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In May, it produces white flowers. In July and August, it bears seeds. Its root is purple in color.

It is extremely pungent and bitter, with a warm nature. Warmth can promote circulation; bitterness can drain and descend. Extreme pungency facilitates dispersion. A dense aroma causes the qi to ascend, which aligns with Yang. It is a primary herb for the Foot-Taiyang (Bladder) channel. Its medicinal force is vigorous, circulating through both the Hand-Taiyang (Small Intestine) and Foot-Taiyang channels, and treating diseases of the Du Mai (Governing Vessel), characterized by spinal stiffness and cold extremities. It primarily treats Taiyang headaches, vertex pain, pain involving the teeth and cheeks caused by severe cold invading the brain, wind-induced headaches, and wind-dampness affecting the head, face, body, and skin. (Li Dongyuan stated: It is generally used for treating wind conditions.) It treats women's hernias and abdominal masses (zhijia), cold swelling in the yin region. It can transform urine and unblock blood flow. It treats carbuncles and sores, expels pus, and resolves internal obstruction. Its efficacy is similar to that of Angelicae Dahuricae Radix (Baizhi). It disseminates hidden Yin, clarifies the spirit and complexion, and ensures purity and order in generation. Just as above "One Yang," turbid Qi and blood cause wind headaches; below "One Yin," turbid blood and Qi cause hernias, cold swelling in the yin region, and acute abdominal pain—all can be purified and regulated by this herb. (Zhiyi)

When combined with Baizhi to make facial cream, it treats both wind and dampness. When used together with Aucklandiae Radix (Muxiang), it treats clear pathogens from fog and dew attacking the Upper Jiao. (Jiegu)

For diarrhea caused by wind pathogens lodging in the Stomach, if treated as deficiency without effect, use Gaoben (Ligusticum sinense Rhizome) 1.5g and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Cangzhu) 3g, divided into two doses, decocted and drunk to stop the diarrhea. This is because Gaoben can remove wind-dampness. (Gaoben is a Taiyang channel herb; why does it enter the Stomach to dispel wind? The Heart, Lung, and Stomach collectively govern the Yuan Qi of the Upper Jiao. Li Dongyuan said: The Heart and Small Intestine are the roots of the Spleen and Stomach. Thus, entering the Small Intestine allows it to treat stomach wind, not necessarily entering the Yangming channel.)

For severe excess-type heart pain, after using purgatives, decoct in water and take warm. (Understanding this implies that the Hand-Taiyang reaches the Qi transformation of Heart Fire, converges upward with the Du Mai, and combines downward with the Stomach; its meaning extends beyond merely dispelling wind.)

Formula for nourishing the elderly: Raw and Prepared Rehmanniae Radix (Sheng/Di Huang) 15g each, Male and Female Polygoni Multiflori Caulis et Radix (Heshouwu) 30g each, Zanthoxyli Pericarpium (Chuanjiao) 30g, Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix (Niuxi) 15g, Dioscoreae Rhizoma Dryum (Ganshan Yao) 15g, Cistanches Herba (Roucongrong) 15g, Lycii Fructus (Gouqizi) 15g, large black soybeans 240ml, Gaoben 30g. Process into pills according to method. (This formula contains many Yin-nourishing herbs, yet must include Gaoben; its rationale is worth considering.)

A woman contracted cold in winter. By spring, she experienced pain at the vertex and left posterior occiput. This originated from Cold-Water pathogen in the Foot-Taiyang. Prolonged cold transformed into heat, stagnating and ascending, affecting the Hand-Taiyang. Due to the failure of wind-ascending transformation, the disease also involved the Foot-Jueyin (Liver) channel. As the classics state, the fault lies in Juyang (Taiyang) and Jueyin, which is true. Pulse diagnosis showed Heat exceeding Wind in Hand-Taiyang, and Heat exceeding Dampness in Foot-Jueyin. There was slight Heat in the Heart, and stagnant Heat in the Spleen and Lungs. Use Wine-sliced Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin) 0.75g, Wine-withered Huangqin 0.3g, Viticis Fructus (Manjingzi) 0.75g, Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fangfeng) 0.3g, Evodia-treated Coptidis Rhizoma (Yulian) 0.75g, Bupleuri Radix (Chaihu) 0.9g, Gaoben 0.9g, Cimicifugae Rhizoma (Shengma) 0.6g, Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuanxiong) 0.6g, Wine-processed Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai) 0.9g, Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Guishen) 0.9g, Akebiae Caulis (Mutong) 1.2g, Niuxi 0.9g. Decoct in water; one dose cured it. (This treats mainly Hand-Taiyang with slight involvement of the Lung, as the Lung governs Qi, and the Upper Jiao coordinates to nourish all Yang channels, returning to the Qi transformation of Hand-Taiyang. Treating Foot-Jueyin simultaneously works because removing the wind-ascending factor obviates the need to treat other channels extensively. This clarifies that vertex pain is not always treated solely with warming methods for cold.)

