Description and remedy use of Tall Gastrodia Tuber,Rhizoma Gastrodiae and its Determination Method...

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How to Use Tall Gastrodia Tuber:Rhizoma Gastrodiae.

Tall Gastrodia Tuber Extract Tianma Rhizoma Gastrodiae Extract Gastrodia elata Bl Extract photo picture image Use of Tall Gastrodia Tuber(Rhizoma Gastrodiae)

 Up- stirring of endogenous wind due to liver disordersshown as epilepsy induced by fright and convulsion: In the treatment of infantile convulsiondue to high fever, it can be given to-gether with uncaria stem, antelope's horn and scorpion, as in Uncaria Decoction(Gouteng Tang) ; to treat chronic infan-tile convulsion due to deficiency of thespleen, it can be used along with ginseng, white atra-ctylodes rhizomeand batryticated silkworm, as in Decoction for Invigo-rating the Spleen (Xingpi San);to treattetanus, it can be used together with arisaema tuber, ledebouriella root and giant typhonium tuber, as in Powder with Marvellous Effect (Yuzhen San).

 Headache and light-headedness:  Ifthese symptoms are caused by hyperacti-vity of the liver-yang, it can be usedwith uncaria stem, scutellaria root andachyranthes root, as in Decoction of Gastrodia and Uncaria(Tianma Gouteng Yin);if the symptoms are caused by upward movement of wind-phlegm., it can be given together withpinellia tuber, WhiteAtractylodes rhizomeand poria, as in Decoction of Pinellia,White Atractylodes and Gastrodia (BanxiaBaizhu Tianma Tang);if they are caused by deficiency of bloodand yin, chinese angelica root, whitepeony root and prepared rehmannia root can be added; for chronic headacheand migraine with frequent recurrences,it is often used with chuanxiong rhizome, as in Gastro-dia Bolus(TianMa Wan).

 Headache and light-headedness:used with uncaria stem, scutellaria root and achyranthes root.Chronic headache and recurrent migraine:used with chuanxiong rhizome.

 Rheumatic arthralgia, numbnessof the limbs or tetra-plegia: It is often used with large-leafgentian root,pube-scent angelica root,achyranthes root andmulberry mistletoe stem.

 For dizziness and headache caused by hyperactivity of liver-yang:  it is usually used with scutellaria root (Radix scutellariae), capejasmine fruit (Fructus Gardeniae), abalone's shell (Concha Haliotidis), white peony root (Radix Paeoniae alba), uncaria stem with hooks (Ramulus Uncariae cum uncis), as in Gastrodia Tuber and Uncaria Decoction; for dizziness and headache, large amount of expectoration and chest pain due to upward movement of wind-phlegm, it is used together with pinellia tuber (Rhizoma Pinelliae), dired old orange peel (Pericardium Citri reticulatae), white atractylodes rhizome (Rhizoma Atractylodis macrocephalae) and poria (Poria), as in Decoction of Pinellia, White Atractylodes and Gastrodia; for dizziness caused by blood deficiency, it is used together with Decoction of Four Ingredients (Chinese angelica, prepared rehmanniae root, chuanxiong rhizome and white peony root).

 For high febrile convulsion, infantile epilepsy and convulsion:  it is used in combination with antelope's born (Cornu Saigae Tataricae), uncaria stem (Ramulus Uncariae uncis), scorpion (Scorpio), as in Decoction of Uncaria; for chronic infantile convulsion, it is used with dangshen (Radix Codongopsis pilosulae), white atractylodes rhizome (Rhizoma Atractylodis macrocephalae) and larva of a silksorm batryis (Bombyx Batryticatus) in order to nourish Qi and spleen, and check wind to relieve convulsion; for tetanus, it is used in combination with arisaema tuber (Rhzoma Arisaematis) dahurian angelica root (Radix Angelicae dahuricae) and ledeboriella root (Radix Ledebouriellae).

 For headache caused by latent wind: it is used together with Chuanxiong rhizome (Rhizoma Ligustici chuanxiong), wildginger (Herba Asari), angelica root (Radix Angelicae pubescentis) and long-noded pit viper (Ancistrodon or Agkistrondon Acutus); for rheumatic arthralgia, numbness and pain of extremities, it is used together with anti-rheumatic remedies.

