Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) has been used for over two hundred years as a mild relaxant that affects the nervous and musculoskeletal systems. It has long been hailed as an effective therapy for anxiety, nervous tension, hysteria, and convulsions and is currently also used for treating symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS), stress-related headaches, anorexia nervosa, and insomnia. Once considered an herbal remedy for rabies, thus earning the name "mad dog weed," skullcap is no longer recognized as a treatment for this disease.

Scutellaria lateriflora is the North American species of skullcap, now also widely cultivated in Europe, that is used in herbal preparations. The plant derives its name from the caplike appearance of the calyx, the outer whorl of small blue flowers. Skullcap is a slender, heavily branched plant that grows to a height of two to four feet and blooms each July.

The herb from a three- to four-year-old skullcap plant harvested in June is used for medicinal purposes.

Skullcap is used to treat the following conditions and symptoms:

• Anxiety
• Nervous tension, anxiety, muscle spasm
• PMS-related symptoms
• Stress-related headaches
• Insomnia
• Restless legs syndrome
• Mild Tourette's syndrome

Skullcap is available as a powder or liquid extract.

Pediatric

Although not common, skullcap may be used for calmative purposes in children and administered as a mild tea. The tea should be dosed according to the child's age and weight as follows:

• Children 1 to 2 years (24 lb [11 kg] or less): ¼ cup one to three times per day
• Children 3 to 6 years (25 to 48 lb [11 to 22 kg]): ½ cup one to four times per day
• Children 7 to 11 years (49 to 95 lb [22 to 43 kg]): ¾ cup one to four times per day
• Children 12 and older (over 95 lb [43 kg]): 1 cup one to four times per day

Use either prepackaged tea bags and let steep for approximately 2 minutes or add 1 tsp of dried leaves to 1 cup of boiling water and steep for 2 minutes.

Adult

The following are recommended adult doses for skullcap:

• Dried herb: 1 to 2 g or by infusion three times per day
• Fluid extract (1:1 in 25% alcohol): 2 to 4 mL three times per day
• Tincture (1:5 in 45% alcohol): 2 to 5 mL three times per day

There is mixed opinion as to the safety of skullcap because it has in the past been adulterated with Teucrium species, a group of plants known to cause liver problems. You should consult your health care provider before using it, and make sure you obtain it from a reliable source. Overdosage of skullcap tincture produces symptoms of giddiness, stupor, mental confusion, seizure, twitching, irregular heartbeat, and epileptic-related symptoms. Skullcap should not be used during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Other experts caution against using skullcap under any circumstances because of the possibility of adulteration.

While no noteworthy interactions (positive or negative) between skullcap and conventional medications are known to have been reported in the literature to date, skullcap does possess sedative properties. Therefore, use skullcap with caution, if at all, if you are taking benzodiazepines (anti-anxiety medications), barbiturates (medications often prescribed for sleep disorders), or other sedative medications (such as antihistamines).

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