Objective To investigate the effect of rhizoma cyperi on pharmacokinetics of ferulic acid in ligusticum wallichii in normal and nitroglycerin-induced migraine model rats. Methods The rat migraine model was created by nitroglycerin (10 mg/kg). SD rats were divided into normal rhizoma ligustici wallichii group, normal rhizoma ligustici wallichii and rhizoma cyperi group, model rhizoma ligustici wallichii group, and model rhizoma ligustici wallichii and rhizoma cyperi group. We used RP-HPLC (0.2% formic acid water [A]-methanol [B], gradient elution 322 nm) to detect the concentration of ferulic acid in rat plasma at 8 h after oral administration. DAS 2.0 software was used to calculate the pharmacokinetic parameters. Results Methodology inspection conformed that HPLC met the requirements for determination. Compared with normal rhizoma ligustici wallichii group, the absorption half time (t_1/2Ka) of ferulic acid was significantly reduced in normal rhizoma ligustici wallichii and rhizoma cyperi group (P<0.05), and the peak time (T_max) was significantly shortened (P<0.05), with no differences found for other parameters. Compared with model rhizoma ligustici wallichii group, model rhizoma ligustici wallichii and rhizoma cyperi group had significantly increased maximum plasma concentration (C_max), area under curve (AUC), distribution half-life time (t_1/2α), and apparent volume of distribution of ferulic acid (P<0.05 or P<0.01), significantly shortened T_max (P<0.05), and significantly decreased the absorption rate and the clearance speed (P<0.01). Conclusion Rhizoma cyperi enhances the absorption of ferulic acid in normal rats, while in migraine model rats it reduces the distribution and metabolism of ferulic acid and prolongs functioning time, subsequently promoting the bioavailability of ferulic acid.