 Treats epilepsy due to fright and clonic convulsions (violent contractions and relaxations of muscles) as a result of internal movement of liver-wind:

 Entering the liver, gastrodia tuber can relieve spasms and convulsions. Sweet and moist but not violent, this herb has a mild action. Therefore it can be used in combination with other herbs for the treatment of epilepsy due to fright and clonic convulsions, either of the heat type or the cold type and either of the excess type or the deficiency type, that result from internal movement of liver-wind arising from various causes.

 a) Acute infantile convulsions: It can be used in combination with such herbs as antelope horn, gambirplant (Ramulus Uncariae cum Uncis), scorpion, etc., i.e., Gouteng Yinzi.

 b) Chronic infantile convulsions due to deficiency of the spleen: This herb is used in combination with ginseng, largehead atractylodes rhizome (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae), silkworm larva, etc., e.g., Xing Pi Wan.

 c) Spasms and clonic convulsions and opisthotonos (a form of spasm in which the head and the heels are bent backward and the body bowed forward) in case of tetanus (a state of sustained muscular contraction without periods of relaxation): This herb is also used in combination with such herbs as jack-in-the-pulpit (Rhizoma Arisaematis), baifuzi (Rhizoma Typhonii), fangfeng (Radix Ledebouriellae), etc., e.g., Yu Zhen San.

 d) Epilepsy: In recent years, the active ingredient has been extracted from gastrodia tuber to make vanillin tablets, which is effective in the treatment of grand mal seizure (a type of seizure that results in loss of consciousness) or petit mal (a type of seizure that results in briefly lost of awareness) attacks of epilepsy.

 Treats dizziness and headache:

 Gastrodia tuber can not only calm liver-wind, but also suppress hyperactivity of liver-yang, so it is a good herb for arresting dizziness.

 a) Dizziness and headache due to hyperactivity of liver-yang: This herb is often used together with gambirplant (Ramulus Uncariae cum Uncis), abalone shell, ox-knee root (Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae), etc., e.g., Tianma Gouteng Tang.

 b) Dizziness and headache due to up-stirring of wind-phlegm: This herb is often used together with pinellia tuber, largehead atractylodes rhizome (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae), tuckahoe (Poria Cocos), etc., e.g., Banxia Baishu Tianma Tang.

 c) Hyperlipaemia (increased fats in the bloodstream): In recent years, halimasch (a side product of gastrodia tuber) tablets have been used to treat hyperlipaemia. The tablets can obviously reduce serum cholesterol, serum triglyceride, etc., and at the same time reduce systolic pressure (arterial pressure during contraction of the left ventricle of the heart) or diastolic pressure to different extents so that such symptoms as dizziness, headache, tightness in the chest, etc., take a turn for the better.

 Treats numbness of the limbs, spasms and clonic convulsions, rheumatism and arthralgia:

 Gastrodia tuber can also dispel exopathogenic wind and remove obstruction in the channels.

 a) Motor impairment of the hands and feet, numbness of the limbs, spasms and clonic convulsions, etc., due to the effects of apoplexy (haemorrhage into the brain, a stroke): This herb is often used together with chuanxiong (Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong), e.g., Tianma Wan.

 b) Rheumatism and arthralgia and sluggishness of joint movements: This herb is mostly used together with such antirheumatics as largeleaf gentian root (Radix Gentianae Macrophyllae), notopterygium root or rhizome, white mulberry branch, etc., e.g., Qinjiu Tianma Tang.

 c) Sciatica (pain radiating from the back into the buttock), prosopalgia (facial spasms), etc.: A 20% gastrodia tuber injection is now clinically used for intramuscular injection in the treatment of such syndromes as sciatica, prosopalgia, etc., and is rather effective in killing pain.

 Herbal Formulas:

 Gastrodia has been a favorite herb to use in combination formulas to treat specific conditions. Most of these formulas are made up as tablets or capsules. A Chinese pharmacology textbook lists the following herbal mixtures containing gastrodia:

 For dizziness and headache caused by a hyperactive liver: gastrodia combined with uncaria and haliotis.

 For disturbances caused by wind-phlegm: gastrodia with pinellia and atractylodes.

 For migraine: gastrodia combined with cnidium.

 For convulsions caused by liver heat: gastrodia with antelope horn and uncaria.

 To clear the meridians and relieve pain or numbness in the limbs: gastrodia combined with achyranthes, chin-chiu, and chiang-huo.

