Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin: A Soothing Herbal Remedy
Health Lab- Feb 3
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 29
Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin, also known as Gastrodia and Uncaria Decoction, is a trusted herbal formula from traditional Chinese medicine, featured in New Interpretation of Chinese Medicine Internal Medicine Miscellaneous Diseases and Treatments.
This remedy calms the liver, reduces internal "wind" (a concept linked to spasms or agitation), clears heat, boosts blood flow, and nourishes the liver and kidneys. It’s especially helpful for issues like headaches, dizziness, and irritability caused by an overactive liver.
This article simplifies the formula’s ingredients, benefits, uses, and modern applications for easy understanding.
What’s in the Formula?
Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin combines 11 common herbs that work together to soothe the body and support liver health:
Gastrodia root (9g): Calms liver agitation to ease headaches and dizziness.
Uncaria vine (12g): Works with gastrodia to reduce liver "wind" and relieve dizziness.
Cassia seed (18g): Cools the liver and reduces symptoms like dizziness and irritability.
Dogwood fruit (9g): Nourishes the liver and kidneys to support overall vitality.
Skullcap root (9g): Clears heat and calms irritability or restlessness.
Cyathula root (12g): Guides blood flow downward to ease headaches and dizziness.
Eucommia bark (9g): Strengthens the liver and kidneys, reducing numbness or weakness.
Motherwort (9g): Boosts blood circulation to relieve headaches and numbness.
Mistletoe (9g): Nourishes the liver and kidneys, easing dizziness and limb discomfort.
Fleeceflower root (9g): Calms the mind to improve sleep and reduce nightmares.
Poria mushroom (9g): Soothes the mind and supports restful sleep.
What Does It Do?
This herbal blend has three main benefits:
Calms the Liver and Reduces "Wind": It soothes liver overactivity, relieving headaches, dizziness, and spasms.
Clears Heat and Boosts Blood Flow: It cools internal heat and improves circulation to ease irritability and numbness.
Nourishes the Liver and Kidneys: It strengthens these organs to support overall health and reduce symptoms like fatigue or weakness.
It’s ideal for symptoms caused by an overactive liver, such as:
Headaches or migraines
Dizziness or vertigo
Irritability or restlessness
Insomnia or nightmares
Numbness or tingling in the limbs
When to Use Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin
Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin is perfect for conditions caused by liver yang hyperactivity (too much liver energy) or liver wind (internal agitation). These issues often stem from stress, emotional ups and downs, or physical weakness, leading to symptoms like dizziness, irritability, or a bitter taste in the mouth.
In modern medicine, it’s used for:
High blood pressure: Helps stabilize blood pressure and reduce related headaches.
Migraines: Eases headache pain and frequency.
Vertigo: Relieves dizziness, especially from inner ear issues.
Insomnia and anxiety: Promotes better sleep and calms the mind.
Stroke recovery: Supports recovery from cerebrovascular issues.
How It Works in the Body
The formula addresses two key problems:
Overactive Liver and Internal Wind: When the liver has too much yang energy, it creates "wind" that rises to the head, causing headaches, dizziness, or spasms.
Heat and Poor Circulation: Excess liver energy can cause heat, leading to irritability, insomnia, or a bitter taste. Poor blood flow worsens symptoms like numbness.
The herbs work together to calm the liver, cool heat, improve blood flow, and nourish the liver and kidneys, relieving these symptoms.
Modern Research
Studies show that Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin is effective for:
Lowering blood pressure and stabilizing it
Reducing migraine frequency and intensity
Improving sleep quality
Easing anxiety and irritability
Supporting recovery from stroke-related symptoms
Patients often report better blood pressure control, fewer headaches, and calmer moods after using this formula, confirming its value in modern medicine.
How the Herbs Work Together
Each herb has a specific role:
Gastrodia root and uncaria vine: Calm liver wind to stop headaches and dizziness.
Cassia seed: Cools the liver to reduce dizziness and irritability.
Skullcap root and dogwood fruit: Clear heat and nourish the liver to ease restlessness.
Cyathula root: Directs blood flow downward to relieve head symptoms.
Eucommia bark and mistletoe: Strengthen the liver and kidneys to reduce numbness.
Motherwort: Improves blood flow to ease headaches and numbness.
