\r甘草\ph88.bmp\r，生河西川谷积沙山及上郡，今陕西及河东州郡皆有之。春生青苗，
高一、二尺；叶如
槐叶；七月间开紫花似柰；冬结实作角子如毕豆；根长者三、四尺，粗细不定，皮赤，上有
横梁，梁下皆细根也。二月、八月除日采根，曝干；十日成，去芦头及赤皮，今云阴干用。
今甘草有数种，以坚实断理者为佳。其轻虚纵理及细韧者不堪，惟货汤家用之。谨按《尔雅
》云∶ ，大苦。释曰∶ ，一名大苦。敦璞云∶甘草也，蔓延生，叶似荷青黄，茎赤有节
，节有枝相当。或云 似地黄。《诗·唐风》云∶采苓采苓，首阳之巅，是也。 与苓通用
。首阳之山在河东蒲 县，乃今甘草所生处相近，而先儒所说苗叶，与今全别，岂种类有不
同
者乎？张仲景《伤寒论》有一物甘草汤、甘草附子、甘草干姜、甘草泻心等汤。诸方用之最
多，又能解百毒，为众药之要。孙思邈论云∶有人中乌头、巴豆毒，甘草入腹即定。方称大
豆解百药毒，尝试之不效，乃加甘草为甘豆汤，其验更速。又《备急方》云∶席辩刺史尝言
岭南俚人，解毒药，并是尝用物。畏人得其法∶乃言三百头牛药，或言三百两银药。辩久住
彼，与之亲狎，乃得其实。凡欲食，先取甘草一寸，炙熟，嚼咽汁。若中毒，随即吐出，乃
用都 藤、黄藤二物，酒煎令温，常服毒，随大小溲 出。都 藤者，出岭南，高三尺余，
甚细长，所谓三百两银药也。又常带甘草十数寸，随身以备缓急。若经含甘草，而食物不吐
者，非毒也。崔元亮《海上方》，治发背秘法∶李北海云∶此方神授，极奇秘。以甘草三大
两，生捣，别筛末，大麦面九两，于一大盘中相和搅令匀，取上好酥少许，别捻入药，令匀
，
百沸水溲如饼剂，方圆大于疮一分，热敷肿上，以油片及故纸隔令通风，冷则换之。已成脓
水自出，未成肿便内消。当患肿着药时，常须吃黄 粥甚妙。又一法∶甘草一大两微炙，捣
碎
，水一大升浸之，器上横一小刀子，置露中经宿，平明以物搅令沫出，吹沫服之。但是疮肿
发背，皆可服，甚效。
甘草，生长在河西川谷积沙山以及上郡，现在陕西及河东各州郡都有出产。春天生出青色的苗，高一、二尺；叶子像槐树叶；七月间开出紫色的花，形状类似奈果；冬天结出果实，长成角状豆荚，像毕豆一样；根长的有三、四尺，粗细不一，表皮呈红色，上面有横向的纹理（横梁），横梁下面都是细小的侧根。二月和八月的“除日”采集根部，晒干；十天后制成，去掉芦头和赤皮，现在说是阴干后使用。
现在的甘草有好几种，以质地坚实、断面纹理清晰者为佳。那些质地轻虚、纵向纹理明显且细韧的则不堪用，只能卖给煮汤药的人家使用。谨按《尔雅》记载：“[甘草别名]，大苦。”解释说：[甘草别名]，又名大苦。敦璞说：这是甘草，蔓延生长，叶子像荷花的叶子，颜色青黄，茎是红色的且有节，节上有相对的枝条。有人说它像地黄。《诗经·唐风》中说：“采苓采苓，首阳之巅”，指的就是这种植物。“[甘草别名]”与“苓”通用。首阳山在河东蒲县，正是如今甘草生长的地方附近，但先儒所说的苗叶形态，与现在的全然不同，难道是种类有所不同吗？
张仲景《伤寒论》中有单味甘草汤、甘草附子汤、甘草干姜汤、甘草泻心汤等方剂。这些方剂中使用甘草最多，甘草又能解百毒，是众药中的关键药物。孙思邈论述说：有人中了乌头、巴豆的毒，甘草进入腹中即能定毒。方书称大豆能解百药毒，尝试过却不生效，于是加入甘草组成甘豆汤，其验证效果更快。又《备急方》记载：席辩刺史曾经说岭南俚人解毒药，都是他们平时食用的物品。因为害怕别人得到这个方法，就说那是“三百头牛药”，或者说“三百两银药”。席辩长久住在那里，与他们亲密交往，才得知实情。凡是想要进食前，先取一寸甘草，炙熟后咀嚼咽下汁液。如果中毒，随即会呕吐出来，然后用都藤、黄藤两种药材，用酒煎温，常服毒物，会随着大小便排出。都藤，产于岭南，高三尺多，非常细长，就是所谓的“三百两银药”。又常随身携带十几寸甘草，以备紧急之需。如果含服甘草后，食物不吐出来的，就不是毒。崔元亮《海上方》，治疗发背疮的秘法：李北海说：此方神授，极其奇特保密。用甘草三大两，生捣碎，另外筛成粉末，大麦面九两，放在一个大盘中混合搅拌均匀，取少许上好酥油，另外揉入药中，令其均匀，用滚开水和成如饼剂大小的药团，直径比疮口大一寸，热敷在肿胀处，用油纸和旧纸隔开以通风，冷了则更换。脓已成则自然流出，未成脓则消散。当患肿敷药时，常吃黄米粥非常好。又一法：甘草一大两微炙，捣碎，用水一大升浸泡，在容器上横放一把小刀，放置露天过夜，天亮时用物体搅拌使泡沫产生，吹去浮沫服用。只要是疮肿、发背，都可以服用，非常有效。
Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae), grows in the Jiashan Valley of Hexi and Shangjun; currently, it is produced in various prefectures of Shaanxi and Hedong. In spring, green shoots emerge, one to two chi high; the leaves resemble those of the locust tree; in July, purple flowers bloom, resembling Naiguo (a type of fruit); in winter, it bears fruits that form pod-like beans similar to Bidou. The roots are three to four chi long, varying in thickness, with a reddish skin and horizontal ridges above, beneath which lie fine lateral roots. The roots are harvested on the "Chu" day in February and August, then sun-dried; after ten days, the rhizomes and red skins are removed, though currently it is said to be used after shade-drying.
