The source is from the tuber of Gastrodia elata BI., family Orchidaceae. The medicinal material is mainly produced in the areas of Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou, etc., dug and collected in winter and spring when the plant buds or the stem is dried, boiled with water or steamed and dried on mild fire after the cortex is removed. When used, it is soaked and cut into slices. Medicinal Properties Sweet in flavor, mild in nature and attributive to the liver meridian. Actions Stop endogenous wind to arrest convulsion, calm the liver and suppress yang. Application 1. It is used for syndromes of liver-wind stirring inside with convulsion and so on. For acute infantile convulsion, it is usually combined with Gouteng (Ramulus Uncariae cum Uncis ), Lingyangjiao (Cornu Saigae Tataricae), and Quanxie ( Scorpio ), etc., that is, Gouteng Yinzi (Decoction); for chronic infantile convulsion of spleen-deficiency type with slightly moving of hands and feet, it is combined with Renshen (Radix Ginseng), Baizhu ( Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae ), and Baijiangcan (Bombyx Batryticatus ), etc., such as Xingpi Wan (Pill); for the treatment of tetanus, epilepsy and opisthotonos, combined with Tiannanxing (Rhizoma Arisaematis), Baifuzi (Rhizoma Typhonii) and Fangfeng (Radix Saposhnikoviae ), etc., such as Yuzhen San (Powder). 2. It is used for dizziness and headache due to hyperactivity of liver-yang, and is an essential herb of treating dizziness. For that due to hyperactivity of liver-yang, it is usually combined with Gouteng (Ramulus Uncariae cure Uncis ) , Huangqin (Radix Scutellariae ) , and Niuxi (Radix Achyranthis Bidenatatae), etc.; for that due to up-attacking of wind-phlegm, combined with Banxia (Rhizoma Pinelliae ), Baizhu ( Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae) and Fuling (Poria), etc., that is Banxia Baizhu Tianma Tang (Decoction). Besides, it can also expel wind and dampness, and alleviate obstructive pain, and so it is used for obstructive pain, numbness of the extremities and unsmooth movement of hands and feet, etc., it is usually combined with Qinjiao (Radix Gentianae Macrophyllae ), Qianghuo (Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii) , Niuxi ( Radix Achyranthis Bidenatatae ) and Sangjisheng (Ramutus Taxitli). Usage and Dosage 3- 10 g is used in decoction for oral use. 1--1.5 g of the powder is swallowed.
