Skullcap, American

For best results, sow indoors in early spring. Scatter seeds on the surface and press into the soil; do not cover with soil as the seed requires light to germinate. In our experience it usually germinates within 1-2 weeks, but some people report that it can take up to several months, so if your seed is slow to germinate, hang in there and keep the soil moist until it germinates.

The seed germinates best following a period of cold, so if you miss the spring sowing-window and want to sow in the warmer months, cold-moist stratify the seed by mixing it with moist sand and keeping in the fridge for at least a week or two before sowing.

Skullcap thrives in fertile soil that is moist but not waterlogged, and does well in partial shade. Once the seedlings are established it will start to spread laterally like a mint. This is obviously a good thing if you want lots of skullcap, but do be mindful that it can encroach into other plants (and paths) and is difficult to weed out once it gets into a neighbouring plant’s root system. Generally speaking it’s easy to keep under control if you keep an eye on it and cut it back at the edges where needed.

It’s an easy plant to divide and multiply. Once you have an established patch you probably won’t need more seed from us.

Skullcap’s exquisite flowers and seed pod reveal the ‘sign’ of a ‘hat’ associated with its effect on the mind. Filled with flavonoids associated with neurotransmitters managing our response to life’s pressures, skullcap is used by herbalists as an ‘anxiolytic’ to calm anxiety and act as a ‘nervine’; calming the system helping to increase tolerance. Think of skullcap where vitality is low from exhaustion due to being over-excited or over-whelmed. It also has an anti-spasmodic action that can be used for pain and restlessness.

Being careful not to disturb the shallow roots, harvest skullcap aerial parts about 2 inches from the ground when it has just come into flower. Dry in bunches or laid out on racks to store for making as a tea. It’s quite a distinctive herbal flavour so mix 1-2 tsp of the dried herb with some chamomile and lemon balm. To make as proper herbal tea.

As many of its properties are appreciated best when it is fresh, then making a fresh plant tincture is a good way to capture this vitality; wilt it for 12 hours and then blend 1 part skullcap with 3 parts 50% alcohol. Use it within a year.

There are three main skullcap species used in herbal practice; American skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), Baikal skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) and Barbat skullcap (Scutellaria barbata). They all look quite similar with small blue-violet flower and distinctive ‘skullcap’ shaped seed pods, however they are all used very differently in herbal practice.

American skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) is the most commonly used in Western Herbalism. Native to damp meadows and woodland edges in North America, it is best known for supporting the nervous system—helping to ease anxiety, restlessness and muscle tension. Its aerial parts are harvested in flower and used fresh or dried to promote relaxation and better sleep.

Baikal skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis), also known as Huang Qin in TCM, has a very different profile. Growing naturally on dry, sunny slopes in northern China and Mongolia, it is one of the major “heat-clearing” herbs of Chinese medicine. The root is the part used, valued for its strong anti-inflammatory, antiviral and allergy-modulating properties. It is especially useful for hot, irritated conditions of the lungs, gut and liver.

Barbat skullcap (Scutellaria barbata), or Ban Zhi Lian in TCM, comes from the warmer, wetter regions of southern China and Southeast Asia. This species is traditionally used for clearing “toxic heat”—infections, abscesses, hot urinary complaints and inflammatory swellings. Both the aerial parts and root are used, and it is also known for its role in integrative cancer care due to its antiproliferative properties.

In summary, although closely related, these three skullcaps are used for quite different purposes: lateriflora for calming the mind and easing tension, baicalensis for cooling and soothing inflammation, and barbata for clearing heat and tackling more intense infectious or toxic states.