Gastrodia (Tian Ma) in Chinese Medicine

Gastrodia (Tian Ma) is an orchid tuber used in Chinese medicine for headache and dizziness; the migraine trials are of its isolated compound gastrodin, not the herb itself.

Content last updated October 22, 2026. This page has not been medically reviewed.

What it is

Tian Ma is the tuber of Gastrodia elata Blume, an orchid found in mountainous parts of eastern Asia including China, Korea, Japan and India. [1] Its quality depends on origin, the fungus it grows with and harvest time. [2] Gastrodin is described as its main component, and it is studied as a single isolated compound. [3]

Traditional use

Tian Ma is widely used in clinical TCM practice for headache, migraine, dizziness, epilepsy, infant convulsion and tetany. [1] It also appears in multi-herb formulas, such as Tianma Gouteng Yin, which is widely used in East Asia for hypertension-related symptoms. [4] These are traditional uses and the terms are traditional descriptions, not diagnoses; see Common TCM Patterns Explained.

What research shows

Keep three things apart: the whole herb, a formula, and gastrodin.

Question	What the source found	Strength of evidence
Migraine, gastrodin (the isolated compound)	A meta-analysis of 16 randomized trials (1,332 people) reported better response, less pain, fewer and shorter attacks than comparison groups, and called gastrodin effective and safe. [3] Trial quality and what the comparison groups received are not detailed in the abstract, so the conclusion should be read cautiously.	Promising but limited
Migraine, whole Tian Ma herb	Proper evidence not found. The meta-analysis tested gastrodin. [3]	Traditional use only
Epilepsy	A review reports anticonvulsant potential in lab and animal models. [5]	Preclinical
Hypertension, Tianma Gouteng Yin formula	A Cochrane review found no trial that met its inclusion criteria and could draw no conclusions. [4]	Insufficient evidence
Dizziness, sleep, memory, depression	Reviews describe sedative, anxiolytic, neuroprotective, anti-vertigo and memory effects in laboratory studies. [1]	Preclinical

A 2024 review summarizes that the preclinical studies cover neuroprotection, memory, heart protection and other effects, and that few studies have looked at some parts of the plant. [2] A review of the herb also calls for toxicological study in people to validate safety. [1]

For headaches more broadly, see TCM for Headache and Migraine: Evidence by Intervention and Acupuncture for Migraine Prevention and Tension-Type Headaches.

Quality

Origin, fungal partner and harvest time can alter quality, so identity and sourcing matter. [2] See Chinese Herbal Products: Quality, Contamination and Medicine Interactions and Chinese Herbal Medicine.

Frequently asked questions

What is Tian Ma used for?

Traditionally for headache, migraine, dizziness, epilepsy and infant convulsion. [1]

Does Tian Ma help migraine?

A meta-analysis of 16 trials found gastrodin, its isolated compound, helped migraine outcomes. [3] We found no trial of the whole herb, so evidence for the herb itself is traditional use only.

What is gastrodin?

It is the main compound studied from Gastrodia, and the subject of the migraine meta-analysis. [3]

Is Tian Ma safe?

Reviews call for more human safety studies of the herb. [1] Gastrodin was judged safe in the migraine trials. [3]

Can it replace migraine or seizure medicine?

No. Do not stop prescribed medicines; talk to your doctor.

More details: evidence, limits and cautions

The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.

Safety

The meta-analysis of gastrodin concluded it was safe, but that concerns the isolated compound in trials. [3] The herb review says toxicology in human subjects is still needed. [1] Our sources did not give pregnancy, breastfeeding, child or drug-interaction data. Treat these as unknown. Tian Ma is described as having sedative effects in laboratory studies, so ask a clinician or pharmacist before combining it with sleep or seizure medicines. Do not stop prescribed anti-seizure or migraine medicines to use it.

When to seek care

Sudden severe headache, headache with weakness, confusion, vision change, fever with stiff neck, or a first seizure needs urgent medical help (in the US, call 911). Frequent or worsening headaches should be assessed by a doctor.

References

The rhizome of Gastrodia elata Blume: an ethnopharmacological review. J Ethnopharmacol 2016. PubMed 27377337. Read 2026-10-22.
Traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, applications, and quality control of Gastrodia elata Blume: a comprehensive review. J Ethnopharmacol 2024. PubMed 37689324. Read 2026-10-22.
Effectiveness of gastrodin for migraine: a meta-analysis. Front Neurol 2022. PubMed 36090869. Read 2026-10-22.
Tianma Gouteng Yin Formula for treating primary hypertension. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012. PubMed 22696374. Read 2026-10-22.
Gastrodia elata and epilepsy: rationale and therapeutic potential. Phytomedicine 2016. PubMed 27765372. Read 2026-10-22.

Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.