Listed under “Herbs that release the Exterior” in “Warm, Acrid Herbs”, the warm, acrid Ligusticum sinense (gao ben), enters the Bladder channel and the Governing Vessel (du mai). It dispels Wind and Cold, relieves pain and dries Damp.
It dispels Wind and Cold to treat the common cold and headache (especially vertex) and those involving the teeth, gynecological hernia, swellings and masses, abdominal pain due to Cold and Damp, diarrhoea. It is used externally for skin diseases.
It contains ferulic acid, volatile oils including butylidene phthalide, butylphthalide and methyleugenol.