Gastrodia tuber

天麻

息風止痙平抑肝陽祛風通絡止頭痛眩暈

The tuber of Gastrodia elata, a leafless orchid, sold as translucent ivory-yellow slices. Mild and faintly sweet, it softens with long boiling and is the signature herb of fish-head soup, adding a smooth, gently medicinal undertone.

TCM properties

Nature · neutral　Flavour · sweet　Meridians · liver

Traditional food therapy

In Cantonese food therapy it is traditionally simmered with fish head, chuanxiong and bai zhi to extinguish inner wind, settle rising liver yang, and ease wind-type head discomfort and dizziness.

Cautions — read first

Take care if you are badly deficient in qi and blood
Some people feel dizzy or nauseous after taking it and should stop

Preparation

Slice and rinse. A long boil does it no harm.

Origin · Geo-authentic (道地) source

雲南昭通（另貴州）

Availability in Australia

Common at Asian grocers

Pairs well with

Sichuan lovage rhizome Dahurian angelica root Fish head (bighead carp)Red jujube date

Soups that use this ingredient · 2

Double-boiled fish head with gastrodia, ligusticum and angelica dahuricaNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

天麻川芎白芷燉魚頭

calms the spiritAll yearAutumnWinter

街市Fish head (bighead carp)· 1 large fish head百子櫃Gastrodia tuber· 12 g百子櫃Sichuan lovage rhizome· 9 to 12 g百子櫃Dahurian angelica root· 12 to 15 g街市Fresh ginger· 3 slices

“Simmered the whole day — nothing held back.”

Fish head soup with ligusticum, angelica dahurica and gastrodiaNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

川芎白芷天麻魚頭湯

dispels coldrelaxes sinews and jointsWinterAll year

街市Fish head (bighead carp)· 1百子櫃Sichuan lovage rhizome· 12 g (3 mace)百子櫃Dahurian angelica root· 12 g (3 mace)百子櫃Gastrodia tuber· 20 g (5 mace)街市Lean pork· 300 g百子櫃Red jujube date· 4… +1

“Simmered the whole day — nothing held back.”