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Produced in Suzhou and Shaanxi. It belongs to the category of *Cistanche* (Rou Cong Rong). When emerging from the soil, it resembles a bamboo shoot, being plump at the top and slender at the bottom, with scales arranged like comb teeth, and sinews and veins interconnected, resembling male genitalia. Locals dig it up, wash and peel it, slice it thinly, dry it in the sun, and sell it.

The flavor is sweet and salty; the nature is warm. It is suitable for entering the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. It greatly tonifies Yin Qi, benefits Essence and Blood, and secures Essence. For constipation due to dryness (when deficient individuals suffer from dry accumulation, consuming it can replace *Cistanche*, and cooking it into porridge is even better; if there is no dry accumulation, do not use it). It moistens dryness, nourishes sinews, and treats flaccidity and weakness. Select those that are firm and fleshy, soak them in distilled liquor seven times, and bake them seven times, then grind into powder for oral administration. It can benefit Qi.

*Shennong Bencao Jing* refers to it as Chijian (Red Arrow). Also known as Dingfeng Cao (Wind-Calming Grass). In spring, the seedlings emerge like *Paeonia lactiflora* (Shaoyao), drawing out a single stem alone, three or four chi high. The stem is hollow inside, with a true red color, resembling an arrow shaft, and possessing feather-like structures. It does not move when there is wind, but sways spontaneously when there is no wind. At the tip in April, it forms spikes bearing grayish-white flowers, producing fruits similar to *Melia azedarach* (Lianzi) seeds, which do not fall even in autumn. Instead, they penetrate through the hollow stem downwards, growing secretly underground. The root resembles a taro tuber. Removing three or five cun from the root tip, there are twelve lateral buds (Youzi), arranged in a ring like guards, each having fine roots. Although they lean on each other, they are not actually connected. Large ones weigh half a jin, or five to six liang. The skin color is yellowish-white, named Longpi Rou (Dragon Skin Meat), which is Tianma (*Gastrodiae Rhizoma*). The *Bencao Jing* name covered both root and shoot. Later, the shoot was distinguished as Chijian, and the root as Tianma, because their therapeutic powers have slight similarities and differences. There is a plant called Yufeng Cao (Wind-Defying Grass) similar to Chijian, with a single stem, green-spotted color, yellowish-white leaf backs with green spots, swaying with the wind, and seeds that do not return into the stem tube. Its therapeutic effects are somewhat compatible, but its tonic properties are vastly different.

The taste is pungent, sweet, and mild; the nature is neutral. It floats and ascends, belonging to Yang. It is a drug for the Qi aspect of the Liver Meridian. It assists Yang Qi and primarily treats vertigo and headache caused by Wind-Deficiency (Eye blackouts and dizziness caused internally by Wind-Deficiency cannot be treated effectively without Tianma). It also treats headaches and vertigo due to Phlegm-Heat obstructing upwards, and is good at treating fright, loss of will, and hesitant speech. It tonifies labor injuries, benefits the waist and knees, strengthens sinews and muscles, and expels various Wind-Dampness (Long-term consumption of Tianma leaves results in erythematous rashes all over the body, which is a sign of expelling Wind). It treats numbness, spasm, cold Qi Bi syndrome, paralysis and flaccidity, unblocking blood vessels and benefiting joint orifices, calming infantile Wind-Epilepsy and fright Qi, and regulating the menses in women. For Liver deficiency and insufficiency, Tianma combined with *Chuanxiong Rhizoma* (Xiongxue) is used to tonify it (Ability to facilitate Wind transformation is itself a form of tonification). It further treats Wind-Heat headache or dysarthria.

(Li Dongyuan) Combined with *Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma* (Baizhu), *Pinelliae Rhizoma* (Banxia), *Scutellariae Radix* (Huangqin), *Peucedani Radix* (Qianhu), *Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium* (Chenpi), and *Poria* (Fuling), it treats Phlegm-Jue headache. Combined with Baizhu, Chenpi, Fuling, and *Plantaginis Semen* (Cheqianzi), it treats fluid retention in the heart region causing fullness and distension. Combined with *Aconiti Lateralis Preparata Radix* (Nanxing), Qianhu, Chenpi, and *Baiqian*, it eliminates various types of Wind-Phlegm.

Attached Formula: Tianma Wan (Gastrodia Pill). Expels Wind and resolves Phlegm, clears and benefits the head and eyes, broadens the chest and benefits the diaphragm. Treats palpitations and vexation, dizziness feeling as if falling, neck stiffness and shoulder/back fatigue, mental confusion and excessive sleepiness, painful joints, skin itching, lateral and frontal headaches, nasal congestion, and puffy face and eyes. All are suitable for taking this pill. Tianma 5 qian, Xiongqiong 2 liang, ground into powder, made into pills with refined honey, the size of *Euryale ferox* seeds (Qianshi). Chew one pill after each meal, taken with tea or wine as preferred.

