Scutellaria laterifolia
(Skullcap)

Therapeutic Actions:

• Antispasmodic due to the glycosides
• Antihistamine (animal studies show skullcap to inhibit arachidonic acid pathways)
• Antihypertensive
• Nervine
• Sedative due to the glycosides

Clinical Indications:

• Bipolar disorder
• Depression
• Fibrocystic breast disease
• Hypertension
• Insomnia
• PMS
• Anxiety
• Epilepsy
• Hysterical states
• Insomnia
• Muscular pain and inflammation
• Seizures

Contraindications:

• None known

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• In animal studies, enhances the hypnotic effect of barbiturates
• In vivo studies, acts as agonist ligand at the benzodiazepine-GABA receptor complex

Chemical Constituents:

• Bitter
• Cellulose
• Flavonoid glycoside:
  
  Scutellarin
  Scutellanein
• Iridoids:
  
  Catalpol
• Lignin
• Resins
• Sugar
• Tannins
• Volatile oil and waxes:
  
  C13, C33 and C35 hydrocarbons

Toxicity:

• Excessive dosage may stimulate rather than sedate the central nervous system

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).