TCM Properties
- Taste
- sweet
- Temperature
- neutral
- Channels
- Liver
Traditional Use
Primary Actions
- Extinguishes Wind and stops spasms
- Calms the Liver and subdues Yang
- Dispels Wind-Dampness and unblocks collaterals
- Alleviates pain
Secondary Actions
- Nourishes Blood to settle dizziness
- Promotes smooth Liver function
Classic Formulas
- Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin — addresses Liver Yang rising with headache and dizziness
- Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang — treats Wind-Phlegm dizziness and vertigo
Classical References
- Ben Cao Gang Mu (Li Shizhen): 'Tian Ma is the Calm-Wind Herb, and therefore is the divine medicine for treating Wind'
Modern Research
Active Compounds
- Gastrodin (p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol glucoside)
- Vanillin
- Vanillyl alcohol
- 4-Hydroxybenzaldehyde
- Gastrodioside
Studied Effects
- Gastrodin demonstrates therapeutic potential for nervous system disorders including stroke, epilepsy, and headache (PMID 37749449)
- Active compounds improve learning and memory in Alzheimer's disease model via targeted metabolomics (PMID 40408941)
- Gastrodin reduces neuroinflammation and microglial activation via TLR4/TRAF6/NF-κB pathway (PMID 38552431)
PubMed References
Safety & Interactions
Contraindications
- Blood deficiency without Wind patterns
- Yin deficiency with internal Heat
- External Wind-Cold headache (common cold type)
Cautions
- Standard dose 3–10g; maximum single dose 40g
- Avoid prolonged use without practitioner guidance