A highly valued nerve tonic in western herbalism, skullcap reduces stress and regulates blood pressure. It helps appease the mind and relieve anxiety and insomnia. The aerial parts are harvested in the start of the flowering period and used to make infusions.

_{Photo by @krnel}

The species in the image above is of blue skullcap, with a scientific botanical name of Scutellaria lateriflora. Other names for skullcap are American Skullcap, Blue Pimpernel, Escutelaria, Grande Toque, Helmet Flower, Hoodwort, Mad-Dog Herb, Mad-Dog Skullcap, Mad-Dog Weed, Mad Weed, Quaker Bonnet, Scullcap, Scutellaria, Scutellaire, Scutellaire de Virginie, Scutellaire Latériflore, Scutelluria, Toque Bleue, Toque Casquée, Toque des Marais.

_{Rolf Engstrand/wikimedia - CC BY-SA 3.0}

Key Points

• popular in herbal medicine
• native to North America
• used to treat stress, anxiety and muscle tension
• products may not contain the renowned Scutellaria lateriflora with it's medicinal benefits

History

Skullcap is a perennial herb of the mint family, native to North America. It's well known among the Cherokee and other Native Amerindian tribes, both for medicinal and ceremonial uses.

The generic name comes from the Latin scutella which means a small dish, tray or platter, or little dish. The common name of skullcap refers to the resemblance of miniature medieval helmets.

Where is it found?

Skullcap grows in rich woods, thickets, bluffs and roadsides in wet ditches. Different species can differ in preference to shade or sunny meadows.

What's it used for?

Skullcap has been used for many things, like insomnia, anxiety, stroke, paralysis caused by stroke, fever, high cholesterol, atherosclerosis, rabies, epilepsy, nervous tension, allergies, skin infections, inflammation, and spasms.

It's been used in Chinese Traditional Medicine to treat hepatitis, diarrhea, and inflammation. In America is was used as a common treatment for rabies. Scutellaria lateriflora sells for $16 to $64 per pound of dry matter. Some skullcap products are not always what they saeem, as they can have unwanted parts of the plant that don't provide the medicinal benefits. You could also be getting a species that isn't Scutellaria lateriflora and contain different chemicals.

Are there any risks?

Skullcap may slow down the central nervous system and should therefore be avoided when using an anesthesia or other medications during or after surgery. It might be prudent to avoid during pregnancy or breast feeding, but it might be safe to use.

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References:

• Scutellaria
• SKULLCAP
• Scutellaria lateriflora

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Previous posts on Getting to Know Herbs:
Codonopsis (Poor Man's Ginseng) | Schisandra | Rhodiola | Canadian Goldenrod | German Chamomile | Blue Vervain | Blessed or Holy Thistle | Common Horehound | Cayenne | Ashwagandha | Gotu Kola | Common Verbana/Vervain | Holy Basil | Sweet Annie | Globe Artichoke | Butterfly Weed / Pleurisy Root | Joe-Pye Weed / Gravel Root | Valerian | Malva/Mallow | Boneset | Elecampane | Lungwort | Cramp Bark | Motherwort | Common Plantain | Eleuthero (Siberian ginseng) | Black Cohosh | Common Bearberry | Mahonia Mountain Grape (Oregon Grape) | Blue Cohosh | Goldenseal

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