SCUTELLARIA

SCUTELLARIA (Skullcap)

(Labiatae/Lamiaceae)

�� A cosmopolitan genus of about 300 species of annuals and perennials. S. baicalensis, found in eastern Asia, is an interesting border plant. S. lateriflora, found in N. America, is common in herb gardens and nurseries, although many plants labeled as such are in fact S. altissima, a larger plant with showier flowers. Care should be taken to identify plants purchased for medicinal use. Scutellaria is from the Latin Scutella, "A small dish," referring to the pouch-like appearance of the fruit's calyx.

�� S. baicalensis was mentioned in the Shen Nong Canon of Herbs, which dates back to the later Han dynasty (AD 25-220). It has been researched in China and found to contain flavonoids that greatly improve liver function and have anti-inflammatory and anti-allergenic effects. S. barbata (Barbed Skullcap) is used as a detoxicant, mainly for certain kinds of cancer, liver diseases, poisonous bites, and pharyngitis. S. lateriflora was used by the Cherokee to promote menstruation. It was investigated by Dr. Van Deveer in 1772 and found to be useful in treating rabies, hence its common name, "Mad dog skullcap." The plant was first listed as an antispasmodic and sedative in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia in 1863 and is still regarded by Herbalists as a very effective remedy. S. galericulata (European Skullcap) appears to have similar constituents to S. baicalensis, and is used as a substitute for S. lateriflora.

Scutellaria baicalensis, syn. macrantha

(Baikal skullcap, Huang quin)

�� In 1973, 92 wooden tablets were discovered in a 2nd-century AD tomb in Northwestern China. Among other herbs listed in prescriptions for decoctions, tinctures, pills, and ointments was Baical skullcap. The herb has had a central place in Chinese Herbal Medicine at least since that time and is one of the main remedies for "hot and damp conditions, such as dysentery and diarrhea.

�� In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Baical skullcap is "cold" and "bitter." It is prescribed in China for hot and thirsty conditions such as high fevers, coughs with thick yellow phlegm, and gastrointestinal infections that cause diarrhea, such as dysentery. It is also given to people suffering from painful urinary conditions.

�� In the light of recent research, Baical skullcap is now used for allergic conditions such as asthma, hay fever, eczema, and nettle rash, although undoubtedly its anti-inflammatory action is most useful for digestive infections.

�� Baical skullcap is a valuable remedy for the circulation. In combination with other herbs, it is used to treat high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, varicose veins, and easy bruising.

�� Applied to the skin, Baical skullcap treats sores, swelling, and boils. It appears to be useful for circulatory problems that arise from diabetes.

�� Baical skullcap is found in China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, and Russia. It thrives on sunny grassy slopes and in open areas between 350 feet (100 m) and 8,000 feet (2,000 m) above sea level. It is propagated from seed sown in autumn and the root of 3-4-year-old plants is harvested in autumn or spring.

�� Spreading perennial with stems often flushed purple and stalk-less, slender, ovate leaves. Dense, one-sided racemes of hairy, tubular, blue-purple flowers are produced in summer.

HEIGHT: to 16 inches, SPREAD: 12-16 inches.

PARTS USED: Roots (huang qin).

CONSTITUENTS: Flavonoids (about 12%)-baicalin, wogoniside. Sterols, benzoic acid.

KEY ACTIONS: Sedative, anti-allergenic, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory.

PROPAGATION: By seed sown in autumn or spring, by division in spring, or by semi-ripe cuttings in summer.

SPACING:�� 12 inches apart, or 6-12 inches in rows.

CULTIVATION:� Light, well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. Needs sharp drainage and tolerates drought. Cut back to within 3-4 inches of the base in early spring, and pinch out in spring to encourage bushy growth.

HARVEST: Roots are lifted in autumn or spring from plants 3-4 years old and dried for use in decoctions.

PROPERTIES: A bitter, sedative, cooling herb that lowers fever, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels, relaxes spasms, stimulates the liver, improves digestion, controls bleeding, and has diuretic, antibacterial, and anti-toxin effects. It reputedly calms the fetus in pregnant women.

MEDICINAL: Internally for enteritis, dysentery, diarrhea, jaundice, chronic hepatitis, urinary tract infections, hypertension, threatened miscarriage, nosebleed, and hemorrhage from lungs or bowel. It is an ingredient of the Chinese drug san huang zhe she ye ("Injection of three yellow herbs"), the others being Coptis chinensis and Phellodendron amurense.

RESEARCH:

�� Baical skullcap has been extensively researched in China, and it is clear that it has a marked anti-inflammatory and anti-allergenic action, this is largely due to the flavonoids. In common with other herbs that have significant levels of flavonoids, such as Hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha), It is likely that Baical skullcap may help venous problems and fragile capillaries.

�� Clinical trials suggest that Baical skullcaps' traditional use for high fevers and infections such as dysentery are justified.

