Botanical Index No. 939

Skullcap

scutellaria lateriflora

Medicinal Actions

Analysis pending research update.

Primary Conditions Treated

Addiction Alcoholism Anxiety Bacteria Bite Cancer Childbirth Chorea Cold Convulsion Cramp Delirium Diarrhea Dysmenorrhea Dysuria Embolism Epilepsy Fatigue Fever Headache Hepatosis Hiccup High Blood Pressure Hydrophobia Hyperactivity Hysteria Inflammation Insomnia Malaria Mastosis Nephrosis Nerve Nervousness Neuralgia Neurosis Pain Palsy Rabies Rheumatism Rickets Smallpox Snakebite Stress Stroke Tetanus Throat Thrombosis Trevor Tumor Virus Water Retention

General Dosage

1–2 g herb; 0.5 oz herb/pint water; 2–4 tbsp fresh herb; 1–2 tsp dry herb/cup to 3 ×/day; 1–2 g dry herb, or in tea, 3 ×/day; 3–6 g dry herb; 4.5 g dry herb/22 ml alcohol/22 ml water; 2–4 ml liquid herb extract; 2–4 ml liquid herb extract 3 ×/day; 1–2 ml herb tincture 3 ×/day; 2–4 ml herb tincture 3 ×/day; 1–2 droppers herb tincture; 2–3 capsules 3 ×/day.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 1. APA rating = 4. No contraindications known. “Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages”. Reports of hepatotoxicity may be due to adulteration with germander, a black eye in itself. “There is no evidence to indicate that Scutellaria is toxic when ingested at normal doses”. The FDA has suggested that overdose of the tincture causes confusion, convulsions, giddiness, pulsar irregularities, and twitching. The USP, in its proposed monograph of valerian, note that preparations containing skullcap “caused hepatosis”. Reported fatality in Norway possibly Scutellaria, or possibly Teucrium, a frequent adulterant. CAN cautions that a mixed product 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.

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