Liver-Wind Extinguishing Formulas

天麻钩藤饮 · Tiān Má Gōu Téng Yǐn

Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin

A modern classic formula (1958) designed to calm hyperactive Liver Yang and extinguish internal Wind. Widely used for headache, dizziness, tinnitus and insomnia associated with rising Liver Yang, often on a background of Liver-Kidney deficiency.

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Last reviewed July 2026

Formula CategoryLiver-Wind Extinguishing Formulas

Primary PatternLiver Fire

Primary FunctionCalm Liver Yang, extinguish internal wind, clear heat

Primary Therapeutic PrincipleCalm the Liver, extinguish wind, clear heat, invigorate blood, and tonify the Liver and Kidneys

Main HerbsGastrodia Rhizome · Uncaria Stem with Hooks · Abalone Shell · Gardenia Fruit · Scutellaria / Baikal Skullcap · Leonurus / Motherwort · Cyathula Root · Eucommia Bark · Taxillus / Mulberry Mistletoe · Fleeceflower Stem · Poria with Pine Root

Classical SourceZhong Yi Nei Ke Za Bing Zheng Zhi Xin Yi (Hu Guangci, 1958)

Why This Formula?

Traditionally selected when liver yang hyperactivity presents with heat signs and yin deficiency is comparatively mild, combining liver-calming and wind-extinguishing action with heat-clearing and blood-activating herbs — offering a gentler, more balanced approach than Zhen Gan Xi Feng Tang's heavier settling and yin-nourishing strategy for more pronounced yin deficiency and qi-blood counterflow.

Overview

What Is Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin?

1. Crystallisation of Ancient Physician Wisdom

Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin (天麻鉤藤饮 Gastrodia and Uncaria Decoction), sometimes written as Tianma Gouteng Yin, is a classical Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formula traditionally used for patterns associated with Liver Yang Rising, headaches, dizziness, and hypertension-related symptoms. Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin is a classical formula in the field of TCM nourishes the liver and kidneys, emerging from centuries of in-depth research into various disease patterns and the accumulated clinical experience of ancient physicians. Throughout TCM's long history of development, generations of physicians continually explored how to better treat a wide range of conditions — especially those related to dizziness, headache, and similar complaints. Through sustained trial and refinement, the relatively complete therapeutic approach embodied in Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin gradually took shape.

2. Hypertension

Primarily for hypertensive patients with liver yang hyperactivity, this formula effectively reduces elevated blood pressure. It alleviates accompanying symptoms such as headache, dizziness, tinnitus, bitter taste, flushed face, irritability, and insomnia with profuse dreams, significantly improving patients' quality of life.

3. Dizziness and Vertigo

Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin yields strong therapeutic results for dizziness and vertigo rooted in liver yang hyperactivity. It addresses symptoms like persistent dizziness, tinnitus, distending head and eye pain, bitter taste, dry throat, heart vexation, and insomnia, by calming liver wind and clearing liver fire.

4. Headache

Effective for headaches caused by liver yang hyperactivity, especially distending pain at the temples or vertex. It helps reduce headaches accompanied by bitter taste, flushed face, and irritability, through its actions of calming the liver, extinguishing internal wind, clearing heat, and activating blood circulation.

How It Works

Herb Composition (Sovereign / Minister / Assistant / Envoy)

1. Chief Herbs: Liver-Calming & Wind-Extinguishing

The therapeutic power of Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin stems from its carefully selected herbs, each contributing to effectively address liver yang hyperactivity, internal wind, and related heat patterns.

Tianma (Gastrodia) calms the liver and extinguishes wind, crucial for dizziness and headaches caused by internal wind. Gouteng (Uncaria) clears heat, calms the liver, and stops convulsions. These two form the core action against liver yang hyperactivity.

2. Deputy Herbs: Clearing Heat & Subduing Yang

Shijueming (Abalone Shell) powerfully settles and subdues hyperactive liver yang, assisting the chief herbs. Zhizi (Gardenia) and Huangqin (Scutellaria) clear heat and drain fire, targeting the heat pathogens associated with liver yang excess, further stabilizing the system.

3. Adjuvant Herbs: Tonifying & Guiding

Duzhong (Eucommia) tonifies the liver and kidney, addressing the root yin deficiency. Niuxi (Achyranthes) guides the rebellious liver yang downward, alleviating head-and-eye symptoms. Sangjisheng (Taxillus) reinforces liver and kidney tonification, ensuring comprehensive support.

4. Envoy Herbs: Harmonizing & Calming

Yimucao (Motherwort) promotes blood circulation and fluid balance, while Yejiaoteng (Polygonum Stem) and Zhufushen (Cinnabar-Processed Poria) nourish the heart, calm the mind, and improve sleep quality, alleviating mental unrest and insomnia caused by the underlying imbalance.

