<< Pin Yin Herb Index || << Latin Herb Index

INDIVIDUAL HERBS

NAME: GAO BEN - 蒿本 - RHIZOMA LIGUSTICI

Pharmaceutical Latin:	Rhizoma Ligustici
Common English:	Chinese Lovage Root Ligusticum Root Chinese Ligusticum Jehol Ligusticum Rhizome Kao-ben Straw Weed

PROPERTIES

Taste	Temperature	Entering Meridians	Dosage
Acrid	Warm	Bladder Du (Liver)	2-10g Maximum dosage: 20g Tincture: 2-4ml

ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS

Actions

Indications/Syndromes

Expels Wind and Cold

Wind-Cold, especially headache and nasal conditions

Alone for Wind-Cold lodged in the Tai Yang with headache involving the crown and vertex or linked to the teeth and jaw

Dispels Wind-Dampness and alleviates pain

Acute low back pain due to Wind-Cold

Wind-Damp-Cold Bi pain

CONTRAINDICATIONS, INCOMPATIBILITIES AND HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Contraindicated for those with headache due to Blood Deficiency (very drying).
Contraindicated for those with headache due to Liver Yang Rising.
Contraindicated for those with Yin Deficiency (very drying).
Contraindicated for those with Heat disorders.
Contraindicated for those with warm-disease headaches, fever and thirst.
Contraindicated for those with aching in the bones or injury from Cold in the summer.
Contraindicated for those with headaches from Yang disorders.
Contraindicated for those with Flaring Fire in postpartum Blood Deficiency.
Avoid Gao Ben if vertex headache is caused by a Jue Yin disorder.
Do not use long-term.

INCOMPATIBILITIES

HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

MAJOR COMBINATIONS

Hb. Asari Xi Xin	Rx. Angelicae Dahuricae Bai Zhi	Rx. Ligustici Chuanxiong Chuan Xiong Rx. Angelicae Dahuricae Bai Zhi
Wind-Cold-Damp headache, vertex headaches, stiff neck and toothaches.	As a face cream for Wind and/or Dampness affecting the face with acne, rosacea or dandruff. With appropriate herbs, enhances the complexion.	Accentuates pain relieving effects. Often used together for headaches.
Rz. Atractylodis Cang Zhu	Rx. seu Rz. Notopterygii Qiang Hou	Rx. Saposhnikoviae Fang Feng Rz. et Rx. Notopterygii Qiang Hou Rx. Clematidis Wei Ling Xian Rz. Atractylodis Cang Zhu
Back pain and joint pain associated with early stage Bi. Abdominal pain due to Cold and Dampness.	Headache and stiffness of the nape of the neck due to Wind-Dampness in the Du channel.	Wind-Cold-Damp Bi.
Rz. Cyperi Xiang Fu	Fr. Evodiae Wu Zhu Yu	Fr. Evodiae Wu Zhu Yu Fr. Foeniculi Xiao Hui Xiang
Epigastric pain due to Dampness Obstructing the Qi with a greasy sensation in the mouth, excessive saliva, dull aching in the epigastrium and flanks, and loose stools.	Abdominal pain and hernia due to Cold-Dampness.	Wind-Cold-Damp Bi.
Rx. Saposhnikoviae Fang Feng Wine-fried Rz. Cimicifugae Jiu Chao Sheng Ma Wine-fried Rx. Bupleuri Jiu Chao Chai Hu	Hb. Schizonepetae Jing Jie Rx. Saposhnikoviae *Fang Feng* Rz. Atractylodis Cang Zhu Per. Citri Reticulatae Chen Pi	Rx. Saposhnikoviae Fang Feng Rz. et Rx. Notopterygii Qiang Hou
Headaches.	Wind-Cold with aversion to Cold, fever, headache and muscle aches and pains.	External Wind-Cold-Dampness.
Rx. Saposhnikoviae Fang Feng Rz. et Rx. Notopterygii Qiang Hou Rx. Clematidis Wei Ling Xian	Rx. Ligustici Chuanxiong Chuan Xiong Hb. Asari Xi Xin	Hb. Asari Xi Xin Gypsum Fibrosum Shi Gao Rx. Angelicae Dahuricae Bai Zhi
Bi syndrome due to Wind-Cold-Dampness.	Headache due to Cold and Dampness.	Frontal and migraine headaches.

NOTES

Treats both ends of the Du Channel.
This herb is best for vertex headaches.
Most often used in a supportive role to stop pain especially headaches due to Wind-Cold.
Historically used for menstrual conditions and cosmetic preparations.
Reputed to be an ingredient in love potions.
It is said to warm the Lungs, increase menstrual flow and improve Blood circulation.
It relieves acute abdominal pain associated with lower abdominal Wind-Dampness.
When treating headaches, Gao Ben should be combined with Rx. Saposhnikoviae Fang Feng, wine-fried Rz. Cimicifugae Sheng Ma and Rx. Bupleuri Chai Hu.
Gao Ben is best for headaches at the vertex, Rz. seu Rx. Notopterygii Qiang Huo is best for for occipital headaches, Rx. Angelicae Dahuricae Bai Zhi is best for frontal headaches and Rz. Chuanxiong Chuan Xiong is best lateral headaches or headaches involving Blood Stagnation.
Both Gao Ben and Rx. Chuanxiong Chuan Xiong treat headaches. Gao Ben focuses on the Bladder and Du channels, following them and unblocking both above and below, but does not reach the Liver channel. Chuan Xiong focuses on the Liver and Gallbladder, moving to the head and eyes, but not the vertex.