Scutellaria lateriflora

Scutellaria lateriflora. Skullcap is a herbaceous perennial with a four-angled, smooth stem with many branches, attaining a height of between 30 cm to 160 cm when mature. Skullcap has small hairless leaves, borne on petioles about 5-8 cm long, the leaves themselves about 2.5-5 cm long by 1-1.5 cm wide, ovate, with a rounded base, an acute tip, the leaf margin acutely serrate. The flowers are borne in axillary racemes that arise from the leaf axils, flowers on only one side. They are pale blue, blossoming in summer, comprised of a fused upper and lower sepal, the upper sepal with a raised appendage that looks like a helmet or hood. The petals are fused into a two-lipped corolla, with four stamens. The flower gives way to four small nutlets.

The pharmacological actions of Scutellaria lateriflora are Anti-allergic, Anti-spasmodic, Sedative.

The indications of Scutellaria lateriflora are Fatigue, Rheumatism, Insomnia, Nervous Tension, Anxiety, Cardiovascular Disease, Headache, Nervous Disorders, Hyperactivity.

The contraindication of Scutellaria lateriflora is Sedation.

The active constituents of Scutellaria lateriflora are Baicalin, Bitter palmitic acid [scutellaine], Calcium, Essential Oil, Flavonoids [scutellarin], Isoscutellarin, Lignans, Linoleic Acid, Oleic Acid, Phenols, Scutellonin, ß-Sitosterol, Stearic Acid, Tannin, Tannins, Vitamin B, Wogonin.