Pharmaceutical Name:

Rhizoma Gastrodiae

Botanical Name:

Gastrodia elata Bl.

Common Name:

Gastrodia tuber

Source of Earliest Record:

Shennong Bencao Jing

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations:

The rhizomes are dug in winter or spring.  After the bark has been removed, the rhizomes are cleaned, boiled or steamed and baked.  They are then soaked again and cut into slices.

Properties and Taste:

Sweet and neutral

Meridian:

Liver

Functions:

To eliminate endogenous wind and stop spasms
To pacify the liver and subdue the yang

Indications and Combinations:

1.     Internal stirring up of the liver wind manifested as spasms and convulsions.
*Use with Uncaria stem (Gouteng) and Scorpion (Quanxie).

2.     Spasms or convulsions in tetanus.
*Use with Ledebouriella (Fangfeng), Arisaema tuber (Tiannanxing) and Typhonium tuber (Baifuzi) in the formula Yuzhen San.

3.     Headache and dizziness due to hyperactivity of liver yang.
*Use with Uncaria stem (Gouteng), Scutellaria root (Huangqin) and Cyathula root ((Niuxi) in the formula Tianma Gouteng Yin.

4.     Vertigo and dizziness caused by upward attack of wing-phlegm due to deficiency of the spleen and stagnation of qi in the liver.
*Use with Chuanxiong rhizome (Chuanxiong) in the formula Banxia Baizhu Tianma Tang.

5.     Unilateral headache (migraine) and frontal headache.
*Use with Chuanxiong rhizome (Chuanxiong) in the formula Tianma Wan.

6.      Pain due to wind-damp obstruction (joint pain).
*Use with Frankincense (Ruxiang) and Scorpion (Quanxie).

7.     Numbness of limbs due to deficient blood in the channels.
*Use with Chinese angelica root (Danggui) and Cyathula root (Niuxi).

Dosage:

3-10 g; 1-1.5 g for powder