Skullcap

Also Known As : Mad dog, Blue skullcap, Hoodwort, Helmet flower

Technical Name : Scutellaria lateriflora, Scutellaria baicalensis

Descriptions
details

Vegetarian

Taste Profile

It has a bitter taste.

Common names and forms

Organic Skullcap Leaf

Description

Skullcap comes in two varieties- American skullcap and Chinese skullcap. It is a herbaceous perennial mint with ridged leaves and tiny flowers that can range in color from purple and blue to pink and white. It belongs to the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is a hardy, moderate sized plant with blue or purple flowers emerging from the leaf bases on the main stem. Its leaves are light green to pale reddish green, slender, and up to 1 inch long. It is native to North America. Skullcap bloom between June and August while the seeds mature from July to September. Presently it grows in Europe, Asia, Canada and the United States. It can generally be found in the form of a tea, liquid extract, tincture, capsule or crude root extract.

Health benefits

Skullcap have certain analgesic properties that help to relieve pain throughout the body.⁽¹⁾
It helps to reduce the level of cholesterol in the heart and thus lower the chances of atherosclerosis, heart attacks, coronary heart diseases, and strokes.⁽¹⁾
It has anti-inflammatory properties which help to reduce inflammation.⁽²⁾
It is also effective in reducing fever.⁽²⁾
Skullcap soothes muscle spasms and muscle twitching.⁽²⁾

Note

Excess consumption of skullcap can cause giddiness, nausea, and lightheadedness, as well as seizures. (3) Pregnant women should not use Skullcap as it can induce miscarriage.⁽⁴⁾

Resource & Links

(1,3) https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/skullcap.html

(2) https://www.lybrate.com/topic/benefits-of-skullcap-and-its-side-effects

(4) https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/skullcap/

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