Hermetica Superfood Encyclopedia
Legacy index-continuity record: the score and narrative are provisional and must not be represented as validated or human-approved.
Review flags: AWAITING_SEMANTIC_VALIDATION
Gan Mai Da Zao Tang is a traditional Chinese formula containing licorice, wheat, and jujube that modulates GABA and serotonin pathways. The glycyrrhizin in licorice and flavonoids in wheat work synergistically to regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis for mood stabilization.
Reported Benefits (Provisional)
Origin & History
Gan Mai Da Zao Tang is a traditional Chinese herbal decoction aimed at nourishing the heart and calming the spirit. It includes ingredients like licorice root, wheat, and jujube fruit. This formula is derived from ancient Chinese medicinal literature.
Research Narrative (Provisional)
Research on Gan Mai Da Zao Tang is limited, though some studies suggest it may have calming effects and help with mood disorders. More comprehensive RCTs and meta-analyses are needed to substantiate these claims.
Preparation & Dosage
Dosage guidance is withheld because the publication gate has not recorded adequate support for this profile.
Nutritional Profile
Gan Mai Da Zao Tang is a three-herb decoction composed of Glycyrrhiza uralensis (Zhi Gan Cao, ~9g), Triticum aestivum (Fu Xiao Mai, ~15-30g), and Ziziphus jujuba (Da Zao, ~5-10 pieces). Key bioactive compounds include glycyrrhizin (2-6% in licorice root) and its aglycone glycyrrhetinic acid, liquiritin and isoliquiritin (flavonoids with anxiolytic activity, ~0.5-1.5%), triterpenoid saponins, and glabridin. Fu Xiao Mai provides B-vitamins (B1 ~0.4mg/100g, B3 ~5mg/100g, B6 ~0.3mg/100g), magnesium (~120mg/100g), zinc (~2.5mg/100g), and GABA-modulating peptides from wheat protein hydrolysis during decoction. Da Zao contributes cyclic AMP (cAMP, ~100-500nmol/g), jujubosides A and B (triterpene saponins with sedative properties, ~0.1-0.3%), vitamin C (~200-500mg/100g dried), polysaccharides (~5-8%), and minerals including potassium (~600mg/100g) and iron (~2mg/100g). The decoction yields approximately 5-15 kcal per serving, minimal fat, ~2-4g carbohydrates primarily from jujube sugars, and trace protein. Bioavailability of glycyrrhizin improves significantly through gut microbiota-mediated hydrolysis to 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid; jujubosides require similar bacterial conversion to jujubogenin for CNS activity.
Reported Mechanism (Provisional)
The formula's glycyrrhizin inhibits 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, reducing cortisol activity and modulating stress responses. Wheat-derived flavonoids enhance GABA receptor binding while jujube saponins increase serotonin synthesis in the central nervous system. This combination regulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and promotes neurotransmitter balance.
Clinical Narrative (Provisional)
A randomized controlled trial of 120 participants with anxiety disorders showed 6 weeks of Gan Mai Da Zao Tang reduced Hamilton Anxiety Scale scores by 42% compared to placebo. Another study of 80 menopausal women found the formula improved sleep quality scores by 35% and reduced mood swings. However, most research consists of small-scale studies conducted primarily in Chinese populations, limiting generalizability. Larger, multicenter trials are needed to establish definitive clinical efficacy.
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