Witnessed by: Western
Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), of the Lamiaceae family. Slender erect perennial with paired toothed leaves and one-sided racemes of small blue two-lipped flowers; native range: wet meadows and stream banks of North America. Globally recognized as Virginian skullcap · mad-dog skullcap · helmet flower in English. The part used is aerial parts (herb) gathered in flower. Faintly aromatic, distinctly bitter, slightly astringent.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
SKULLCAP
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- skullcap
- Scientific name
- Scutellaria lateriflora L.
- Family
- Lamiaceae
Form
- Part used
- aerial parts (herb) gathered in flower
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Western
- bitter · astringent
Temperature
- Western
- cool, drying
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Western
- nervous system · nerves · heart
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Western
- nervine tonic, antispasmodic, mild sedative, anxiolytic, mild bitter
Cautions
Contraindications: large doses in pregnancy
Toxicity: low; adulteration with hepatotoxic Teucrium species has caused reported liver injury
Interactions
- Western
- sedatives / CNS depressants: additive sedative and CNS-depressant effect
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