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Limited evidenceBrain & cognition

Gastrodia (Tian Ma)

A traditional Chinese rhizome used for headache and dizziness, whose main compound gastrodin has been tested for migraine. The trials exist but are small, almost all Chinese, and of low methodological quality.

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What the science says

  • Possible reduction in migraine symptoms Limited evidence

    A meta-analysis of randomized trials of gastrodin for migraine reported better response rates than control treatment. The included studies were small, at high risk of bias, and mostly compared against active drugs rather than placebo.

  • Neuroprotection is preclinical Limited evidence

    Reviews of gastrodin describe anticonvulsant, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects across cell and rodent models of neurological disease. None of this has been confirmed in controlled human studies.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseMigraine trials used gastrodin at roughly 100–300 mg per day, often by injection in Chinese hospital settings. Oral Gastrodia elata powder is traditionally taken at 3–9 g per day as a decoction; no oral dose is established for supplements.
SafetyReported adverse effects include dizziness, nausea and rash; allergic reactions have been described with injectable gastrodin. May add to the effects of sedatives and antiepileptic drugs. Avoid in pregnancy and if taking anticoagulants, given the lack of data.

How to take it

TimingTiming does not matter; traditional decoctions are split across the day.
With food?Take it with food — dizziness and nausea are the common complaints and food helps.
Worth knowingOral supplements are not the same thing as the injectable gastrodin used in most Chinese hospital migraine trials, so do not read those results across.

Interactions

With medications

  • benzodiazepines and other sedatives

    Additive drowsiness. Do not combine without medical advice

  • antiepileptic drugs

    Gastrodia is used traditionally for convulsive disorders and may add to or interfere with these drugs. Do not add it without the neurologist's agreement

  • warfarin and other anticoagulants

    Interactions are uncharacterised and the herb is used traditionally to move blood. Avoid the combination

Well-established interactions only — this is not a complete list. Always tell your doctor and pharmacist what you take.

Frequently asked questions

Does gastrodia help with migraine?

Gastrodia's evidence for migraine is limited: a meta-analysis of gastrodin trials reported better response rates than control, but the studies were small, mostly Chinese, at high risk of bias and usually compared against active drugs rather than placebo. Many used injectable gastrodin, which is not the same as an oral gastrodia supplement.

Is gastrodia neuroprotective?

The anticonvulsant, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of gastrodia's main compound, gastrodin, have been seen only in cell and rodent models. None of this neuroprotection has been confirmed in controlled human studies, so the evidence is limited.

How much gastrodia (tian ma) should I take?

No oral dose of gastrodia is established for supplements; oral Gastrodia elata powder is traditionally taken at 3–9 g per day as a decoction. Migraine trials used gastrodin at roughly 100–300 mg per day, often by injection.

Is gastrodia safe with sedatives or anticonvulsants?

Gastrodia may add to the effects of sedatives and interfere with antiepileptic drugs, so do not combine it with either without medical advice. Avoid gastrodia with anticoagulants and in pregnancy; dizziness, nausea and rash are the reported side effects.

Scientific references

Related in Brain & cognition

Herbal medicines: what the evidence says (335)