Gastrodia elata has many different names. Shen Nong's Classic of Materia Medica is called Red Arrow, also called Du You and Gui Mu. In addition, there are Shencao (Wupu Materia Medica), Chijianzhi, Windward Grass (Theory of Medicinal Properties) and Lianmu (Neijing Materia Medica). Synonyms of Gastrodia elata in herbal medicines of past dynasties include Mokpo, Shi Jian, Fencao and Yufeng Grass.
Gastrodia elata is a plant belonging to Gastrodia of Orchidaceae, which is distributed in Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Hubei, Shaanxi, Anhui and other places, with Sichuan being the most widely distributed. In addition, Hebei, Henan, Shandong and Northeast China also have a small amount of cultivation. Gastrodia elata is a fungus-eating herb for many years. Its leaves degenerate into a membrane, and the whole plant contains almost no chlorophyll. It belongs to a typical heterotrophic plant and is used as medicine with massive alkali. Gastrodia elata is flat in nature and sweet in taste, and has the effect of calming wind and calming convulsions. Indications are febrile convulsion, numbness of limbs, migraine, dizziness, hypertension and insomnia in children.
In ancient times, Gastrodia elata has been widely used in medical care, and it is a valuable Chinese medicine commonly used by ancient doctors. It has a clinical application history of more than 2000 years. According to Shennong's Herbal Classic, Gastrodia elata has the miraculous effect of "controlling and killing, making drugs and evil spirits, benefiting qi for a long time, nourishing yin and strengthening the body, and prolonging life"; According to the records of famous doctors, Gastrodia elata can "relieve pain and detumescence, make the lower branch full, and (cure) cold hernia bleeding". "Rihuazi Materia Medica" records that Gastrodia elata can "help Yang Qi to repair five strains and seven injuries, dredge blood vessels and enlighten people"; According to "Kaibao Materia Medica", Gastrodia elata can "treat rheumatism, limb contracture, infantile wind epilepsy, convulsion, benefit the waist and knees and strengthen the bones and muscles". Gastrodia elata can be used to treat acute convulsion, fever, convulsion, headache, bone and muscle pain, rheumatic beriberi, premature senility, white hair, dizziness, numbness of limbs, headache due to liver deficiency, stroke hemiplegia, tetanus and other symptoms according to the Guide to Pediatric Medical Syndrome, General Record of Promoting Muscle Growth, Puji Prescription and authentic surgical records. During the Guangxu period of the Qing dynasty, Mrs. Cide suffered from wind and used it.
Gastrodia elata combined with other drugs for expelling wind and activating collaterals, grinded into fine wine, and hot compressed the affected area; Guangxu has a headache and dizziness, and he often washes his hair with Gastrodia elata and related drugs. The effect is good.
In modern times, Gastrodia elata is more widely used in medical care. According to People's Republic of China (PRC) Pharmacopoeia, Gastrodia elata has the effects of calming the liver, calming endogenous wind, expelling pathogenic wind and relieving convulsion, and can be used for dizziness, numbness of limbs, convulsion, epilepsy, hypertension and otogenic vertigo. A famous doctor attributed the functions of Gastrodia elata to "three resistances, three towns and one tonic", namely, anti-epilepsy, anti-convulsion, anti-rheumatism, sedation, spasmolysis, analgesia and nourishing.
In recent years, studies have proved that gastrodin injection has the function of dilating blood vessels and enhancing blood vessel elasticity, and has a significant effect on treating nervous system symptoms and cardiovascular system diseases caused by cerebral basilar artery insufficiency. In recent years, the emerging aerospace medicine has taken Gastrodia elata as a brain health care product for altitude pilots, which can significantly reduce dizziness and enhance the resolution of optic nerve.