10+ Splendid Health Benefits of Skullcap for Health

Updated on February 3rd, 2020
health benefits of skullcap

Skullcap benefits health in numerous ways. The skullcap herb consists of purple and blue flowers, of which the blue variety is deemed to be more beneficial for health.

What is Skullcap?

Skullcap is a perennial flowering herb that belongs to the mint family called Lamiaceae. Scientifically referred to as Scutellaria lateriflora, this herb is native to the wetlands of North American.

Uses

The numerous skullcap benefits, attributed to the variety of flavones and phenolic compounds that are contained in the skullcap extract.

As an ancient medicine that has been in use for centuries, skullcap extract is highly beneficial for a number of health issues like cancers, stress and anxiety, insomnia, diabetes, inflammation and so on.

Skullcap Supplement

The aerial portion of skullcap is made into skullcap supplement because of its excellent anxiolytic properties. The herb contains the flavonoid scutellarin which serves as a highly effectual sedative.

Skullcap supplement is highly beneficial for the natural treatment of neuralgia, epilepsy, anxiety, nervousness, and insomnia. It helps to relieve stress and anxiety. It is also effective against muscle cramps and aches.

Skullcap Herb Benefits

Skullcap herb is vested with numerous health benefits, a few of which are enlisted below.

  1. Stress and anxiety: Way before the use of medical tranquilizers, skullcap were traditionally used for the relief from tension, stress, and anxiety. Its anxiolytic properties are highly beneficial for driving out anxiety.
  2. Premenstrual syndrome: The flavonoids contained in skullcap(1) herb, especially baicalin and scutellarin, are especially effective in curbing the symptoms of menstruation and regulate healthy bleeding.
  3. Withdrawal from alcohol and drugs: Skullcap herb benefits the physical symptoms of withdrawal like the muscle cramp, dizziness, digestive problems and more.

Skullcap Tincture Benefits

Skullcap tincture can be prepared in the following way:

  • Fill a jar in half with dry leaves of skullcap. Pour some alcohol over the dried leaves with constant stirring.
  • Let the contents decant for about two months or so.
  • Stir the contents daily in the first week. Let it sediment and get infused for 5 or 6 more weeks.
  • Strain out the liquid. Your skullcap tincture is ready for medicinal use.

Benefits

  1. Nerve tonic: Skullcap tincture serves as an excellent nerve tonic. Its antioxidant content protects the brain and central nervous system from oxidative stress caused by free radicals. Skullcap tincture is especially effective in the prevention of depression, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and more.
  2. Anti-inflammatory agent: Skullcap tincture is highly effective against diseases like inflammatory bowel syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcers and more.
  3. Prevention of cardiac diseases: Major cardiac diseases like myocardial infarction can be prevented with skullcap tinctures.
  4. Lowering of fever: When blended with other medicinal herbs, skullcap tincture can be administered to lower high body temperature, cure coughing fits, and breathlessness, stabilize the rate of heartbeats and so on.

15 Amazing Skullcap Medicinal Uses:

Skullcap hosts a number of health benefits owing to its rich composition of flavonoids, the sesquiterpene, iridol, tannins, essential oil, bitter substances, resin and minerals like silicon, iron, calcium, lignin, magnesium, and wogonin. Skullcap benefits health in several ways, a few of which are given below.

1. Anxiety

Skullcap for anxiety

Anxiety covers quite a few mental health disorders like panic attacks, social anxiety, phobias and general worry. The symptoms of anxiety include insomnia, uneasiness, palpitations, muscle cramps, hypoventilation, nausea and nervous breakdowns.

Skullcap helps to feel calm by soothing the taut nerves and relaxing the muscles. The phenolic compounds contained in skullcap include oroxylin, wogonin, baicalin, and baicalein. These phenolics exhibit effective anxiolytic properties that help to eliminate anxiety(2) with ease.

[Recommended Read: Best Tips For Anxiety]

2. Sleep

Skullcap is a highly effective sedative when consumed in a slightly higher dose. For people who suffer from parasomnia and insomnia, consumption of skullcap helps to induce a sound slumber(3).

The sedative effect regulates the person’s sleeping pattern and induces a fixed sleep cycle. The phenolic compounds are rich in antioxidants that help to relieve stress and anxiety and induce a profound sense of calmness.

[Read: Home Remedies For Insomnia]

3. Nerve Pain

The antispasmodic properties of the dried roots of skullcap help in soothing the pain and relaxing the taut muscles around the painful nerves. The anti-inflammatory properties of skullcap cure the inflammation of the nerve and effectively nerve pain.

Take a teaspoon or two of sun-dried skullcap roots and add it to a cup of water. Boil this for about five minutes. Strain out the water after the mixture simmers down. Add a teaspoon of honey to the cup of skullcap tea to sweeten the taste. Skullcap tea benefits nerve pain quite effectively.

