Skullcap

Skullcap was used by Native Americans for rabies and to promote menstruation. SKULLCAP WAS CONSIDERED A SPECIFIC REMEDY FOR SOOTHING NERVOUSNESS, EXCITEMENT AND HYSTERIA BY ECLECTICS. It is characterised by dish-shaped seed pods that grow on only one side of the stem. 

---

Botanical Name: Scutellaria lateriflora

Common name: Skullcap

Family: Lamiacaea

Parts Used: Aerial parts harvested late in flowering period when seed pods have appeared

---

Active Constituents: 

• Tannins
• Flavonoids
  • baicalin, baicalein, chrysin and wogonin
  • scutellarin, methoxyflavone, and catalpol
• Diterpenoids
• Resins
• Lignins
• Volatile oils / fixed oils – predominantly sesquiterpenes
• Minerals Fe, S, Ca, Mg P
• Amino Acids – GABA & glutamine
• Bitter

---

Qualities: 

Cool, dry, bitter, slightly astringent

---

Person Picture:

Tall and thin. They may be a ‘walking nervous breakdown’. Life in the fast lane. 

Generally are ‘ideas’ people – intellectually bright and NEED TO BE STIMULATED. Will get agitated or irritable if they can’t think of ideas or aren’t stimulated. Need constant ‘new & different’ things going on.  

May have shaken hands. Trouble regulating adrenaline & noradrenaline. Eyelid may droop. May get headaches/migraines. EXTREME ADRENAL RESPONSES. May use stimulants and downers to regulate this. (Hall) ‘Too smart for own good’.

Perfect herb for HYPERSENSITIVE individuals – i.e those that are overstimulated easily by the senses. Also those individuals sensitive to foods/allergies/intolerances etc.

Calms neuronal impulses.

---

“Skullcap is perhaps the most widely relevant nervine available to us in the material media” – David Hoffman, 1983

---

Actions: 

• Nervine tonic – Relaxing Nervine
• Anxiolytic
• NS trophorestorative
• Spasmolytic
• Sedative (Mild)
• Anti-convulsant
• Anti-inflammatory
• Anti-oxidant
• GABAminergic?

---

Indications: 

• Anxiety
• Nervous tension
• Stress
• Nervous exhaustion and debility
• Neurological conditions, neuralgia, tremor,
• Epilepsy – specific Grand mal seizures
• Nervous headache / migraine / tension headache
• Insomnia and restless sleep
• Depression
• Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
• Teething pain for children
• Possible action of inhibiting histamine responses to food allergies
• EMOTIONAL – When someone has ‘high expectations of themselves — causing anxiety’ — monkey mind. Or ‘internal anxiety’ — someone who puts on a brave face but inside is anxious.

SUMMARY:

Calming in many Nervous Conditions – have a Tonic effect on central nervous system and indicated for nervous exhaustion. Helpful in cases of pre-menstrual tension and has been useful in epilepsy.

---

Contraindications: None known

Cautions: None known

---

Dosage: 

Liquid Extract
3-6ml 1:2LE / day 20-40ml 1:2 LE / week

Dried Herb Equivalent
3-6g / day dried aerial parts (infusion)

---

Combinations:

• Passionflower, damiana and oats in nervous exhaustion
• Valerian for sleep
• Lemon Balm for nervous stress/depression

---

 OTHER USES:

• INFUSION: Use herb fresh if possible. For insomnia – combine with wild lettuce or passionflower & take at night
• TINCTURE: Best made from fresh herb – this is a potent remedy for calming the nerves. Take %ml or combine with Lemon Balm for nervous stress or depression

---

References & Links to Articles:

Ody, Penelope (1998). The Herb Society’s Complete Medicinal Herbal. Milan: Dorling Kindersley
Hoffman, D. (1990). Holistic Herbal. London: Thorsons