Ligusticum sinense, Gao Ben 藁本

Chinese Lovage
Gao Ben (TCM)

Hooker, W.J., Hooker, J.D., Icones Plantarum (1891)

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Botanical name:
Ligusticum sinense, L. jeholense

Parts used:
Root

Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Pungent

Classification:
A. Clear Exterior Wind-Cold

Uses:
1. Clears Wind-Cold, Clears the Exterior:
-Wind-Cold common Cold or Flu
-acute Headache, Headache on the crown or vertex, or neuralgia of the Teeth or Jaw
-Nasal Congestion, Rhinitis

2. Clears Wind-Damp, Eases Pain:
-wind-Cold-Damp painful obstructions, Arthritis, Rheumatism
-acute Lower Back pain

3. Warms the Stomach, Clears Damp:
-indigestion, poor appetite, nausea
-abdominal pain or discomfort from Damp
-Hernia

DOSE:
3–9 grams in Decoction
Of the Powder: 1–3 grams

Main Combinations:
1. External Wind-Cold:
i. Ligusticum sinense Gao Ben with Headache at the Vertex, stiff Neck or Toothache, with Asarum Xi Xin
2. Headaches:
i. acute Wind-Cold, Ligusticum sinense Gao Ben with Ligusticum Chuan Xiong, Angelica Bai Zhi
ii. Wind-Damp, Ligusticum sinense Gao Ben with Notopterygium Qiang Huo, Asarum Xi Xin
iii. Wind-Cold Ligusticum sinense Gao Ben with Notopterygium Qiang Huo, Atractylodes Cang Zhu, Ligusticum Chuan Xiong
3. Acute Joint Pain from Wind-Cold-Damp, Ligusticum sinense Gao Ben with Saposhnikovia Fang Feng, Angelica Du Huo, Asarum Xi Xin
4. To enhance the Complexion, and for Acne Rosacea, as a cream topically Ligusticum sinense Gao Ben with Angelica Bai Zhi
5. Acute Wind-Damp back and joint pain, Ligusticum sinense Gao Ben with Atractylodes Cang Zhu
6. Stomach Damp:
i. Ligusticum sinense Gao Ben with fresh Ginger and Red Dates (Da Zao)
ii. Ligusticum sinense Gao Ben with Cyperus rotundus (Xiang Fu), Galangal (Gao Liang Jiang)
7. Hernia from Wind-Cold, Ligusticum sinense Gao Ben with Fennel (Xiao Hui Xiang) Evodia Wu Zhu Yu

Cautions:
1. Not for Wind-Heat conditions
2. Not for Headache from Blood deficiency

Main Preparations used: