Skullcap Monograph

Scutellaria lateriflora

An herbal monograph can be thought of as a "biography" of a plant used for medicinal purposes. Monographs typically include several key sections:

• Names: This section covers the plant's common and scientific names.

• Mechanism of Action: This explains how the herb works in the body.

• Therapeutics: This details the health benefits and uses of the herb.

   Phylogenetic information 

o   Phylum: Angiosperm

o   Class: Eudicot

o   Family: Lamiacea (mint)

o   Genus: Scutellaria

o   Species: Scutellaria lateriflora

o   Common names: Skullcap, blue skullcap, mad dog skullcap, side-flowering skullcap

Pictures in various stages and of various parts

 Botanical information

o   Identification characteristics: Square stems, jagged edges of its leaves, opposite leaves, grows up to 3feet tall and has “dainty blue flowers formed by two tongue-like petals” (1) ; The “purple flowers grow up the side of one stem from the leaf axils” (3)

o   Potential look alikes and differences between them: Scutellaria baicalensis (Chinese skullcap) or other species of skullcap.

o   Native region: Native to North America (2)

o   Geographical distribution: along creek beds, usually in woodlands (6)

o   Harvesting guidelines: Wildcraft carefully since these plants do not grow prolifically. (3)

   Herbal information 

o   Energetics: Bitter, cooling, moistening, relaxing (3)

o   Constituents: Flavonoids: wogonoside (11,14), scutellarin, chrysin (11) baicalin, baicalein (12,13, 14) lateriflorin, oroxylin A (14), Neurotransmitters: GABA and glutamine (14)

o   Herbal actions: Relaxing nervine, anodyne, antispasmodic, antioxidant, sedative, nerve tonic

o   Indications: Shock-related anxiety, panic attacks, anxiety, pain, insomnia, seizures, twitching, teething, headaches. Used by the Cherokee nation for diarrhea, breast pain, and to enhance kidney function (5).

o   Preparation methods: Fresh extract tincture, dried plant tea, dried smoking herb, oil infusion (3)

o   Plant parts used: Aerial portions

o   Dosing strategies: Standard recommended dose is 3–5 ml three times per day of fresh 1:2 95% tincture (3); For tea .40 oz to 1 quart water drank a few times a day in half cupful's. (6)

o   Contraindications: No known side effects or contraindications. No evidence that skullcap is contraindicated in pregnancy and lactation, but safety has not been proven (3)

Recipe: Skullcap Massage Oil 

• 1½ cups flowering Skullcap tops

• ½ cup fresh Tall Sagebrush leaves

• 2 tbsp. dried Cottonwood buds

• ½ cup jojoba oil

• ½ cup sweet almond oil

Combine ingredients in a quart jar and cover loosely with several layers of cheesecloth. Allow the mixture to stand in a warm place for three weeks. Heat a jar in a pan of warm water for 15 minutes to liquefy oil, and then strain. (4)

Citations

1. Traditional Medicinals. (n.d.). Skullcap – Benefits, folklore, botany and more. https://www.traditionalmedicinals.com/blogs/herb-library/skullcap?srslit=AfmBOootnXm0J9hfSmPXuiQZPhgmThNwKRbPQumBfP2ADE7THB5bYSmC

2. LearningHerbs. (n.d.). Skullcap monograph. https://www.learningherbs.com/products/communities/v2/herbmentor/resource/89e3f375-8b90-4eb5-ba99-7aa4646f1cf6

3. Herbal Remedies Advice. (n.d.). Skullcap herb: A restorative relaxing nervine. https://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/skullcap-herb.html

4. Williamson, D. (n.d.). Healing plants of the Rocky Mountains. [Book].

5. Moerman, D. E. (1999). Native American ethnobotany. Timber Press.

6. Tsong. (n.d.). The skullcaps – A Scutellaria monograph. School of Botanical Medicine. https://tsong.com/the-skullcaps-a-scutellaria-monograph/

7. Heart Song Herbs. (n.d.). Skullcap – Scutellaria lateriflora. https://www.heartsongherbs.com/plants-for-pick-up/skullcap-scutellaria-lateriflora?srslit=AfmBOoqSY27J3UBJhb98NDPTX6x0iAkUU8pj2wpFXDD_YiTugVZkBVxVF

8. Missouri Plants. (n.d.). Scutellaria lateriflora. https://www.missouriplants.com/Scutellaria_lateriflora_page.html

9. Florida Plant Atlas. (n.d.). Scutellaria lateriflora. https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/plant/species/3513

10. Strictly Medicinal Seeds. (n.d.). Skullcap official – Scutellaria lateriflora packet of 100 seeds – organic. https://strictlymedicinalseeds.com/product/skullcap-official-scutellaria-lateriflora-packet-of-100-seeds-organic/

11. National Center for Biotechnology Information. (n.d.). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10663461/

12. Kim, J. K., Kim, Y. S., Kim, Y., Uddin, M. R., Kim, Y. B., Kim, H. H., Park, S. Y., Lee, M. Y., Chung, S. O., & Park, S. U. (2014). Comparative analysis of flavonoids and polar metabolites from hairy roots of Scutellaria baicalensis and Scutellaria lateriflora. World Journal of Microbiology & Biotechnology, 30(3), 887–892. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-013-1498-7

13. Tuan, P. A., Kim, Y. S., Kim, Y., Thwe, A. A., Li, X., Park, C. H., Lee, S. Y., & Park, S. U. (2018). Molecular characterization of flavonoid biosynthetic genes and accumulation of baicalin, baicalein, and wogonin in plant and hairy root of Scutellaria lateriflora. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 25(8), 1639–1647. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2016.08.011

14. Brock, C., Whitehouse, J., Tewfik, I., & Towell, T. (n.d.). American skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora): An ancient remedy for today’s anxiety? ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/215780328