Sibu Tales : Tien Ma

Gastrodia Elata (tien ma) 天麻

Chinese mothers would steam some tien ma for their children when they sit for their exams. Before and during the end of the year exams (in China the Gou Kou - end of senior middle school exam for university entrance) the price of tien ma would surge. Such is the demand for this root.

The roots have calming effects. It is believed that they prevent headaches, neuralgia, vertigo and diizziness, expel wind, alleviate pain for migraine, numbness of extremities and general fatique.

Flowers bloom from July to August

The best tien ma come from the Tibetan mountains. The Tibetans would look for the perennial alpine plant. It has a large central root with 12 smaller tubers on the side. The fresh tubers are used as food and the dried tubers are sold, the good ones are worth their weight in good.

It is a superior TCM root well recognised as the most effective remedies for headaches, vertigo and other neuralgic afflictions caused by inflammations of the liver. It can help ease epilepsi. It is also known as an aphrodisiac and a tonic.

I had my share of tien ma soup (usually made with pork bones) for my headaches and in turn I steam tien ma for my children from time to time.

Today it can also be bought in pill form from TCM shops. Very convenient. However I still go to my cousin's shop Ing Kong Drug Store in Miri to get my supply. It is not expensive.