 Classical Note:

 Shen Nong's Herbal Classic: "If taken for a long time, this herb can enhance body strength, replenish yin, fatten and strengthen the body and promote longevity."

 Kai Bao Materia Medica: "Various types of rheumatism and arthralgia, spasms of the limbs, infantile epilepsy due to pathogenic wind and convulsions." "Normalizing the functions of the waist and knees and enhancing the body strength."

 Corpus of Discussions on Herbal: "Wind syndrome of the head, headache, dizziness, epilepsy, serious convulsions, spasms of the limbs, retarded speech, various types of apoplexy and wind-phlegm syndrome."

 Clinical trials:

 Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Institute of Geriatricsthe reported in results of a trial that an extract derived from gastrodia tuber (gastrodine) was effective in improving memory, language, and other cognitive functions in certain types of vascular dementia patients. Patients taking the extract also experienced significant improvements in behavior and personality scores, without the side-effects associated with most pharmaceuticals.

 A small study has shown that an herbal compound extracted from a tall gastrodia tuber may improve memory, orientation and language in people who have mild to moderate vascular dementia as the result of a stroke.
 Tall Gastrodia Tuber Extract Tianma Rhizoma Gastrodiae Extract Gastrodia elata Bl Extract photo picture image

 Dosage:

 Dosage:Be decocted for oral use, 3-9 grams daily decoct for oral administration. If the powder is administered, 1-1.5 grams each time,when grinded into powder for taking with boiled water.

 Precaution and Cautions: Do not use if pregnant.Patients suffering from qi and blood deficiencies should use with caution.Gastrodia is considered a mild herb by the Chinese, and therefore generally safe to use. It is best, however, to consult an experienced practitioner of Chinese herbal medicine before using gastrodia either as a single herb or in formulas.

 Side Effects:One source reports that the side effects of gastrodia include skin allergies, hair loss, and other allergic reactions.

 Contraindications:Should not be used in case of yinxu (yinxu deficient),Not to be used in pregnancy.

 Interactions:Because gastrodia has not been used by Western herbalists, its potential interactions with standard pharmaceutical preparations have not been studied.Because gastrodia has not been used by Western herbalists, its potential interactions with standard pharmaceutical preparations have not been studied.

 Direction: As a dietary supplement take 6 pills 2 times a day with warm water.

 Gastrodia is first mentioned in the Shennong Bencao Jing, which was compiled around A.D. 100. A later Chinese herbalist named Tao Hong placed gastrodia in the category of superior herbs, which meant that it could be taken for long periods of time, and that it could be used to promote longevity as well as to treat illnesses. It was originally called chiqian, which means "red arrow" in Chinese, because its stem is red and arrow-shaped.
 Tall Gastrodia Tuber Extract Tianma Rhizoma Gastrodiae Extract Gastrodia elata Bl Extract photo picture image

 Toxicity Study:Gastrodin

 Toxicity of Gastrodin: Acute toxicity tests on mice show no poisoning or death 3 days after administration (both oral and IV injection) of gastrodin at 5000mg/kg (the equivalent of 20kg of dried herb). Sub-acute toxicity tests on dogs and mice indicate that gastrodine and HBA do not affect hemogram, the cholesterol level, or liver and kidney functions. Both teratogenesis and cytomorphosis tests are negative.Reference:Mo Yun Qiang, et al. Yunnan Journal of Botany Research. 1980;2(5):230.

 Toxicity of Vanillyl alcohol: LD50,Lethal dose 50 percent kill.Roddent-mouse,Interperitoneal.891.3+-31.7 mg/kg.

 Toxicity of Vanillin: LD.50,Lethal dose 50 percent kill.Roddent-mouse,Interperitoneal.946 mg/kg. LD50,Lethal dose 50 percent kill.Rodent-Rat,Oral,3000 mg/kg.Reference:Zhong Cao Yao Tong Xun,1974,(5):33.Liu GuoQing.Sheng Li Xue Bao,1961,(3~4):182.Jiang Zhengyu.

 Gastrodia is generally considered safe, has no undesirable side effects. It does not create a tolerance, however if the intake is more than 40g it may cause toxic reaction.

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citations1.Description and remedy use of Tall Gastrodia Tuber,Rhizoma Gastrodiae and its Determination Method...

last edit date:15th,June.2009.