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Home >
Research Department >
Supplement Articles
> Scutellaria
Lateriflora |
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Supplement Articles |
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SCUTELLARIA LATERIFLORA
Articles by a Naturopathic
Doctor ( N.D.)
Do you lie awake at
night, anxious or tense,
going over all of the tasks
that must be accomplished
the following day? |
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SCUTELLARIA
LATERIFLORA
(SKULLCAP) |
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Skullcap is most
commonly used for
insomnia, stress,
anxiety and
headaches |
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Skullcap may be just
what you need to let
it all go and help
you to get to sleep
and better cope with
your demanding
lifestyle.
Scutellaria grows in
the damp woodlands
or swamps of Eastern
North America. It
has pointed leaves
and many two-lobed
violet blue
(sometimes pink)
flowers. All aerial
or above ground
parts of this
perennial are dried
and used
medicinally. |
Native tribes
in the eastern parts of the
United States were the first
to use Skullcap medicinally.
At that time it was used to
treat female conditions,
including menstrual pain or
irregularity. It went on to
become the cure for rabies
in the 1700’s, which also
explains why many know it as
mad-dog weed or mad-dog
skullcap. Although we now
know that skullcap was not a
cure, it does alleviate some
of the symptomology such as
twitching or convulsion.
Today, the use of skullcap
is centered on its efficacy
with nervous conditions,
such as anxiety, stress,
muscular spasm or tension
due to stress and insomnia.
Although Scutellaria has not
been studied extensively in
terms of its medicinal
properties, it is believed
that one of its more
abundant flavanoids,
scutellarin, is responsible
for its sedative, nervine
and anti-spasmodic effects.
As well as treating tension,
anxiety and insomnia, it is
also commonly prescribed for
tension headaches, menstrual
cramping, fibromyalgia and
mild cases of Tourette’s or
seizure disorders. Research
is also now suggesting that
this same flavanoid may
improve blood flow in
patients prone to clots,
those suffering from
cerebral thrombosis or
stroke induced paralysis.
As with most herbs, skullcap
can be used as a tincture,
made into a tea or infusion,
as well as powdered and used
in capsules. Although there
are no safety issues with
the herb itself, there have
been a number of reports of
patients suffering liver
damage following consumption
of a similar herb that is
often mislabeled as
skullcap. A dosage of
anywhere from 3-6 g/day is
considered safe and
effective. If combined with
other herbs, the dosage may
be considerably less, as to
allow the formula a more
synergistic effect. |
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PARTS USED
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·
Dried aerial
parts |
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APPLICATIONS |
· Insomnia,
tension,
muscular
tension,
anxiety,
menstrual
cramping and
headache. |
OPTIMUM
DOSAGE
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· 1-3
g twice
daily. |
WORKS WELL
WITH
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·
Valerian,
Passionflower,
Hops or
Lemon balm. |
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IMPORTANT
INFORMATION
click for products |
·
Skullcap is
considered
safe and
non-toxic,
although be
sure that
you are
getting only
skullcap and
it is from a
reputable
company. The
liver
damaging
effects some
individuals
have
reported are
thought to
be via cross
contamination
with another
herb. |
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For
informational
purposes only.
Please consult your
health care
practitioner before
taking natural
health care
products. Click here
for full disclaimer. |
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All articles
copyright National Nutrition
2001 - 2011. For educational
purposes only. Please note
that while National Nutrition
supports your right to use
natural health care products for
any therapeutic purpose that you
see fit, that the information on
this website should not be
considered as a claim or as a
substitute for medical advice. |
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