Skullcap: Scutellaria lateriflora

Plant Family: Lamiacee

Native Habitat: Skullcap is native to the riparian wetlands ecosystems throughout North America. Skullcap is cultivated throughout the United States, and grows well in the Pacific

Northwest.

Herbal Actions: Nervine tonic, nervine anxiolytic, mild nervine sedative, antispasmodic, hypotensive, alterative, astringent

Parts used: Leaves and flowers (aerial parts in leaf or flower). In flower, the plant will have the highest concentration of nervous system supporting compounds because the plant is synthesizing these to attract pollinators.

Forms: Fresh plant tincture, infusions, glycerite.

Season: Mid-summer

Taste/ Smell: Sweet, astringent, and mildly bitter taste. Mild smell for lamiaceae family plant.

Energetic Qualities: Cool, slightly dry, slow, heavy, dull.

Indications: Tension in the musculoskeletal or nervous systems, especially stemming from too much hot/mobile/light/sharp qualities. Skullcap is particularly indicated for muscle spasms or following injuries as an antispasmodic, and to soothe nervous tension that manifests as nervous system disorders. The common name "skullcap" implies that this plant is helpful for insomnia, especially when thinking of keeping a person awake, or waking them up at night. Skullcap is also indicated for moving pain, such as when someone has a headache, then stomach pain, then their tailbone hurts, etc.

Body system affinities: Nervous, musculoskeletal.

Harvesting: Harvest once the plant has gone to flower, and ideally when there are a few seed pods forming Skullcap needs to be processed soon after harvesting as constituents begin to break down with wilting. Fresh skullcap is considered more medicinally potent than dried, thus skullcap tincture or glycerite are recommended over skullcap infusion. However, skullcap still makes a lovely addition to nervine or musculoskeletal teas.

Key Points: Skullcap is an excellent botanical for people experiencing too much light, mobile, or hot qualities within their nervous or musculoskeletal systems. Skullcap is a unique heavy/slow/cool/dull plant, and when these qualities are needed it can be incorporated into formulas.