Scutellaria, Scullcap

Skullcap, Blue Scullcap, Mad Dog
Scutellaria lateriflora
Millspaugh, American medicinal plants, vol. 2 (1892)

Botanical name:

Scutellaria lateriflora
Others reportedly used synonymously include S. alba, S. hyssopifolia, S. integrifolia
The Indian S. galericulata has been used as a substitute for the American variety and has similar uses. It is said to be effective when dried, while S. lateriflora is widely believed to be largely ineffective after drying.
The Chinese Scutellaria Huang Qin is also used, but has different uses.

Parts used:

Whole plant in flower
Early practitioners recommended only using the fresh plant. The plant deteriorates quickly after drying. If used dry, it should be quickly dried and stored in a airtight container and kept from light. The freeze-dried plant can also be used.

Temperature & Taste:

Cool, dry. Bitter

Uses:

1. Clears Heat, Settles Wind, Stops Spasms:
-Nervousness, Stress
-Headache, Migraine
-Spasms, Convulsions, Tremors, Parkinsonism, Epilepsy
-Hypertension, Palpitations
-Restless Leg Syndrome
-Neuralgia

2. Clears Heat, Calms the Mind and Nerves:
-Insomnia, Restlessness
-useful for Insomnia and restlessness associated with Opiate withdrawal (Cook)
-Mania
-Hysteria, PMS

3. Clears Heat, Resists Poison:
-Intermittent Fevers (Rafinesque)
-Rabies

4. Externally:
-applied to Toothache, Neuralgias etc.

Dose

It deteriorates rapidly after drying and with boiling. Therefore, many older Physicians recommended only using a Tincture prepared from the fresh Herb. It can also be freeze-dried.
Powder: 1–3 grams
Fresh Plant Tincture (1:2 in 30% alcohol): 60–120 drops (3–6 mls)
Fluid Extract: 8–15 drops
Freeze Dried Herb in Capsules: 2 capsules, three times daily.
Expressed Juice: 1–2 oz.

Comment:

Teucrium canadense is/was a common adulterant which is potentially Hepatotoxic.

Main Combinations:

1. Headache:
i. Nervous, Scullcap, Camomile
ii. Scullcap, Vervain, Betony
iii. Scullcap, Rosemary, Dandelion herb, Mint, Vervain (Valuable Herbal Prescriptions, late ‘s)
2. Nervousness, Stress:
i. Scullcap, Valerian
ii. Scullcap, Mistletoe
iii. Scullcap, Kava
iv. Scullcap, Motherwort, Gentian
v. Scullcap, Rue, Valerian
vi. Scullcap, Vervain, Damiana
vii. Scullcap, Black Cohosh, Capsicum, Hops, Lobelia, Valerian, Wood Betony, Mistletoe (Dr. Christopher)
viii. Scullcap, Valerian, Clove, Cinnamon, Ginger
3. Nervous debility, Neurasthenia:
i. Scullcap, Hops, Gentian
ii. Scullcap, Lemon Balm, St. John’s wort, Camomile
iii. Scullcap, Mistletoe, Menyanthes, Gentian (equal parts) (Valuable Herbal Prescriptions, late ‘s)
iv. Scullcap, Hops, Valerian, Henbane (Fenner’s Complete Formulary)
4. Neuralgia:
i. Scullcap, Rue, Camomile
ii. Scullcap, Valerian, Wood Betony
iii. Scullcap, Senna, Composition Powder
iv. Scullcap, Lady’s Slipper, Valerian, Composition Powder (equal parts); infuse 1 teaspoonful in a cup of boiling water.
5. Neuritis:
i. Scullcap, St. John’s wort
ii. Scullcap, Valerian, Betony
6. Sydenham’s chorea (St. Vitus’s Dance): Scullcap, Valerian, Vervain
7. Spasms, Convulsion:
i. Scullcap, Rue, Valerian
ii. Scullcap, Valerian, Lady’s Slipper, Mistletoe
iii. Scullcap, Valerian, Skunk Cabbage, Lobelia, Cinnamon, Cayenne. (Dr. Christopher)
8. Epilepsy:
i. Scullcap, Lobelia, Cayenne (Dr. Christopher)
ii. Scullcap, Peony, Mistletoe
iii. Scullcap, Betony, Valerian, Pennyroyal, Centaury, Bayberry
iv. Scullcap, Black Cohosh, Blue Cohosh, Vervain
v. Scullcap, Valerian, Horehound, Peony, Pellitory of the Wall, Betony
9. Insomnia:
i. Scullcap, Camomile
ii. Scullcap, Lady’s Slipper, Hops, Catnip, Black Cohosh
iii. Scullcap, Valerian, Vervain, Betony
10. Heart weakness:
i. Scullcap, Hawthorn
ii. Scullcap, Golden Seal, Cayenne (Dr. Christopher)
11. Palpitation:
i. Scullcap, Valerian
ii. Scullcap, Valerian, Tansy, Calendula, Hart’s Tongue, Dandelion
12. Hypertension:
i. Scullcap, Hawthorn, Linden flower
ii. Scullcap, Hawthorn, Valerian, Yarrow
13. Hysteria, PMS:
i. Scullcap, Asafetida
ii. Scullcap, Agnus Castus
iii. Scullcap, Valerian, Dandelion
iv. Scullcap, Hops, Valerian, Asafetida, Gentian (Dr. Nowell)
v. Scullcap, Lady’s Slipper, Ginger, Raspberry leaf (Dr. Christopher)
14. Dysmenorrhea, Scullcap, Viburnam, Black Cohosh (Hoffman)
15. Childbirth, Raspberry leaf tea with Scullcap tincture added
16. After Pains, Scullcap with Composition Powder
17. Heartburn, Scullcap, Wood Betony, Rosemary, Yarrow (Dr. Christopher)
18. Eczema, Psoriasis, Scullcap, Burdock, Cleavers
19. Shingles, Scullcap, Oats, Echinacea, St. Johns wort (Hoffman)
20. Toothache, Scullcap, Cinnamon, Cayenne, Lobelia seeds, Bistort, Pyrethrum, Myrrh, Clove, as a Tincture applied topically.

Major Formulas:

Cautions:

1. Overdose may cause dizziness, stupor, slow pulse and twitching of the limbs

Main Preparations used:

Tincture, Extract