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Gastrodia (tian ma)

Gastrodia elata · 天麻

Herbs & Roots. Chinese Medicine.

Also called Tian ma, Gastrodia tuber, Chinese gastrodia

Pinyin: Tiān Má

Limited safety data

An orchid tuber used in Chinese medicine for headache, dizziness, and tremors. Small migraine trials are encouraging.

Did you know? Gastrodia has no chlorophyll and cannot make its own food, so it grows underground and gets its energy through a partnership with a fungus.

What it may help, and how strong the proof is

Pain & headaches. A 2022 review of 16 trials with 1,332 people found that gastrodin, one of its key compounds, helped migraine more than control. Trial quality was not clearly reported.
Early proof
Nerve health. Used for dizziness, tremors, and convulsions in tradition. Human trials are lacking.
Traditional proof

Parts of the body

Nerves & pain

Traditional use

Chinese medicine uses tian ma to calm wind in the liver, ease headache and dizziness, and stop tremors and convulsions. It is in many headache and dizziness formulas.

How it is classified

Herbal actions: Sedative, Antispasmodic. Energy: neutral.
Chinese medicine: 天麻 Calm liver & extinguish wind. Nature: neutral. Flavour: sweet. Enters the Liver channel.

How people take it

Traditional decoctions use about 3 to 10 grams. The migraine review studied gastrodin, a purified compound, not the whole herb.

Decoction, powder, capsule and tea.

Where to get it

Grown in China. Sold as dried tuber slices, powder, capsules, and in patent medicines. Gastrodin is also sold as a purified compound.

Be careful

Limited safety data. Some people may feel sleepy or have stomach upset. Avoid in pregnancy. Ask a clinician before use with sedatives.

Avoid if: pregnancy.

Mixing with other things

Works well together
Paired with gou teng in Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin (Gastrodia and Uncaria Drink) for headache and dizziness.
Use caution
Sleep or anxiety medicine (Ambien, Xanax, Ativan)
May add to drowsiness from sedatives.
Use caution
Alcohol (beer, wine, spirits)
Alcohol adds to the drowsiness.

Adds up with others that can make you drowsy: , , , , , , , , , , , , , and 14 more.

The honest take

Gastrodia has an encouraging signal in small migraine trials, but that is not proof it works for everyone. The review studied gastrodin, not the whole herb. Migraine needs a doctor's care, especially new or severe headaches.