Symptoms Traditionally Associated

Clinical Presentation in TCM

1. Pathomechanism Targeted

Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin primarily targets liver yang hyperactivity, which often arises from a deficiency in liver-kidney yin. This deficiency, triggered by emotional factors, diet, or stress, leads to unrestrained yang ascending to the head, causing symptoms like dizziness, headache, heart vexation, and insomnia. It reflects an internal imbalance where cooling yin fails to curb rising heat.

2. Therapeutic Actions

This formula comprehensively calms the liver and extinguishes internal wind (Tianma, Gouteng), clears heat and activates blood (Shijueming, Zhizi, Huangqin), and tonifies the liver and kidney (Duzhong, Niuxi, Sangjisheng). This synergistic approach effectively subdues ascending yang, cools internal heat, and nourishes the foundational yin to restore harmony.

3. Primary Indications

It is predominantly indicated for headache and dizziness due to liver yang hyperactivity. Characteristic signs include distending headaches, tinnitus, bitter taste, flushed face, irritability, and insomnia with vivid dreams. It also effectively manages hypertension linked to liver yang excess, alleviating associated symptoms and helping to stabilize blood pressure levels.

Formula Analysis

The Mechanism in Classical Theory

1. The Power to Calm the Liver and Extinguish Wind

Tianma and Gouteng, as the sovereign herbs, are the core medicines for calming the liver and extinguishing wind. They act directly on the liver channel to quell liver wind and allow the hyperactive liver yang to subside and descend. Shijueming assists Tianma and Gouteng in reinforcing the liver-calming and yang-subduing action; the three acting together form a powerful liver-calming and wind-extinguishing force that effectively relieves head-and-eye dizziness, headache, and other symptoms.

2. The Function of Clearing Heat and Draining Fire

Zhizi and Huangqin clear and drain the fire of the triple burner, excelling particularly at clearing and draining the heat of the liver channel. They eliminate fire-heat pathogens from the body, reducing the pathological factors driving liver yang hyperactivity — preventing liver yang from flaring even further due to the fanning of heat pathogen. By clearing heat and draining fire, they help restore the liver's normal function and relieve the various discomforts caused by liver yang hyperactivity.

3. The Effect of Tonifying the Liver and Kidney

Duzhong, Niuxi, and Sangjisheng tonify the liver and kidney and strengthen the sinews and bones. Liver yang hyperactivity commonly leads to liver-kidney yin deficiency; these three herbs supplement the insufficiency of liver and kidney, fundamentally adjusting the body's yin-yang balance. At the same time, they also assist the liver-calming wind-extinguishing herbs to act more effectively — allowing the formula to nourish the liver and kidney while calming the liver and subduing yang, achieving treatment of both branch and root.

4. The Ingenuity of Activating Blood, Promoting Urination, and Calming the Mind

Yimucao activates blood and promotes urination, facilitating qi-blood circulation and regulating fluid metabolism — helping to improve the impaired qi-blood flow and fluid metabolism caused by liver yang hyperactivity. Yejiaoteng and Zhufushen quiet the heart and calm the mind, relieving the heart vexation and insomnia caused by liver yang hyperactivity, so that patients receive better physical and mental nourishment during treatment — facilitating recovery from disease. All the herbs work in concert, together realising the formula's overall efficacy.

How This Formula Compares

Clinical Comparison Table

Compare	Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin	Zhen Gan Xi Feng Tang	Long Dan Xie Gan Tang	Qi Ju Di Huang Wan
Primary Function	Calm Liver Yang, extinguish internal wind, clear heat	Sedate Liver Yang, extinguish internal wind, nourish Yin	Clear Liver Fire, drain Damp-Heat	Nourish Liver-Kidney Yin, brighten the eyes
Formula Category	Liver-Wind Extinguishing Formulas	Liver-Wind Extinguishing Formulas	Heat-Clearing Formulas	Yin-Tonifying Formulas
Typical TCM Pattern	Liver Fire	Liver Fire	Liver Fire	Kidney Yin Deficiency
Main Conditions	Headache, Dizziness & Vertigo, Tinnitus, Anxiety Restlessness	Dizziness & Vertigo, Headache	Bitter Taste in Mouth, Damp-Heat Constitution	Dizziness & Vertigo, Eye Dryness, Tinnitus, Night Sweats, Fatigue & Low Energy
Main Herbs	Gastrodia Rhizome · Uncaria Stem with Hooks · Abalone Shell · Gardenia Fruit · Scutellaria / Baikal Skullcap · Leonurus / Motherwort · Cyathula Root · Eucommia Bark · Taxillus / Mulberry Mistletoe · Fleeceflower Stem · Poria with Pine Root	Achyranthes Root · Hematite · Dragon Bone / Fossilized Bone · Oyster Shell · Tortoise Plastron · White Peony Root · Scrophularia Root · Asparagus Tuber · Toosendan Fruit · Barley Sprout · Virgate Wormwood · Licorice Root	Gentian Root · Scutellaria / Baikal Skullcap · Gardenia Fruit · Alisma Rhizome · Akebia Stem · Plantago Seed · Chinese Angelica Root · Raw Rehmannia Root · Bupleurum Root · Licorice Root	Prepared Rehmannia Root · Cornus Fruit · Chinese Yam · Alisma Rhizome · Moutan Bark / Tree Peony Bark · Poria / Hoelen · Goji Berry / Lycium Fruit · Chrysanthemum Flower
Classical Source	Zhong Yi Nei Ke Za Bing Zheng Zhi Xin Yi (Hu Guangci, 1958)	Yi Xue Zhong Zhong Can Xi Lu (Records of Medicine with Reference to East and West, Zhang Xichun, 1918)	Yi Fang Ji Jie (Analytic Collection of Medical Formulas, Wang Ang, Qing dynasty)	Derived from Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Yi Fang Ji Jie / later traditional sources)

