tian ma

天麻·Rhizoma Gastrodiae

Gastrodia Rhizome

About tian ma

Tian Ma (天麻) is the rhizome of gastrodia, an orchid that lives without chlorophyll, recorded as Rhizoma Gastrodiae. It is sweet in flavour and neutral in temperature, entering the Liver channel alone. The catalogue files it among the substances that extinguish Wind and stop tremors.

Names

Pinyintian ma
Chinese天麻
Latin NameRhizoma Gastrodiae
English NameGastrodia Rhizome·tall gastrodis tuber
Japanesetanma·tenma
Koreancheonma

Classification

Channels
Liver
Flavour
Sweet
Temperature
Neutral
Part used
Rhizome
Family
Orchidaceae
Species
Gastrodia Rhizome
Tags
Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Extinguishes Wind, calms the Liver and stops spasms and tremors

  • Internal Liver Wind arising from Heat or Cold, with headache, dizziness, spasms and tremors
  • Childhood convulsions and epilepsy
  • Tonic-clonic spasms, opisthotonos and tetany
  • Wind-stroke

Subdues rising Liver Yang, extinguishes Wind and relieves pain

  • Headache and dizziness from rising Liver Yang
  • Wind-Phlegm with dizziness, headache or migraine
  • Wind-stroke with one-sided paralysis, dizziness and numb limbs
  • Suited to both Excess and Deficiency patterns

Disperses Wind-Damp, frees the channels and relieves Bi

  • Wind-Damp Bi with pain, heaviness and numbness of the lower back and limbs

Combinations

Dosage

AgeRawGranuleTinctureConcentrateFrequency
Any 3-10g; Powder: 0.9-1.5g; Tincture: 2-4ml3-10 g2-4 ml

Cautions

Interactions

Drug interactions