Gao Ben (藁本) — Chinese Lovage
Gao Ben is a warming, acrid, exterior-releasing Chinese herb that specifically targets vertex and back-of-head headaches driven by Wind-Cold. It is one of the most useful Wind-expelling herbs for occipital and top-of-head pain.
On this page
- Overview
- Properties
- Actions and indications
- Dosage
- Cautions and incompatibilities
- Key formulas
- Treatment at my clinic
1. Overview
Gao Ben (藁本) — Chinese Lovage (Ligusticum sinense) — is a Chinese herb in the Release the Exterior (Wind-Cold) category. I prescribe it as part of bespoke pharmaceutical-grade granule formulas from Sun Ten in Taiwan at my clinic in Wokingham, Berkshire and via online herbal consultations.
2. Properties
| Pinyin name | Gao Ben |
|---|---|
| Chinese characters | 藁本 |
| Latin name | Ligusticum sinense |
| English name | Chinese Lovage |
| Nature | Warm |
| Flavour | Acrid |
| Channels entered | Bladder, Governing Vessel |
| Category | Release the Exterior (Wind-Cold) |
3. Actions and indications
Principal actions
- Expels Wind-Cold and releases the exterior
- Relieves vertex and occipital headache
- Dispels Wind-Damp
Indications
- Vertex headache (top of head) — a primary indication
- Occipital headache with neck stiffness
- Wind-Cold headache with body ache
- Toothache from Wind-Cold
- Wind-Damp Bi pain
4. Dosage
3–9g in decoction
5. Cautions and incompatibilities
- Contraindicated in Blood-deficient headaches
- Not for Yin-deficiency patterns with internal Heat
- Reduce dose in headache from Liver Yang rising
6. Key formulas
7. Treatment at my clinic
I prescribe Gao Ben where its indications and TCM pattern match the patient’s presentation, always as part of a tailored formula. Return to the Chinese herbs directory or the Chinese herbal medicine main page.
