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SKULLCAP (Scutellaria lateriflora L.) ++Activities (Skullcap) — Anaphrodisiac (f; CRC); Antibacterial (f; PED); Anticonvulsant (f; APA);
Antioxidant (1; PH2); Antiinflammatory (1; PH2); Antipyretic (f; CRC; PH2); Antispasmodic (f;
APA; CRC; PH2; SKY); Antiviral (1; WAM); Astringent (f; CRC); Bitter (1; PH2); Diaphoretic
(f; CEB; CRC); Diuretic (f; CEB); Emetic (f; DEM); Emmenagogue (f; CRC); Hypotensive (f;
DAW); Nephrotonic (f; CRC); Nervine (1; CRC; PNC; WAM); Sedative (f; APA; PH2; SKY;
WAM); Tonic (f; APA; CRC; PED; PH2); Tranquilizer (f; APA).
Indications (Skullcap) — Addiction (f; APA; CRC); Alcoholism (f; APA; CRC); Anxiety (f;
APA; HHB; SKY); Bacteria (f; PED); Bite (f; CEB); Cancer (f; JLH); Childbirth (f; CRC; DEM);
Chorea (f; CRC; CAN; PH2); Cold (f; PED); Convulsion (f; APA; CEB; CRC); Cramp (f; APA;
CEB; CRC; PH2; SKY); Delirium (f; CEB; CRC); Diarrhea (f; DEM); Dysmenorrhea (f; APA;
CRC; DEM); Dysuria (f; CRC); Embolism (1; CAN); Epilepsy (f; APA; CAN; CRC; PH2);
Fatigue (f; HHB); Fever (f; CEB; CRC; PH2); Headache (f; CRC); Hepatosis (f; TOM); Hiccup
(f; CRC); High Blood Pressure (f; CRC; DAW); Hydrophobia (f; CRC); Hyperactivity (1; WAM);
Hysteria (f; APA; CAN; CRC; PH2); Inflammation (1; PH2); Insomnia (f; APA; CRC; PH2;
SKY; WAM); Malaria (f; CEB); Mastosis (f; DEM); Nephrosis (f; CRC; TOM); Nerve (f; CRC);
Nervousness (f; APA; CAN; PH2; SKY; WAM); Neuralgia (f; CRC); Neurosis (f; CEB); Pain
(f; DEM); Palsy (f; CRC); Rabies (f; APA; CEB); Rheumatism (f; TOM); Rickets (f; CRC);
Smallpox (f; DEM); Snakebite (f; CRC); Stress (f; CAN; PH2); Stroke (1; CAN); Tetanus (f;
CEB); Throat (f; DEM); Thrombosis (1; CAN); Trevor (f; CEB); Tumor (f; JLH); Virus (1;
WAM); Water Retention (f; CEB).
Dosages (Skullcap) — 1–2 g herb (PNC); 0.5 oz herb/pint water (CEB); 2–4 tbsp fresh herb
(PED); 1–2 tsp dry herb/cup to 3 ×/day (APA; SKY); 1–2 g dry herb, or in tea, 3 ×/day (CAN;
SKY); 3–6 g dry herb (PED); 4.5 g dry herb/22 ml alcohol/22 ml water (PED); 2–4 ml liquid herb
extract (PNC); 2–4 ml liquid herb extract (1:1 in 25% ethanol) 3 ×/day (CAN); 1–2 ml herb tincture
(1:5 in 45% ethanol) 3 ×/day (CAN); 2–4 ml herb tincture 3 ×/day (SKY); 1–2 droppers herb
tincture (APA); 2–3 (429 mg) capsules 3 ×/day (APA).
Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Skullcap) — Class 1 (AHP). APA rating
= 4 (APA). No contraindications known (WAM). “Hazards and/or side effects not known for
proper therapeutic dosages” (PH2). Reports of hepatotoxicity may be due to adulteration with
germander, a black eye in itself (AHP). “There is no evidence to indicate that Scutellaria is
toxic when ingested at normal doses” (AHP). The FDA has suggested that overdose of the
tincture causes confusion, convulsions, giddiness, pulsar irregularities, and twitching (LRNP,
January 1993). The USP, in its proposed monograph of valerian, note that preparations con-
taining skullcap “caused hepatosis” (the preparation, not necessarily the valerian). Reported
fatality in Norway possibly Scutellaria, or possibly Teucrium, a frequent adulterant. CAN
cautions that a mixed product (adulteration with Teucrium spp.) caused hepatotoxicity. Because
of traditional use to eliminate afterbirth and promote menstruation, and potential hepatotoxicity,
its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided (CAN). Clinical trials with scutellarin in
634 cases of cerebral embolism, cerebral thrombosis, and stroke paralysis showed an overall
effective rate of more than 88%, following intramuscular, intravenous, or oral administration
(CAN).