How to tell them apart

Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin is the representative milder formula for Liver Yang rising with internal Wind. Zhen Gan Xi Feng Tang more strongly anchors Yang with heavy minerals for severe presentations. Long Dan Xie Gan Tang clears excess Liver Fire/Damp-Heat. Qi Ju Di Huang Wan nourishes Liver-Kidney Yin for deficiency-rooted eye and dizziness symptoms.

For educational reference only, based on traditional pattern differentiation — not a substitute for professional advice.

Clinical Modifications

Clinical Modifications for Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin

1. Severe Headache

To enhance pain relief, Chuanxiong (Ligusticum Root), Baizhi (Angelica Dahurica Root), and Xiakucao (Prunella Spike) are added. Chuanxiong activates blood and qi, dispelling wind; Baizhi releases exterior cold and pain; while Xiakucao clears liver fire, particularly effective for headaches with upflaming liver fire.

2. Severe Dizziness and Vertigo

For profound dizziness, heavy settling and yang-subduing substances like Longgu (Dragon Bone), Muli (Oyster Shell), and Zhenzhumu (Nacre/Pearl Shell) may be included. These powerfully calm the liver, subdue rebellious yang, and settle the mind, reinforcing the formula's core action against severe internal wind.

3. Insomnia with Profuse Dreams

To address sleep disturbances, heart-nourishing and mind-calming herbs such as Suanzaoren (Sour Jujube Seed), Baiziren (Biota Seed), and Yuanzhi (Polygala Root) are beneficial. Suanzaoren nourishes the heart and calms the spirit, Baiziren soothes the mind, and Yuanzhi resolves phlegm-heat affecting sleep, collectively improving sleep quality.

4. Pronounced Bitter Taste and Dry Throat

When liver heat is prominent, resulting in a bitter taste and dry throat, Longdancao (Gentiana Root) and Juhua (Chrysanthemum) can be added. Longdancao strongly clears liver and gallbladder fire, while Juhua disperses wind-heat and calms the liver, effectively alleviating these heat-related symptoms.

Modern Research

What the Science Suggests

1. Effects on Blood Pressure

In Chinese herbal medicine, Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin is a classical formula that nourishes the liver and kidney while it clears heat and drains fire to calm liver wind agitating internally. It also invigorates blood and nourishes the liver, making it especially suitable for liver heat patterns that manifest with a bitter taste in the mouth, internal wind and a wiry, rapid pulse. Key herbs such as Ye Jiao Teng, Shi Jue Ming, Zhu Fu Shen, Chuan Niu Xi, du zhong and sang ji sheng work synergistically to support the liver and kidneys and restore internal balance.

Modern research shows Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin can lower blood pressure by regulating vascular smooth muscle function, improving endothelial function, and reducing blood viscosity, thereby protecting organs (heart, brain, kidneys) from hypertensive damage. It also modulates neurotransmitter release and metabolism, stabilizes neural excitability (including cerebral cortex excitability), and can relieve vexation and insomnia related to liver-yang hyperactivity, suggesting potential in nervous system disorders.

2. Other Actions and Research Prospects

Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin may exert anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, reducing inflammatory responses and protecting cells from oxidative damage. Ongoing research may expand its applications in modern medicine and provide further evidence for broader clinical use.

Safety

Safety Considerations

1. Dietary Restrictions & Emotional Regulation

While taking Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin, avoid acrid, spicy, greasy, and irritating foods (e.g., chili, fried foods, coffee) that generate heat and worsen internal fire-heat, aggravating liver-yang hyperactivity. Maintain a calm, positive mood and avoid excessive emotional fluctuations (anxiety, anger, depression), since emotional dysregulation can exacerbate symptoms and reduce the formula’s effectiveness.

