Category: Warm, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior
Gao Ben
Channels Entered: Bladder, Governing vessel
Dosage: 3-9g
Key Characteristics:
- Powerfully ascending nature reaches the vertex where it treats headaches involving the teeth.
- Relieves abdominal pain and diarrhea from damp-cold or gynecological swelling and masses.
Cautions & Contraindications:
- Contraindicated for headaches from blood deficiency or in hot disorders.
Actions & Indications:
Gao Ben
- Discharges exterior conditions and disperses cold: for externally-contracted wind-cold, and especially for headache and nasal congestion, as in Xin Yi San. By itself it is used for wind-cold lodged in the greater yang with headache involving the crown and vertex, or linked to the teeth and jaw.
- Dispels wind, overcomes dampness, and alleviates pain: for wind-cold-damp painful obstruction as well as acute lower back pain due to invasion of wind-cold, as it treats both ends of the Governing vessel.
- Also used for dampness affecting the digestive system.
Formulas:
- Xin Yi San
- Qiang Huo Sheng Shi Tang
Gao Ben
Notes:
- Gao Ben is often used as a guiding herb to the vertex. It enters the Du and treats the entire length of the spine.
