Tianma is neutral in nature and has a sweet taste. It is known for its ability to calm the liver, relieve wind, and stop spasms, earning it the title of "the god medicine for wind treatment". The ancients were well aware of the side effects and contraindications of Tianma. In his book "Benjing Fengyuan", the famous Qing dynasty physician Zhang Lu pointed out: "Although Tianma is not dry in nature, it is still a wind-releasing agent. It should not be used indiscriminately in cases of blood deficiency without wind, flaming headache, dry mouth, and constipation." Modern pharmacological experiments have also confirmed that Tianma has certain toxic side effects. The toxic dose of single Tianma is more than 40 grams, and the incubation period for poisoning is 1 to 6 hours.
When taking medications containing Tianma, the following points should be noted:
1. Tianma should be used with caution in cases of diminished body fluids, manifested as dizziness or headache, dry tongue and mouth, dry throat, and dry stool.
2. Clinical evidence has shown that the effect of using Tianma alone is not satisfactory or uncertain. Therefore, it is best to take Tianma in combination with other medications or ingredients. Even when taking Tianma preparations alone, a small dose should be taken first. If no adverse reactions occur, the normal or appropriate dosage can be taken. Generally, the daily dose of Tianma is 3 to 9 grams.
3. Tianma should not be decocted for a long time when used in decoction. The main component of Tianma is tianmaside, which is highly volatile when heated. Therefore, it is best to first soak Tianma in a small amount of water until it softens, then slice it thinly, air dry or sun dry it, and grind it into powder. The powder can be mixed with decoction or brewed with boiling water.
4. When using Tianma preparations, if symptoms such as dizziness, chest tightness, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, palpitations, increased respiration, or itching of the skin occur, the medication should be stopped immediately. Those with severe symptoms should seek medical attention promptly.