There are several varieties of Gancao today; those that are solid and have clear fracture lines are considered superior. Those that are light, spongy, longitudinally fibrous, and thin/tough are unsuitable for primary use and are only sold to decoction makers. According to the *Erya*: "[Name], Daku." The commentary states: "[Name], also known as Daku. Dunpu says: This is Gancao, growing creeping, with leaves resembling lotus leaves, yellow-green in color, stems are red with nodes, and branches grow opposite at the nodes. Some say it resembles Dihuang (Radix Rehmanniae). The *Book of Songs · Tang Feng* says: 'Gather Ling, gather Ling, on the peak of Shouyang,' referring to this plant. "[Name]" and "Ling" are used interchangeably. Mount Shouyang is in Pu County, Hedong, near where Gancao currently grows, yet the description of its seedlings and leaves by ancient scholars differs completely from today's; could there be different species?
Zhang Zhongjing's *Shanghan Lun* contains formulas such as Yiwu Gancao Tang (Single-Ingredient Licorice Decoction), Gancao Fuzi Tang (Licorice and Aconite Decoction), Gancao Jiangxin Tang (Licorice and Dried Ginger Decoction), and Gancao Xiexin Tang (Licorice Drain the Epigastrium Decoction). Among these formulas, Gancao is used most frequently; it can also detoxify hundred poisons and serves as a key herb among many medicines. Sun Simiao discussed: If someone is poisoned by Wutou (Radix Aconiti) or Badou (Semen Crotonis), Gancao settles the poison upon entering the abdomen. Formulas claim that Dadou (Soybean) can detoxify hundred medicines, but attempts proved ineffective; thus, adding Gancao to create Gandou Tang (Sweet Bean Decoction) yielded faster results. Additionally, the *Beiji Fang* records: Cishi Bian once stated that the Liren people in Lingnan use antidotes that are common food items. Fearing others would learn the method, they called it "Three Hundred Oxen Medicine" or "Three Hundred Taels Silver Medicine." Bian lived there for a long time and befriended them, eventually learning the truth. Before eating, one should take one cun of Gancao, roast it, chew it, and swallow the juice. If poisoned, vomiting occurs immediately; then, using Duteng and Huangteng, decocted in warm wine, toxins are expelled through urination and defecation. Duteng originates from Lingnan, over three chi high, very slender, known as the "Three Hundred Taels Silver Medicine." One should always carry several cun of Gancao for emergencies. If food is not vomited after holding Gancao in the mouth, it is not poison.
Cui Yuanliang's *Haishang Fang*, a secret method for treating Fabei (Back Carbuncle): Li Beihai said, "This formula was divinely revealed, extremely rare and secret." Use three da liang of Gancao, crush raw, sift into powder separately; mix with nine liang of Da Mai Mian (Barley Flour) in a large plate until uniform. Add a small amount of high-quality Su (Butter/Ghee), knead into the medicine until uniform. Knead with boiling water into cake-sized doughs, slightly larger than the wound. Apply hot compresses to the swelling, separating with oil paper and old paper to allow ventilation; replace when cold. If pus has formed, it will drain naturally; if not, the swelling dissipates internally. While applying the medicine to the swelling, consuming Huang Mi Zhou (Yellow Millet Porridge) is excellent. Another method: Roast one da liang of Gancao slightly, crush, soak in one sheng of water overnight outdoors in the open air. At dawn, stir with an object to produce foam, blow off the foam, and consume. This is effective for all sores, swellings, and Fabei.