Single Herb Glossary
Tiān Má 天麻
| Pharmaceutical name | Gastrodiae Rhizoma gastrodia rhizome "heavenly hemp" |
| Category | Extinguish Wind and Stop Tremors |
| Key Properties | Calms the Liver with Gentle Nourishment Extinguishes Wind Gōu Téng & Tiān Má = Dui Yao |
| Properties | Sweet Neutral |
| Tropism | LV |
| Actions & Indications | 1) Calms LV, Exting Wind, Controls Spasms & Tremors 2) Exting Wind & Alleviates Pain (Wind Phlegm & stroke) 3) Disperses Painful Obstruction (Lower back) |
| Dosages | 3-9g |
| Contraindications (TCM) | CI: Has a very low toxicity, within normal dosage range no side effects are expected. |
| Contraindications (Western) | |
| Chemical Composition | Gastrodin, 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, daucosterol, succinic acid, vanillin, vanillyl alcohol, β-sitosterol |
| Pharmacological Effects | • Sedative: decoction significantly reduced amount of spontaneous physical activity in mice; also prolonged sleeping time induced by barbiturates • Antiseizure and anticonvulsant: intraperitoneal or intravenous injection has marked effectiveness in treating seizures and convulsions; studies have shown herb to have positive effect in treatment of seizures, cranial-cerebral injury, cervical spondylosis and cerebrovascular diseases; has been shown that combination of Tian Ma and Gou Teng (Ramulus Uncariae cum Uncis) has synergistic anticonvulsive and free-radical scavenging action, as demonstrated in laboratory studies in rats • Cardiovascular: multiple studies reveal that Tian Ma has positive cardiovascular effects; increases volume of blood flow to cardiac muscle and increases resistance to hypoxia; additionally, by increasing blood flow to cardiac muscle, herb decreases risks of myocardial ischemia and myocardial infarct; it was demonstrated that the herb reduced the size of myocardial ischemia and myocardial infarct by 23.5% and 34.5%, respectively; in another study, injection of herb increased resistance to hypoxia in mice |
| Herb-Drug Interactions | • Sedatives: potentiates sedative effect of barbiturates |
| Classical Formula(s) |
Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin (Gastrodia and Uncaria Decoction) 天麻芶藤飲 (天麻勾藤饮) Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang(Pinellia, White Atractylodes & Gastrodia Decoction) 半夏白朮天麻湯 Ding Xian Wan (delete Zhu Sha)(Arrest Seizures Pill) 定涎丸（減硃砂） |
This information is a reference tool for Chinese herbal studies. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Please consult a primary health professional if you require health advisory.