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Gastrodia, Tian Ma 天麻

Tian Ma (TCM)
Sichuan Tian Ma root (Adam, 2016)
 Above: Sliced fresh Tian Ma available at the Chengdu Medicine
Market. (Adam, 2018)

Right: image from Blume, Collection des Orchidées les plus
remarquables de l’archipel Indien et du Japon, 1858
Botanical name:
Gastrodia elata
The best quality is Winter Gastrodia from Yunnan and Sichuan

Parts used:
Root
Collected from Winter to Spring; washed well, steamed, then sliced and dried at a low temperature.

Temperature & Taste:
Neutral, Sweet

Uses:
1. Calms the Liver, Settles Wind, Stops Spasms:
-Headache, Dizziness, Vertigo, Tinnitus
-Epilepsy, Childhood Convulsions
-childhood restlessness or anxiety
-Tonic-clonic spasms, Tetanus, Spasm of the Limbs
-Loss of Speech

2. Settles Wind, Stops Pain:
-Headache, Migraine (from Wind-Phlegm)
-Hemiplegia, Numbness in the extremities

3. Clears Wind Damp, Relieves Pain:
-Wind-Damp pain and numbness of the lower back and extremities
-especially for moving-type Wind pain


DOSE:
3–9 grams in decoction;
1–3 grams in Powder

COMMENT:
Gastrodia Tian Ma is listed on CITES as endangered. However, over 80% of the market is supplied with cultivated product. (Bensky)

