Gastrodia (Tian Ma, 天麻) can be used to treat headache, migraine, dizziness, numbness, hemiplegia, infantile convulsion, epilepsy, tetanus, stroke and hypertension.
Gastrodia is a genus of achlorophyllous orchid. Gastrodia elata (Tian Ma) is a traditional Chinese herb, and is commonly used in China to treat head/brain related disorders and hypertension due to “internal wind” caused by liver disorders.
According to traditional Chinese medicine guidelines, Tian Ma is sweet in flavour and neutral in nature, it acts on liver channel. It has effects for calming the liver and suppressing hyperactiviy of liver-yang. It treats the disorders, such as dizziness due to wind-phlegm, acute convulsion due to high fever, chronic infantile convulsion and tetanus.
In traditional Chinese medical theory, the “windy”, “upset” and “shaking” symptoms, such as dizziness, numbness, tremors, convulsion, epilepsy or stroke, indicate that there is internal wind existing in the body. Tian Ma has effects of expelling the wind out of the channels and treating headache and arthralgia due to the evil-wind.
Gastrodia (Tian Ma) affects liver and subdues the internal wind and can help stop tremors. So it is commonly used to treat hypertension, improve circulation and resolve headaches.
Scientific studies have found that Gastrodia (Tian Ma) improves blood circulation. Tian Ma can increase cerebral blood flow, reduce cerebral vascular resistance, and increase coronary blood flow. Tian Ma can lower blood pressure and heart rate. It has a protective effect against myocardial ischemia. Therefore, Tian Ma has sedative, analgesic and anticonvulsant effects.
Gastrodia (Tian Ma) is rarely used alone. It is often combined with other herbs in formulas designed to treat each specific problem. A well known formula for treating headache, migraine and dizziness is Tian Ma Chuan Xiong Wan:
– Tian Ma (天麻) 15g
– Chuan Xiong (川芎) 60g
According to traditional Chinese medicine guidelines, Gastrodia (Tian Ma) should not be used for patients who has blood deficiency and has no symptoms of internal wind. And it should not be used for the headache or migraine caused by common cold or flu.
Gastrodia (Tian Ma) may help lower your blood pressure, but you should consult with your doctor before using this herb if you have hypertension.