For those with Yang deficiency prone to wind-pathogen headache: once wind-pathogen invades, Yang Qi becomes more stagnant and transforms into heat. Due to Yang stagnation, Ying (Nutritive) Qi cannot flow smoothly. Severe cases involve latent heat in the Blood level. If there is stagnant pathogen, tonifying Yang is contraindicated. However, clearing heat would exacerbate the underlying Yang deficiency. The more heat is cleared, the more stagnation occurs, and the less smooth Yin-Blood becomes. Reluctantly using Gaoben achieves three benefits: 1. For Yang deficiency, it appears to tonify but does not directly tonify. 2. For Yang stagnation (which is Yin stasis), clearing/stagnation resolution can reach unblocking. 3. Heat can be... [Text fragment continues] ...Puerariae Radix (Gegen) 1.05g, Ginger-processed Coptidis Rhizoma (Jianglian) 0.3g, Wine-fried black Gardenia Fructus (Zhizi) 0.75g, Wine-Moutan Cortex (Danpi) 0.9g, Fangfeng 0.9g, Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (Juhong) 1.05g, Pinelliae Tuber (Banxia) 0.9g, Red Poria (Chiling) four branches.

[Discussion] Qianghuo and Gaoben circulate through the Hand-Taiyang and Foot-Taiyang channels but have specific uses. The Zang organs of Hand-Shaoyin (Heart) and Foot-Shaoyin (Kidney) each have a Taiyang Fu organ to facilitate the transmission of Water and Fire Qi. Although it is said that Fire exists in Water and Water exists in Fire, the masters of Water and Fire are distinct. (Qianghuo reaches Yang within Water; Gaoben transforms Yin within Fire. What is called Yang is Fire within Water; what is called Yin is Water within Fire.) Gaoben enters the Hand-Taiyang and passes through the Bingfeng (SI12) acupoint, which is the meeting point of the Three Hand-Yang and Foot-Shaoyang channels. Among all Yang channels in the heavens, Hand-Taiyang is paramount. Gaoben belongs to the master of Jun Fire and also controls the authority of Qi transformation. It treats Yuan Qi within Fire, differing from Qianghuo which treats Yuan Qi within Water. Both treat Cold-Damp diseases, but Qianghuo acts based on Water Qi to reach it, while Gaoben acts based on Fire Qi to transform it. The Classic states it primarily treats hernias and cold swelling/pain in the yin region with acute abdomen, and Zhenquan added that it transforms urine and unblocks blood. This explains Miao’s caution regarding warm-heat conditions. Its removal of wind-headache is due to Yang deficiency allowing wind-pathogen invasion, or Yang deficiency generating wind. This herb can disseminate Qi transformation within Yang. (Observing Haogu’s treatment of Du Mai disease—spinal stiffness and cold extremities—confirms this.) It is not suitable for patients with Yin deficiency and excess wind. Its treatment of wind-dampness is also based on Yang deficiency. Yang deficiency generating wind means Qi floats and fails to hold. Yin cannot transform without Yang, thus transforming dampness. This refers to Wei (Defensive) Qi deficiency causing Ying (Nutritive) Qi non-transformation. If dampness arises from heat, it should not be used. (This herb treats wind due to Yang deficiency, not by tonifying Yang, but by preventing Yang deficiency from stagnating and generating wind. Generally, Yang deficiency leads to apparent Yin excess, which is not righteous Yin but turbid Qi from untransformed Yang returning to Yin. Thus, before manifesting as tangible forms, it generates wind; when manifesting tangibly, it presents as hernias in women. This principle requires careful consideration.) Regarding headache from Cold stagnation in the primary channel, Gaoben is essential. However, distinctions exist. If Cold is acquired from above and stagnates here, its pungent-warm nature should be used to disperse. If Cold is acquired from below, stagnates long-term, transforms into heat, and ascends to cause vertex pain, pungent-cool herbs should clear Qi-level fire, assisted by wind-dispelling herbs with Gaoben as a guiding herb. If headache arises from various heats in the Upper Jiao (Heart, Lung, Stomach) converging in the Hand-Taiyang Fu organ, mixing them indiscriminately is inappropriate. Differentiate based on taste: Qianghuo is bitter first, then pungent, with more bitter than pungent. Bitter reaches earth first, pungent is secondary, combining with warm Qi to ascend; its action is primarily in the Foot. Gaoben is pungent first, then bitter, with more pungent than bitter. Pungent reaches heaven first, bitter combines with warm Qi without immediate descent; its action is primarily in the Hand. Only when Upper Jiao Yang Qi is transformed can it guide Yin downward, thus treating hernias and yin swelling. Moreover, Gaoben is extremely pungent initially; extreme pungency disperses slowly, revealing bitterness, which is also heavy. This verifies its action from top to bottom.

For all warm disease headaches (with fever, thirst, or bone pain), and Yang syndrome headaches in Spring/Summer, as well as postpartum headaches due to Blood deficiency and flaming fire, it is unsuitable. (Zhongchun)

[Processing] Remove the rhizome base (Lu), wash with water, and slice.