Scutellaria (lateriflora, baicalensis)

Lamiaceae (mint) family

Other common names: mad-dog, Virginian skullcap, blue skullcap, hoodwort

The Active Herbalist products with skullcap: Peaceful Dreams Tea

History & Growing:

Despite its somewhat garish name, skullcap is a friendly herbal ally that is both easy to grow and delightful to consume. The name is inspired by the flowers – they like like tiny blue helmets! There are 100+ Scutellaria species, and they vary in medicinal properties. I will focus on Scutellaria lateriflora and Scutellaria baicalensis today, common names Skullcap (mad dog) and Baikal Skullcap. I’m currently growing Baikal Skullcap next to my lake, as the Scutellaria species enjoys wet feet and afternoon shade during the summer. Baikal Skullcap is native to China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, and Russia.  For tea blending and tincturing, I use Scutellaria lateriflora, which is native to North America – growing wild in the US and Canada. Baikal skullcap use dates back to the 2^nd century; its use as early medicine was inscribed on wooden tablets discovered in China. With a long list of indigenous uses, Skullcap (Mad Dog) (Scutellaria lateriflora) became popular in America in the early 19^th century as a rabies treatment (hence the moniker “mad dog”) and soon after its nervine properties were discovered by the Physiomedicalists (an early Anglo-American herbal school). Chinese/American skullcap reference.

Parts of Skullcap Used Medicinally: Roots (namely a remedy in Baikal skullcap preparations) and Aerial portions

• Roots are harvested after 3-4 years of growth

Ways to Consume Skullcap: Tea, decoction, tincture, vinegar, capsule or tablet

Taste: Earthly and mild; bitter tonic

Energetics: Slightly cooling and slightly drying

Actions:

• Anodyne
• Astringent (tannins!)
• Antianxiety
• Antispasmodic
• Baikal: Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic
• Bitter tonic (aids in digestion)
• Hypnotic nervine (relaxing and encouraging deep restful sleep)
• Hypotensive (relaxes the nervous system, relaxes blood vessels for easier blood flow)
• Lateriflora: Nerve tonic & Trophorestorative (helps heal damaged nerve tissue, strengthening the nervous system)

Body Systems & Organs Skullcap Impacts:

• Cardiovascular/Circulatory System + Heart
• Nervous system
• Musculoskeletal system
• Respiratory (Baikal)
• Reproductive system

Traditional Uses:

• Baikal: Chinese use for Baikal skullcap was used for “hot and damp” ailments or “hot and thirsty” conditions. Early uses per Andrew Chevallier include high fevers, coughing up thick, dark phlegm, and GI infections that lead to diarrhea or dysentery or urinary complications.
• Lateriflora: Native American use of skullcap were valuable to females of the time; skullcap was used to expel afterbirth, stimulate menstruation and alleviate menstrual symptoms. It was cited as an early treatment for manic conditions like hysteria, rabies and schizophrenia. It was also used to treat epilepsy.

Current Uses & Research:

• Both skullcaps support circulation and are valuable remedies for treating elevated blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, varicose veins, and even easy bruising (Chevallier)
• Baikal skullcap has been explored in diabetes care, specifically symptoms that result from circulation. Cataracts are included here.
  • A South Korean trial in 2011 studied Baikal skullcap (in addition to platycodon) to support weight loss in obese patients. After 8 weeks, the herb group lost significantly more weight (Chevallier)
  • Widely researched in China, Baikal skullcap has clear anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-allergy affects due largely to the flavonoid content
    • Used to treat infections like bronchitis, chronic hepatitis, and hay fever
  • The root has shown small-scale success in use with patients with lung and prostate cancer (Chevallier)
  • Topical uses for Baikal skullcap include application to boils, sores and swelling.
• Skullcap lateriflora is used today chiefly as a nerve tonic. Its ability to relax and simultaneously restore and nourish the nervous system makes it a popular choice for a stressed and worried population.
  • Due to its spaymolytic actions, it is a wonderful choice for nerve tension (stress/worry) lead to muscular tension.
  • Ideal for insomnia, period or injury pain, those prone to panic attacks, headaches stemming from stress/tension/worry, *teeth grinding & jaw tension (and pain resulting from either), back pain, twitching muscles, hyperactivity, sensory overload, agitation and anxiety treatment.
    • More research is needed here!  A small, 2 week English study in 2011 reviewed skullcap’s use in 43“non-anxious”  participants. The results showed significant improvement in overall mood at the study’s conclusion. (Chevallier)

Superpower & When to reach for skullcap:

• Skullcap (mad dog) is a wonderfully ally for people who suffer from disturbed sleep, namely from overthinking. Its superpower hails from its name: when you need to put a lid on your thoughts, when you just can’t let something go, it’s time to reach for a cuppa skullcap!
  • Skullcap is a bit stronger than chamomile or lemon balm. I always say when drinking a cup of skullcap could put a bull moose to sleep!
  • I blend this wonderful, potent herb with passionflower, chamomile and licorice root.

Dosage:

• 1-2 teaspoons dried leaf per 8 oz water 1-3xs/day
  • This is an herb where an infusion made with hot vs boiling water may be most effective for sleep-inducing/relaxing properties.
• 2-5ml tincture 1-3xs/day
• Standard herb doses apply
  • (Groves, Blankespoor)

Contraindications:

• Cited as a very safe herb by many clinical herbalists, even for children. It’s quite sedating, so evening use is recommended.
• The main real safety warning here would be to ensure your source is reliable. There are quite a few types of scutellaria, and you want to be sure you’re getting the appropriate herb from a good source. I get all my organic and sustainably sourced Scutellaria lateriflora from Mountain Rose Herbs!

Planetary, Elemental & Dosha Discussion:

• Air plant: nervous system affinity, purple flowers, long stems pointing upward (Popham)
• Moon plant: nervine sedative/bitter mint plant with graceful, flowing and delicate stems (Popham)
• Particularly powerful for nervous vata doshas, who is often “up in their head,” as well as for the hot/excitable/overstimulated pitta dosha. While kapha is prone to being relaxed, some constitutions with acute symptoms may enjoy and benefit from its tonic affects in formulation.

Citations:

• Body Into Balance, Maria Noel Groves
• The Healing Garden, Juliet Blankespoor
• The Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, Andrew Chevallier
• Evolutionary Herbalism,  Sajah Popham