[Discussion] Tianma is miraculous in treating Internal Wind. Internal Wind is Deficient Wind. The human body relies on the harmony of Yin and Yang to generate Qi, while Wood-Wind Qi reaches Yang from Yin. Therefore, Yin deficiency leads to Excess Wind, and Yang deficiency leads to Deficient Wind. Diseases caused by Deficient Wind arise either from Clear Yang failing to ascend and Turbid Yin failing to descend, causing Liver Wood to lose its generating and ascending Qi; or from Spleen-Stomach pathology leading to Earth failure and Wood insulting, generating Deficient Wind. Thus, the cause of Deficient Wind lies not only in stagnation and failure to communicate, but also in insulting what it cannot overcome (Metal). In this herb, Chijian is the shoot, and Tianma is the root. The root draws the shoot straight upward, embodying the principle of moving from interior to exterior. The shoot produces seeds that mature and fall back into the stem tube downward, embodying the merit of moving from exterior to interior. It remains still when there is wind and sways spontaneously when there is none, similar to *Angelica pubescens* (Duhuo), but its ability to promote Wind transformation and suppress Wind changes is greatly different. Generally, promoting Wind transformation follows the principle of moving from interior to exterior, which is Ascending. Suppressing Wind changes follows the merit of moving from exterior to interior, which is Descending. Regarding its ascending and descending actions, it has already incorporated all the merits of Chijian into Tianma. One cannot say that the root's function is limited to moving from interior to exterior and lacks the subtlety of returning to the root. Therefore, treating vertigo and epileptic convulsions, which are cases where Wind-Deficiency fails to reach Yang, using it to move from interior to exterior inherently possesses the quality of moving from exterior to interior. (Treating Wind syndromes also mentions using Tianma and *Saposhnikoviae Radix* (Fangfeng) with acrid-warm dispersing methods, which is not true dispersion, but rather dispersing by preventing the Wind pathogen from becoming chaotic.) Furthermore, treating Wind-Damp spasms, Bi syndrome, and paralysis, which are cases where Wind-Deficiency fails to circulate in Yin, relying on it to move from exterior to interior inherently possesses the function of moving from interior to exterior. (The Wind Zang is the Blood Zang; thus, the Liver governs meridians and collaterals. Wind transformation circulating in Yin is what is meant by unblocking blood vessels and benefiting joint orifices.) Can the efficacy of Tianma be described solely by its treatment of Wind?

One might ask: If Wood insults deficient Earth, Wood seems to reside in excess. Why is it still called Deficient Wind? It is unknown that although the Qi of Wind-Wood originates from the congenital vital Qi, it actually travels in conjunction with the acquired Middle Qi. If the Middle Earth is deficient and declining, the source of Wind-Wood transformation is damaged. How can this not be called Wind-Deficiency? (The ability of Clear Yang to ascend and descend relies entirely on the Middle Earth as the pivot. In diseases of Earth decline and Wood insult, failing to tonify the Spleen and nurture the Liver, and instead merely using bitter-cold drugs to attack the Liver, often leads to premature death. Thus, the meaning of Luo’s treatment of Deficient Wind is fully summarized by the phrase "assisting Yang Qi".) Then why is it used for Excess Wind of Yang? I reply: Human Wind transformation travels alongside Yuan Qi (Original Qi); Yin guards Yang. The Classics state: Deficiency belongs to True Qi, Excess belongs to Pathogenic Qi. If True Qi has proper guardianship, will Pathogenic Qi not disperse on its own? Therefore, administering it for Yang deficiency is indeed a targeted treatment. Even when administered for Yang excess, it utilizes the qi mechanism of "remaining still amidst wind" to cleverly apply the function of the pivotal point. (Kou Zhenchang stated that it must be assisted by other drugs, as attacking and tonifying agents differ, yet all can utilize it to maximize variability.)

[Differentiation and Treatment] After harvesting, sun-dry until the flesh is firm and white like sheep horn, called Yangjiao Tianma. Steamed until yellow and wrinkled like a dried melon, commonly called Jianggua Tianma, both are usable. A variety that is pointed in shape, hollow and thin like *Scrophulariae Radix* (Xuanshen), is unsuitable for use.

[Processing] Take ten liang of Tianma, cut into pieces, place in a jar. Use one yi of *Tribuli Fructus* (Jili), slowly roast until scorched, cover it over the Tianma, seal tightly with triple-layered paper, from Si hour to Wei hour. Remove Tribulus, stir-fry it, cover and seal again as before. Repeat this process seven times. Wipe off the moisture/sweat with cloth, split with a knife, bake dry, and crush singly for use. (This processing method is required for Wind-Bi medicines.) To treat Liver Meridian Wind-Deficiency, wash clean, wrap in wet paper, roast in chaff fire until cooked, take out, slice, soak in wine overnight, bake dry, and use.