Fleeceflower root and poria mushroom: Calm the mind for better sleep and less anxiety.
This balanced blend soothes the liver without being too harsh and nourishes the body for lasting relief.
Food to Support Treatment
Pairing the formula with certain foods can boost its effects:
Gastrodia and fish head stew: Gastrodia calms the liver, while fish head supports blood flow with protein and healthy fats.
Cassia seed tea: Cools the liver and supports eye health, great for high blood pressure.
Eucommia and pork kidney dish: Strengthens the liver and kidneys for those feeling weak.
Mistletoe and chicken soup: Nourishes the liver and kidneys while easing joint or muscle discomfort.
These foods help the body absorb the herbs’ benefits for better results.
Precautions
Avoid if you have yin deficiency with wind symptoms (e.g., dry mouth, night sweats, and twitching). Consult a doctor first.
Use cautiously if you have a weak stomach or feel cold easily, as the formula may be too strong.
Consult a professional: Always get guidance from a registered Chinese medicine practitioner before using this formula.
Conclusion
Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin is a powerful yet gentle herbal remedy that calms the liver, clears heat, boosts blood flow, and nourishes the liver and kidneys. It’s perfect for relieving headaches, dizziness, irritability, and insomnia caused by an overactive liver.
Modern research supports its use for high blood pressure, migraines, vertigo, and anxiety, making it a valuable tool in both traditional and modern medicine. By combining this formula with supportive foods, you can enhance its effects and feel calmer, healthier, and more balanced.
Chinese Name | 天麻鉤藤飲 |
Phonetic | Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin |
English Name | Gastrodia and Uncaria Decoction |
Classification | Wind-calming formulas |
Source | 《Newly Explained Diagnosis and Treatment of TCM Internal Medicine and Miscellaneous Diseases》Zhong Yi Nei Ke Za Bing Zheng Zhi Xin Yi《中醫內科雜病證治新義》 |
Combination | Gastrodiae Rhizoma (Tian Ma) 9g, Uncariae Ramulus cum Uncis (Gou Teng) 12g, Haliotidis Concha (Sheng Jue Ming) 18g, Gardeniae Fructus (Shan Zhi) 9g, Scutellariae Radix (Huang Qin) 9g, Cyathulae Radix (Chuan Niu Xi) 12g, Eucommiae Cortex (Du Zhong) 9g, Leonuri Herba (Yi Mu Cao) 9g, Taxilli Herba (Sang Ji Sheng) 9g, Polygoni Multiflori Caulis (Ye Jiao Teng) 9g, Poriae Pararadicis Sclerotium (Zhu Fu Shen) 9g |
Method | Prepare as a decoction. |
Action | Calms the liver and extinguishes wind, clears heat and invigorates blood, supplements and boosts the liver and kidney. |
Indication | Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin is indicated for patterns of hyperactive liver yang and ascending liver wind. The symptoms are headache, dizziness and vertigo, insomnia with profuse dreaming; or a bitter taste in the mouth, flushed face, a red tongue with a yellow tongue coating, and a wiry or rapid pulse. |
Pathogenesis | Liver and kidney deficiency with hyperactive liver yang generating wind and heat is the cause of this pattern. Hyperactive liver yang leads to ascending wind that harasses the upper body and causes headache and vertigo. Excessive liver yang generates heat that harasses the heart resulting in irritability, insomnia, and excessive dreaming. A red tongue body with a yellow coating and a wiry, rapid pulse are the signs of hyperactive yang generating heat. The root of this syndrome is deficiency and the branch is excess, although the branch is more pronounced. Therefore, the treatment emphasizes calming the liver to extinguish wind, while clearing wind to calm the mind and nourishing liver and kidney assist. |
Application | 1. Essential pattern differentiation Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin serves as the common formula used to treat hyperactive liver yang and liver wind harassing the upper body. This clinical pattern is marked by headache, vertigo, insomnia, red tongue body with yellow tongue coating, wiry pulse. 2. Modern applications This formula may be used in the following biomedically defined disorders when the patient shows signs of ascending hyperactive liver yang or liver wind harassing the upper body: hypertension, cerebrovascular accident, and auditory vertigo. |
Remark | Euconmmia (Eucommia ulmoides) is listed as "Vulnerable" in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. |
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