�� The herb may be useful for problems arising from diabetes, including cataracts.

KEY PREPARATIONS & THEIR USES:

�� Root:�� Has anti-inflammatory properties.

�� Decoction: For feverish, chesty colds, drink 1/2 cup 3 times a day.

�� Tincture: For hay fever, take 40 drops with water 3 times a day.

�� For headaches, decoct 15g root with 10g Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris). drink 1/2 cup 3 times a day.

�� Allergic rhinitis, including hay fever, make a decoction and take 2 cups a day.

�� Wheezing & shortness of breath, make a decoction and take up to 2 cups a day.

Scutellaria lateriflora

(Virginia Skullcap, Mad Dog Skullcap)

�� A native American herb, skullcap was traditionally taken for menstrual problems. It was also used in purification ceremonies when menstrual taboos had been broken. Skullcap became well known in 19th-century America as a treatment for rabies, hence its folk name "Mad Dog." Today, it is mainly used as a tonic and sedative for the nerves in times of stress. It has a bitter slightly astringent taste.

�� There are over 100 species of Scutellaria. In the past, European Skullcap (S. galericulata) and Lesser Skullcap (S. minor) were used in a similar way to S. lateriflora, but today they are considered to have a less important therapeutic action. Baical Skullcap (S. baicalensis) is also closely related.

�� A native to North America, skullcap still grows wild in much of US and Canada. It thrives in damp conditions, for example, on riverbanks, and needs plenty of sun. Skullcap can be propagated from seed or by root division in spring. The aerial parts of 3-4-year-old plants are harvested in summer, when in flower.

�� The Cherokee used skullcap to stimulate menstruation, relieve breast pain, and encourage expulsion of the placenta.

�� The Physiomedicalists (followers of 19th-century Anglo-American school of Herbal Medicine) first discovered skullcap's use as a nervine. They recognized that it has a "Deeper" action on the nervous system than any other herb and used it for hysteria, epilepsy, convulsions, and rabies, as well as for serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia.

�� Today, skullcap is taken mainly as a nerve tonic and for its restorative properties. It helps to support and nourish the nervous system, and calms and relieves stress and anxiety. Its antispasmodic action makes it useful for conditions where stress and worry cause muscular tension. Skullcap is often prescribed on its own or mixed with other sedative herbs, to treat insomnia and it is also given to relieve menstrual pain. Research into skullcap is sorely needed and may reveal more uses for this valuable herb.

�� Perennial with slender rhizomes and thin, ovate-lanceolate, toothed leaves. Blue, occasionally pink or white flowers are produced in one-sided, mostly axillary racemes in summer.

HEIGHT: 6-30 inches, SPREAD: to 18 inches.

PARTS USED: Aerial parts

CONSTITUENTS: Flavonoids (scutellarin), bitter iridoids (catalpol), volatile oil, tannins.

KEY ACTIONS: Sedative, nervine tonic, antispasmodic, mild bitter.

PROPAGATION:� By seed sown in autumn or spring, by division in spring, or by semi-ripe cuttings in summer.

SPACING: 12-24 inches apart.

CULTIVATION:� Light, well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. Enjoys damp conditions; Cut back to within 3-4 inches of the base in early spring, and pinch out in spring to encourage bushy growth.

HARVEST: Plants are cut when flowering for use in infusions, liquid extracts, and tinctures, or dried for tablets.

PROPERTIES: A bitter, sedative, tonic herb that relaxes spasms, lowers fever, and stimulates the kidneys.

MEDICINAL: Internally for nervous and convulsive complaints, insomnia, irritability, delirium tremens, neuralgia, and withdrawal from barbiturates and tranquilizers.

WARNING: Excess causes giddiness, stupor, confusion, and twitching; Not given in pregnancy.

RESEARCH:

�� Very little research has been carried out on this species of Scutellaria, despite its long use in North American and British Herbal Medicine. It is likely that it contains similar constituents to other Scutellaria species, notably Baical skullcap (S. baicalensis), which has been well researched and is strongly anti-inflammatory.

KEY PREPARATIONS & THEIR USES:

�� Aerial parts: Are harvested in summer for use in a number of calming preparations.

�� Infusion:� For short-term relief of stress and anxiety, take 50 ml 3 times a day.

�� Capsules:� For nervous exhaustion, take a 200 mg capsule twice daily.

�� Tincture: For nervous tension and headaches, take 3 ml with water twice a day.

�� Tablets: Often contain other sedative herbs. Take for insomnia.

�� Panic attacks & headaches, make infusion and drink up to 5 cups a day.

�� Migraine, make an infusion using 1 heaped tsp. of dried herb to 1 cup of water. Drink up to 5 cups a day.

�� Anxiety, Depression & Tension, make an infusion and drink up to 4 cups a day.

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