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What is it?

Skullcap is a hardy, long lived herb that loves wetlands and grows up to 80cm in height. Skullcap is a flowering plant from the mint family, its name is evocative and refers to the shape of the flower from the Latin ‘scutella’ meaning small dish. Even more evocative old names for Skullcap were ‘Mad-dog Skullcap or Madweed; it was thought that Skullcap was the best remedy for the bite of a mad dog!

How has it been used?

A typical excerpt from an old herbal says “Skullcap is one of the finest nervines and antispasmodics given to humanity. It should be on every physician’s shelf” (a nervine is a herb that works on the nervous system and an antispasmodic is a remedy that relieves cramp and relaxes the body)

Traditional uses for Skullcap included insomnia, restlessness, hysteria, convulsions, epilepsy, nervous headaches, neuralgia and convalescence from fevers.

Skullcap was used a great deal in the time before pharmaceutical sedatives and tranquilizers were so readily available.

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Personal experiences

Skullcap is both relaxing and nourishing at the same time and it noticeably decreases mental agitation.

I have found Skullcap to be extremely helpful for anxiety associated with a restless mind.

Skullcap is very suited to long term use. Some medicine cultures emphasize its relaxing effects; others focus more on its nourishing tonic benefits. I think it does both and is eminently suitable for modern day people.

* More than 295 compounds have been isolated in Scutellaria, among them flavonoids and diterpenes. Studies show that Scutellaria and its active principles possess wide pharmacological actions, such as antitumor, anti-angiogenesis, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, anticonvulsant, antibacterial and antiviral activities.

The above quote comes from a 2010 study into Skullcap. It clearly has some powerful chemistry and it works through the physical body to affect the nerves in some way. I suspect the exact ‘how’ of that will remain a mystery for some time to come.

It is really hard to get good quality Skullcap and you should definitely try to get it from a trusted source. The easy way to know if your Skullcap is good quality is by the colour of the leaves. They have to be a vibrant and deep green. As Skullcap ages the leaves lose their colour and the plant loses its potency. The tincture of skullcap is excellent and perhaps more suited to long term use but good quality Skullcap tea also has potent and immediate effects. Skullcap combines perfectly with Passionflower for tension and anxiety, with Chamomile for digestive upsets and with Lemon Balm for moody or depressed spirits.

~ Relaxing Herbal Tea.

The amounts given are to show the proportions

The dosage is 2-3 heaped tsps to one large cup of boiling water. Cover the cup or whatever you are using for a good 10 minutes, then strain and drink. You are welcome to add some honey.

People say that the taste of this tea is very acceptable and they give excellent feedback on how it helps them to unwind, relax and improve their sleep.

We have given this tea to many hundreds of people over the years.
If you drink it, it will relax you.

Excerpt from Felter & Lloyd's Kings Dispensatory from 1898

Scullcap is tonic, nervine, and antispasmodic. it has proved especially useful in chorea, convulsions, tremors, intermittent fever, neuralgia, and many nervous affections. In delirium tremens, an infusion drank freely will soon produce a calm sleep. Where teething has impaired the health of children, an infusion maybe given with advantage. In all cases of nervous excitability, restlessness, or wakefulness, attending or following acute or chronic diseases, from physical or mental overwork, or from other causes, it may be drank freely with every expectation of beneficial results. The warm infusion has a tendency to keep the skin moist; the cold has a tonic influence, and either may be drank freely. When its soothing effects have ceased, it does not leave an excitable, irritable condition of the system, as is the case with some other nervines. That it influences the cerebro spinal centers, controlling nervous irritation there can be no doubt and this fact is well illustrated by its control over functional cardiac disorders, due to purely nervous causes, with or without hysterical manifestations, and exhibiting intermittency of pulse.

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