Main Combinations:
Often combined with Uncaria Gou Teng

1. Internal Wind disorders:
i. Gastrodia Tian Ma with Uncaria Gou Teng, Tribulus Ci Ji Li, Chrysanthemum Ju Hua
ii. Gastrodia Tian Ma from Wind-Heat with Uncaria Gou Teng, Abalone Shell (Shi Jue Ming), Scutellaria Huang Qin, Achyranthes Niu Xi, Mistletoe (Sang Ji Sheng) (as in Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin from New Concepts for Diagnosis and Treatment in Miscellaneous Diseases)
2. Hemiplegia, Loss of Speech Gastrodia Tian Ma with Pinellia Ban Xia and Earthworm (Di Long)
3. Hypertension:
i. Gastrodia Tian Ma with Prunella Xia Ku Cao, Motherwort (Yi Mu Cao)
ii. due to stress (Qi stagnation with Wind), Gastrodia Tian Ma, Tribulus Ci Ji Li, Polygala Yuan Zhi, Ligusticum Chuan Xiong, Schizonepeta Jing Jie, Magnetite (Ci Shi) (Formulas of Dr. John H.F. Shen)
iii. Gastrodia Tian Ma, Mistletoe (Sang Ji Sheng), Paeonia Bai Shao, Scutellaria Huang Qin
iv. Gastrodia Tian Ma with Uncaria Gou Teng, Achyranthes Niu Xi, Rhubarb (Da Huang)
4. Dizziness, Vertigo:
i. Gastrodia Tian Ma, Uncaria Gou Teng, Chrysanthemum Ju Hua, Abalone shell (Shi Jue Ming)
ii. Gastrodia Tian Ma with equal parts Ligusticum Chuan Xiong (Chinese Lovage root) (as in Tian Ma Wan from Prescriptions of Universal Relief).
iii. Gastrodia Tian Ma with Uncaria Gou Teng, Paeonia Bai Shao, Chrysanthemum Ju Hua
iv. from Wind-Phlegm Gastrodia Tian Ma with Atractylodes Bai Zhu, Pineilla Ban Xia, Citrus Chen Pi (Tangerine peel) (as in Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang from Medical Revelations)
5. Headache, Migraine:
i. Gastrodia Tian Ma with equal parts Ligusticum Chuan Xiong (Chinese Lovage root) (as in Tian Ma Wan from Prescriptions of Universal Relief).
ii. Gastrodia Tian Ma with Pseudoginseng San Qi
iii. Gastrodia Tian Ma with Saposhnikovia Fang Feng, Dang Gui, Angelica Bai Zhi, Ligusticum Chuan Xiong, Asarum Xi Xin
6. Tinnitus, Gastrodia Tian Ma with Dioscorea Shan Yao, Cassia semen Jue Ming Zi, Oyster shell (Mu Li), Lycium Gou Qi Zi, Cuscuta Tu Si Zi, Rehmannia Sheng Di Huang (The Formulas of Dr. John H.F. Shen)
7. Childhood Convulsions:
i. from Wind-Heat Gastrodia Tian Ma with Tabasheer, Pearl, Amber
ii. from Wind-Heat, Gastrodia Tian Ma with Arisaema Dan Nan Xiang (Bile prepared Tian Nan Xing), Coptis Huang Lian, Bezoar, Scorpion
iii. Febrile Convulsions, Gastrodia Tian Ma with Antelope horn (Ling Yang Jiao), Uncaria Gou Teng, Tabasheer
iv. Gastrodia Tian Ma with Uncaria Gou Teng, Antelope Horn (Ling Yang Jiao), Scorpion (Quan Xie) (as in Gou Teng Yin from Golden Mirror of Orthodox Medicine).
v. Gastrodia Tian Ma with Arisaema Dan Nan Xing, White Dead Silkworn (Bai Jiang Can) (as in Tian Ma Wan from Formulas of Dr. Wei’s Family Treasure).
vi. Gastrodia Tian Ma with White Dead Silkworm (Bai Jiang Can) with Coptis Huang Lian, Arisaema prepared with Bile (Dan Nan Xing), Scorpion, Bezoar, Borneo Camphor, Licorice (as in Qian Jin Powder)
vii. Chronic Childhood convulsions with deficiency, Gastrodia Tian Ma with Ginseng, Atractylodes Bai Zhu, White Dead Silkworn (Bai Jiang Can) (as in Xing Pi Wan from Prescriptions for Universal Relief).
viii. Childhood convulsions from Internal Wind, Gastrodia Tian Ma with Uncaria Gou Teng, Scorpion (Quan Xie), White Silkworm (Bai Jiang Can), Cicada shell (Chan Tui) (as in Gou Teng Yin Zi from Xiao Er Yao Zheng Zhi Jue [Key to Syndrome Identification and Treatment of Diseases in Infants]).
8. Night Terrors, Restless or Crting Infants, Gastrodia Tian Ma with White Dead Silkworm (Bai Jiang Can), Amber, Pearl, Tabasheer
9. Tetanic Convulsions:
i. Gastrodia Tian Ma with Saposhnikovia Fang Feng, Arisaema Tian Nan Xing, Angelica dahurica Bai Zhi
ii. Gastrodia Tian Ma with Arisaema (Tian Nan Xing), Typhonium (Bai Fu Zi), Saposhnikovia (Fang Feng). (as in Yu Zhen San from True Lineage of External Medicine).
10. Phlegm-Damp obstructing the Mind with confusion, mental dullness, dizziness:
i. Gastrodia Tian Ma with Polygala Yuan Zhi, Pinellia Ban Xia
ii. Gastrodia Tian Ma with Calamus (Shi Chang Pu)
11. Wind-Damp Arthritic and Rheumatic pain:
i. Gastrodia Tian Ma with Saposhnikovia Fang Feng, Mistletoe (Sang Ji Sheng)
ii. Gastrodia Tian Ma with Gentiana Macrophylla Qin Jiao, Notopterygium Qiang Huo, Mulberry Twig (Sang Zhi) (as in Qin Jiao Tian Ma Tang from Medical Revelations)
12. Arthritic pain, apoplectic paralysis, Gastrodia Tian Ma with Aconitum Chuan Wu, Myrrh, Musk (as in Tian Ma Wan from Complete Record of Holy Benevolence).
13. Wandering Arthritic Pain, Paralysis of the limbs, Gastrodia Tian Ma with Achyranthes Niu Xi, Eucommia Du Zhong, Aconitum Fu Zi as a medicated wine (as in Tian Ma Jiu from Convenient and Effective Prescriptions that Contain few Herbs).
14. Pain from Blood stasis and Wind, Gastrodia Tian Ma with Olibanum (Ru Xiang), and Scorpion
15. As a tonic, Gastrodia Tian Ma with Conioselinum univittatum, made into pills with Honey.

Major Formulas:
Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang
Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin
Shi Xiang Fan Sheng Wan
Bo Ying Compound

Cautions:
Generally very safe
1. Use cautiously in Qi and Blood deficiency (use with tonics)
2. Use with caution during Pregnancy and avoid full doses.
3. Occasional allergic reactions are reported

Main Preparations used: