Ligustici Rhizoma et Radix
Aliases：Gǎo Bá (literally "Gao's Bulb"), Guǐ Qīng (literally "Ghost Minister"), Dì Xīn (literally "Earth New"), Shān Zhǐ (literally "Mountain Angelica"), Wèi Xiāng (literally "Luxuriant Fragrance"), Wēi Jīng (literally "Slender Stem"), Gǎo Bǎn (literally "Gao's Board"), Xī Qiōng (literally "Western Ligusticum"), Xiāng Gǎo Běn (literally "Aromatic Gao Ben"), and Qín Qiōng (literally "Qin Ligusticum"). (These are all alternative names for Gǎo Běn, i.e., Ligusticum Rhizome and Root / Ligusticum sinense and L. jeholense.)
Gǎo Běn (Ligusticum Rhizome and Root) is a traditional Chinese medicinal material. It is the dried rhizome and root of Ligusticum sinense Oliv. or Ligusticum jeholense Nakai et Kitag., plants belonging to the family Apiaceae. It grows under forests and in grassy areas beside ditches at altitudes of 1,000–2,700 meters. It was first recorded in Shennong Bencao Jing (The Divine Farmer's Materia Medica).
Efficacy & Actions
Dispels wind, disperses cold, eliminates dampness, and relieves pain.
Indications
Wind‑cold common cold with vertex headache: This herb excels at reaching the vertex of the head and dispersing wind‑cold‑dampness pathogens from the Taiyang Meridian. It is commonly used for headache, nasal congestion, and severe vertex pain caused by wind‑cold pathogens ascending along the meridian. Wind‑cold‑dampness arthralgia: Its pungent, warm, aromatic‑drying properties enable it to penetrate muscles, meridians, and sinews to eliminate wind‑cold‑dampness pathogens, relieve arthralgia, and treat general body pain caused by wind‑dampness interaction.
Modern Pharmacology
Sedative, analgesic, antipyretic, and anti‑inflammatory effects: The neutral oil of Gao Ben has sedative, analgesic, antipyretic, and anti‑inflammatory effects. Antibacterial effects: The alcohol extract has antibacterial effects against common pathogenic dermatophytes. Its volatile oil has strong inhibitory effects against various common pathogenic skin fungi. Antiasthmatic effects: Ligustilide, phthalides, and their derivatives can relax tracheal smooth muscle in experimental animals, exhibiting significant antiasthmatic effects. Cardiovascular protective effects: It can significantly slow oxygen consumption rate, prolong survival time in mice, increase tissue tolerance to hypoxia, and counteract myocardial ischemia induced by pituitrin in rats. The alcohol extract has antihypertensive effects. Antithrombotic effects. Antidiarrheal effects. Neuroprotective effects: Ligustilide can cross the blood‑brain barrier, has good brain targeting, and has protective effects against ischemic brain injury.
Ingredients
Volatile oils: This product contains volatile oil, with the main components including 3‑butylphthalide, cnidilide, ligustilide, etc. The root of Ligusticum jeholense contains 1.5% volatile oil. Phthalides: 3‑Butylphthalide, cnidilide, ligustilide, diligustilide, 3‑butylphthalide, etc. Organic acids: Ferulic acid, etc. Coumarins: Bergapten, scopoletin, etc. Other components: Asarone, isovanillin, alkaloids, palmitic acid, etc.
Usage & Dosage
For oral administration: decoct in water, 3–10 g; or prepare as pills or powders. For topical application: appropriate amount, decoct in water for washing, or grind into powder and apply with a suitable base.
Contraindications
Contraindicated in patients with headache due to Yin‑blood deficiency, Liver Yang hyperactivity, or exuberant internal heat. Contraindicated in patients with blood deficiency headache. Contraindicated in patients with Yin deficiency headache. Should not be used concurrently with Lú Rú (Eranthis spp.), as this combination may reduce efficacy. Avoid concurrent use with Qīng Xiāng Zǐ (Celosia seed), as this may cause adverse reactions. This herb is pungent, warm, aromatic, and drying; as pungent‑warm herbs may promote fire, it is contraindicated in heat syndromes and in patients with Yin deficiency accompanied by heat.
Selected Formulas
For headache and vertex pain due to cold pathogen stagnating in the Taiyang bladder channel (empirical formula) Take Gaoben (Ligusticum sinense), Chuanxiong (Ligusticum wallichii), Xixin (Asarum sieboldii), and scallion head. Decoct in water and drink. For migraine (empirical formula) Take 9g each of Chuanxiong, Gaoben, Baizhi (Angelica dahurica), and Qianghuo (Notopterygium incisum), plus 15g each of Shigao (Gypsum) and Juhua (Chrysanthemum morifolium). Decoct in water and drink. For rheumatic joint pain (empirical formula) Take 9g each of Gaoben and Fangfeng (Saposhnikovia divaricata), 6g each of Qianghuo and Duhuo (Angelica pubescens), 12g of Niuxi (Achyranthes bidentata), and 15g of Sangzhi (Mulberry twig). Decoct in water and drink. For all types of wind-related headache, nasal congestion, and brain stuffiness (empirical formula) Take equal parts of Chuanxiong, Xixin, Baizhi, Gancao (Licorice), and Gaoben, grind into powder. Mix 120g of this powder with 500g of calcined gypsum powder, add water to form pills, making 8 pills from each 30g of the mixture. Take one pill after meals, chew and swallow with mint tea. For infantile scabies and tinea (empirical formula) Take an appropriate amount of Gaoben, decoct in water and use for bathing and washing clothes.
Medicinal Parts
It is the dried rhizome and root of Ligusticum sinense Oliv. or Ligusticum jeholense Nakai et Kitag., plants belonging to the family Apiaceae.
Selection & Storage
Store in airtight dry containers in a cool, dry place. Protect from moisture and insects.
