Scutellaria luterifolia
The Poison Garden, Blarney Castle, Ireland
Scutellaria laterifolia
Scutellaria laterifolia [ Plantae: Angiosperms: Eudicots: Asterids: Lamiales: Lamiaceae: Scutellaria: Scutellaria laterifolia ]
Common Names:
Blue Skullcap, Hoodwort, Virginian Skullcap, Mad-dog Skullcap
Localities:
Native to North America especially New York to West Virginia, south to South Carolina, Alabama, and Missouri; cultivated in Europe and the rest of the world.
Description:
Skullcap is a hardy perennial belonging to the mint family that grows upright 60-80 centimeters in height. The plant produces vivid blue flowers that grow upwards of 1 centimeter in length that are produced along the length of side branches off the leaf axils. The root is a creeping short rhizone that submits hairy square stems 6-18 inches high, branched often with opposite leaves being heart-shaped at its base 1/2 to 2/5 inches long wih scalloped or toothed edges. The plant produces racemes blue to lavender flowers on its leaf axils of the upper plant that are hooded, tube shaped, and two lipped from May to August.
Species:
There are over 350 species of Skullcap.
Cultivation:
Skullcap loves wetland terrain, especially marshes and meadows best in a sunny area and utilizing ordinary garden soil. Seeds should be sown in early spring after frost danger is gone.
Common Uses:
It is used commonly as a incense and herbal tea.
Culinary Uses:
It is used as a herbal tea.
Medicinal Uses:
Skullcap is most prominantly utilized as a mild sedative and sleep aid. Its leaves, stems, and roots contain baicalin, baicalein, and wogonin. Baicalin is best used for its anti-inflammatory properties and as a topical analgesic. Blue Skullcap also has chrysin glucuronide which aids in body building to inhibit conversions of angrogens to estrogens. Skullcap is a known tonic, sedative, abortifacient, anti-inflammatory, astringent, emmenogogue, febrifuge, and nervine. It has been suitable for treating epilepsy, insomnia, hysteria, anxiety, delerium tremens, withdrawal from barbiturates and tranquilisers. It can be used to promote menstruation, miscarriage, as well as to treat throat infections. Once believed to be a remedy for rabies hence the name “Mad Dog Weed”. The Cherokee and other tribes use it as a strong emmenagogue and for female medicine. It is a nervous sedative and good for combatting nervous fear. It also addresses cardiac irritability, nervous irritation, and the spasms of children especially during dentition. Has been used for headaches, tremors, chorea, muscle twitching, nausea, sour eructations, pain, disress, seminal emissions, impotency, sharp stinging pain in the upper extremities, night terrors, sleeplessness, sudden wakefulness, frightful dreams, and insomnia. Overdose can cause giddiness, stupor, confusion, and twitching. It has been linked to liver damage.
Magical Uses:
It is often used as a ceremonial plant by various Native American tribes to introduce young girls into womanhood. It is also used to produce visions.
Folklore and History:
