energy; clear away heat and toxic material for skin infection, sore throat and food poisoning; eliminate phlegm and relieve cough; relieve spasm and alleviate pain; moderate the potency of drugs.