2. Special Populations

Use Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin with caution in pregnancy (contains blood-activating herbs such as Yimucao that may affect the fetus) and in patients with spleen-stomach cold deficiency, as the formula is predominantly cool/cold and may further impair spleen-stomach yang; administer only after physician risk–benefit assessment and possible modification.

Available Products

Where to Get It

Nong's Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin Extract Granules | Traditional Herbal Balance Series HJMEDICAL

HJMEDICAL Nong's Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin (Gastrodia & Uncaria) 5:1 Concentrated Granules $55.90

HJMEDICAL Nong's Tian Ma (Gastrodia Rhizome) Single Herb 5:1 Concentrated Granules $118.90

HJMEDICAL Nong's Gou Teng (Gambir Vine) Single Herb 5:1 Concentrated Granules $39.90

FAQ

Questions About Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin

Q1: What are the actions of Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin?

Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin has the actions of calming the liver and extinguishing wind, clearing heat and calming the mind, and relieving dizziness and headache. It is primarily used for symptoms caused by liver yang hyperactivity, including dizziness, headache, tinnitus, irritability, and poor sleep.

Q2: Which modern diseases is Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin suited to?

Modern TCM clinical practice commonly applies it to individuals whose pattern differentiation falls within liver yang hyperactivity, including Essential Hypertension, Vertigo, Tension-Type Headache, and the recovery phase of cerebrovascular disease.

Q3: Is Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin suitable for hypertensive patients?

For presentations of elevated blood pressure with dizziness, distending headache, tinnitus, irritability and easy anger, and insomnia with profuse dreams — in those whose pattern differentiation confirms liver yang hyperactivity — TCM commonly applies Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin as an adjunct management approach. It cannot replace standard antihypertensive treatment.

Q4: Who should not take Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin?

Those with yang-deficiency dizziness, qi-blood deficiency, low blood pressure constitution, and spleen-stomach cold deficiency are generally not suitable for self-administration. Use should be assessed by a qualified TCM physician based on individual constitution and pattern differentiation.

FAQ

General Questions

How do I choose the right formula?

TCM formulas are traditionally selected according to individual pattern differentiation rather than by symptom alone. If you're not sure which formula fits your presentation, take our AI Assessment below for a personalized starting point, then confirm with a qualified TCM practitioner.

What are concentrated herbal granules?

Concentrated herbal granules are made by decocting raw herbs, then extracting and concentrating the resulting liquid into a fine granule or powder form. This preserves the same active compounds as a traditional decoction while making the herbs far easier to store, measure, and prepare.

How should I take these products?

Dissolve the recommended amount of granules in hot water, stir until fully dissolved, and drink while warm — following the dosage and frequency advised by your TCM practitioner or as stated on the product packaging.

Are concentrated herbal granules equivalent to traditional decoctions?

Concentrated granules are produced from the same herbs and processed to retain their active compounds, so they are traditionally regarded as a convenient alternative to decoctions rather than a different remedy. Some practitioners note subtle differences in strength or absorption between the two forms, so your TCM practitioner may adjust dosage accordingly.

Are your products authentic?

Yes. HJMEDICAL sources its concentrated granules exclusively from established, reputable manufacturers such as Nong's and Hoi Tin, both long-standing names in the TCM granules industry, with GMP compliance stated directly on their packaging.

Are HJMEDICAL products manufactured under GMP standards?

HJMEDICAL sources its concentrated granules from established, reputable manufacturers such as Nong's and Hoi Tin, both long-standing names in the TCM granules industry. GMP compliance for these products is stated directly on their packaging.

Do you ship internationally?

Yes — we ship worldwide! Every order goes out via Hong Kong Post, and your exact shipping cost and estimated delivery time for your address are calculated and shown right at checkout, so there are never any surprises. We also offer free shipping once your order reaches our free-shipping threshold, so it's easy to stock up on your favorite formulas and save.

Can I take more than one formula at the same time?

Some formulas are traditionally combined, while others overlap or counteract each other. We recommend checking with a qualified TCM practitioner before combining formulas, especially if you are already taking other medication.

Are these products suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Some TCM formulas are not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Please consult a qualified TCM practitioner or your doctor before use if you are pregnant, trying to conceive, or nursing.

Do these products replace medical treatment?

No. These products are traditional herbal supplements intended to support wellbeing according to TCM principles — they are not a replacement for professional medical diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a qualified TCM practitioner or licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or combining any treatment, especially if you have a chronic condition.

Medical Disclaimer

For general TCM education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified TCM practitioner or licensed healthcare provider before use, especially if pregnant, nursing, on medication, or managing a chronic condition.

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