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In his later years, he was known as the Elder of Dongyuan, a native of Zhending (now Zhengding County, Hebei) during the Jin Dynasty. He was born into a wealthy family, where his father was fond of reading and often hosted guests, including many renowned scholars. Although he grew up in such an environment, he was different from other children from a young age. As he grew older, he was known for his loyalty, honesty, and respectfulness, being cautious in his social interactions and never engaging in frivolous talk. He studied the Analects and Mencius under Wang Neihan (Congzhi), and the Spring and Autumn Annals under Ma Neihan (Shuxian). When his family was wealthy, he established a school to host scholars and provided aid to the poor. For example, during the Taihe period (1201-1204), when famine struck his hometown and many people fled, he made great efforts to provide relief, saving many lives. From a young age, he was fond of reading medical books. In his twenties, after his mother, Wang, died due to the incompetence of a doctor, he resolved to study medicine. At that time, Zhang Yuan-su, known as the Elder of Jiegu from Yishui, was highly renowned in medicine. Upon hearing of him, Li Gao became his disciple and, within a few years, mastered his techniques and returned to practice medicine. Soon, he became famous for his exceptional medical skills, particularly in treating cold-damage disease, Yongju, and eye diseases. Later, to avoid war, he moved to Bianliang, where he witnessed the devastating effects of a pestilence, which deeply affected him. After returning north from the Central Plains, he settled in the Dongping and Liaocheng areas of northern Shandong, practicing medicine for six years. In 1244, he returned to his hometown. In addition to his clinical work, he compiled his years of experience and insights into a theoretical system centered on the "internal injury to the spleen and stomach." His theories were later inherited and developed by his disciples, Wang Hao-gu and Luo Tian-yi. Many later scholars followed or privately admired him, forming the academic school known as the "Tonifying Earth School," which continues to this day. Li Gao is thus revered as the founder of this school.

Li Gao, guided by Jiegu's idea of nourishing stomach qi and based on his years of clinical experience, systematically elaborated on the etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of conditions related to "internal injury to the spleen and stomach." He connected this with the Neijing idea that "humans rely on grain qi as their foundation," proposing the view that "internal injury to the spleen and stomach is the root of all diseases." He believed that the spleen and stomach are the foundation of original qi, and original qi is the foundation of health. If the spleen and stomach are injured, original qi declines, and diseases arise. In treatment, he advocated using Liu Wan-su's cold-cooling methods for external-contraction febrile diseases, while for internal heat syndromes, he recommended warming to dispel heat, supporting the righteous and expelling the pathogenic, which involved raising clear yang, warming and tonifying the spleen and stomach, and subduing yin fire. He also created famous formulas such as Middle-Tonifying Qi-Replenishing Decoction and Yang-Raising and Fire-Dissipating Decoction to treat various diseases caused by internal injury to the spleen and stomach. Many later scholars followed or privately admired him, forming the academic school known as the "Tonifying Earth School," which continues to this day. Li Gao is thus revered as the founder of this school.

After his theoretical system was established, it was inherited and developed by his disciples, Wang Hao-gu and Luo Tian-yi.

Li Gao authored many works, including the Neiwaishang Bianhuo Lun (1247) in three volumes, the Piwei Lun (1249) in three volumes, and the Dongyuan Shixiao Fang (1266) in nine volumes, which was later edited by Luo Tian-yi. Other works include the Lanshi Micang (1276) in three volumes, the Yongyao Faxiang in one volume, with appendices such as the Dongyuan Shixiao Fang and the Yixue Faming. Other works attributed to him include the Cold-Damage Disease Huiyao (lost), the Huofa Jiyao (extant), and the Dongyuan Xin Yao (lost), as well as the Maili Xuanwei (extant) and the Zhenzhunang Medicinal Property Fu (extant), among more than ten others, many of which were later attributed to him by others.