Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang

Purported Benefits, Side Effects & More

Common Names

  • Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Wan
  • Banhabaekchulcheonmatang
  • Pinellia-Atractylodes Macrocephala-Gastrodia Decoction
  • Ban Xia Tian Ma Bai Zhu Tang
  • Banxia Baizhu Tianma decoction10

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For Patients & Caregivers

Tell your healthcare providers about any dietary supplements you’re taking, such as herbs, vitamins, minerals, and natural or home remedies. This will help them manage your care and keep you safe.

Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang is a traditional Chinese medicine formula. It’s made up of eight different herbs. 

Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang is used to treat:

  • Headache
  • Dizziness

Talk with your healthcare providers before taking herbal formulas. They can interact with some medications and affect how they work. For more information, read the “What else do I need to know?” section below.

Side effects have not been reported.

For Healthcare Professionals

Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang (BXBZTMT) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula consisting of eight herbs: Jiang Ban Xia (Rhizome Pinelliae), Tian Ma (Gastrodia Rhizome), Bai Zhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae), Ju hong (Red Tangerine Peel), Fu Ling (Poria), Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae), Sheng Jiang (Rhizome Zingiberis), and Da Zao (Fructus Jujubae). Described in Yi Xue Xin Yu (Awakening the Heart to the Study of Medicine) written during the Qing dynasty, BXBZTMT is used to treat dizziness and headache. 

Epidemiological studies show this formula to be among those commonly prescribed for migraines (1), and dementia  (2) (3) . 

In addition, when combined with anti-vertigo drugs, BXBZTMT improved symptoms in patients with vertebrobasilar insufficiency vertigo  (4). Patients with vertigo who used this formula also had reduced risk of stroke  (5).

Larger studies with methodological rigor are needed to bolster the evidence.

  • Headache
  • Dizziness

Proposed mechanisms underlying the effects of BXBZTMT include reduction in the volume of cerebral infarction and improved neurologic functions, as well as reduction in neuronal apoptosis. This formula also increased the content of propionate, which mediates the recovery of neurological functions  (6); and exerted vasodilatory effects via the nitric oxide (NO)-soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC)-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) pathway and prostacyclin (PGI2), followed by muscarinic pathways and calcium channels  (7).

Adverse effects have not been reported.

None known.

  1. Chang YY, Tsai YT, Lai JN, Yeh CH, Lin SK. The traditional Chinese medicine prescription patterns for migraine patients in Taiwan: a population-based study. J Ethnopharmacol. Feb 12 2014;151(3):1209-1217. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2013.12.040
  2. Lin SK, Tsai YT, Lai JN, Wu CT. Demographic and medication characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine users among dementia patients in Taiwan: a nationwide database study. J Ethnopharmacol. Feb 23 2015;161:108-15. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2014.12.015
  3. Lin SK, Tzeng JN, Lai JN. The core pattern of Chinese herbal formulae and drug-herb concurrent usage in patients with dementia. Medicine (Baltimore). Jan 2019;98(4):e13931. doi:10.1097/md.0000000000013931
  4. Guo Z, Su Z, Wang Z, Luo X, Lai R. The effect of chinese herbal medicine Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction for the treatment of vertebrobasilar insufficiency vertigo: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Complement Ther Med. Apr 2017;31:27-38. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2017.01.004
  5. Tsai TY, Li CY, Livneh H, Lin IH, Lu MC, Yeh CC. Decreased risk of stroke in patients receiving traditional Chinese medicine for vertigo: A population-based cohort study. J Ethnopharmacol. May 26 2016;184:138-43. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2016.03.008
  6. Huang F, Wang Z, Zhang Z, et al. Comprehensive evaluation of the mechanism of Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction in ameliorating posterior circulation ischemia vertigo based on integrating fecal short-chain fatty acids and 16S rRNA sequencing. J Pharm Biomed Anal. Sep 1 2024;247:116195. doi:10.1016/j.jpba.2024.116195
  7. Tan CS, Loh YC, Ng CH, et al. Anti-hypertensive and vasodilatory effects of amended Banxia Baizhu Tianma Tang. Biomed Pharmacother. Jan 2018;97:985-994. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2017.11.021
  8. Duan HP, Sun LP, et al. Modified Pinellia, Atractylodes, and Gastrodia Decoction for Treating Vertebrobasilar Artery Vertigo. Zhongguo shi yong shen jing ji bing za zhi. 2008;11(1):135-136.
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