4. Pregnancy

Skullcap during pregnancy

The period of pregnancy is characterized by morning sickness or nausea, fatigue, backaches, breathlessness, insomnia and high levels of stress. A cup of skullcap tea benefits general health during pregnancy and takes care of the signs of symptoms that recur during the gestation period.

It curbs nausea and its analgesic properties provide relief from pain. The phenolic compounds drive out anxiety and stress and take care of insomnia.

5. The Central Nervous System

Chinese skullcap root benefits the central nervous system in effective ways. It is a highly effective natural remedy for nervous disorders like epilepsy, seizing fits, convulsions etc. It helps to soothe the central nervous system and improves the coordination of motor sensory nerves.

Prescribed consumption of skullcap supplement helps in the maintenance of body coordination and movement. Skullcap tea is a great help for the spasmodic episodes and has been in use since ancient times to dramatically reduce the frequency of seizures and fits.

6. Control of Diabetes

Control of diabetes

Chinese skullcap benefits diabetes in the most effective of ways. It is known for its ability to enhance the production of insulin in the pancreas. This helps to control the level of blood glucose and brings down any spikes in blood sugar.

If you are suffering from chronic diabetes, then skullcap supplement is one of the best natural remedies that will stabilize the levels. Skullcap tea inhibits and prevents the oxidative damage caused to the liver under the effect of diabetes

The anti-diabetic properties of skullcap roots make it especially useful in lowering the level of blood glucose and curing diabetes in time.

[Also Read: Natural Tips For Diabetes]

7. Cardiovascular Health

Cardiac diseases often result from hardening of arteries, which puts pressure on cardiac functioning as the heart has to work harder to pump blood through the stiffened arteries. Skullcap eliminates bad cholesterol from the body which helps to decrease the stiffness of arteries.

The herb is also known for the stabilization of blood pressure. Skullcap is rich in magnesium. This mineral aids in the prevention of cardiac diseases by ensuring healthy circulation of blood throughout the body.

It is magnesium that is highly effective in the prevention of deposition of cholesterol in blood vessels. This protects the individual from atherosclerosis. Regular consumption of skullcap root tea helps to lower cholesterol naturally and prevent cardiac disorders.

health benefits of skullcap - infographic

8.Fights against Inflammation

The roots of skullcap are rich in anti-inflammatory properties and potent antioxidants that aid in the treatment of inflammation. Skullcap is especially effective in curing arthritis which is characterized by the symptom of inflammation of joints and immense pain.

It is analgesic in nature and can cure the pain within a few weeks. It heals inflammation of muscles and tissues and cures it in a very short time.

9. Gastrointestinal Health

Skullcap is rich in anti-ulcer properties that make it highly effective in the natural treatment of intestinal ulcers. It protects the walls of the intestines from damage caused by oxidative stress with the preservation of the mucus. Skullcap has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

This protects the gut against intestinal inflammation and facilitates the smooth movement of bowels through the intestine. This prevents bloating, constipation, flatulence and other digestive disorders.

[Also Read: Effective Remedies for Constipation]

10. Weight Loss

Skullcap benefits weight loss

Consumption of skullcap extract is highly beneficial for the shedding of excessive body weight. Even though research on this hypothesis is still going on in full swing, it has been proven by several studies that the herb possesses the ability to reduce the level of triglycerides in the body.

This helps in the rapid loss of excess body weight. Skullcap tea when taken with a balanced diet and proper exercise can be highly effective for the weight loss routine.

11. Prevention of Cancer

Chinese skullcap root benefits health with effective prevention of cancer. The root induces apoptosis of cells afflicted with cancer. This makes it an effective herbal remedy for the natural cure of cancer.

The action of apoptosis is triggered by the antioxidant flavonoids which help in the prevention of metastasis and delays the growth and spread of malignant tumors.

12. Detoxification of the Body

Our physiology gets bombarded with heavy metals and toxins that poison our health. Skullcap can detoxify the blood through the elimination of several different antigens like dioxins, heterocyclic amines, and strontium and methylmercury.

The process of detoxification is executed through the enhancement of antioxidant activities of the liver. The toxins are then rendered harmless and eliminated through excretion. Skullcap is rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that aid in repairing damage throughout the entire body.

13. Skin Cancer

Skullcap benefits for skin cancer

Skullcap root is rich in antioxidants that fight against poisonous free radicals, protect the skin from damage caused by the UV rays of the sun, repair broken skin tissues and thus prevent the skin from getting afflicted by cancer.

Skullcap benefits for the skin include prevention of skin cancer, protection against dry skin, premature aging, acne and other such skin issues.

14. Benefits for Skin

Skullcap extract helps in curing the symptoms of eczema or atopic dermatitis by eliminating dryness of skin. It decreases the infiltration of compounds of immune into the skin and soothes the response of the immune system to the symptoms of eczema, thereby fighting against the itchy and dry sensation and restoring the health of the skin.

Skullcap is a powerful antioxidant that fights against toxic free radicals and protects the skin tissues from injuries.

15. Arthritis

Skullcap benefits for arthritis

The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of skullcap make it highly effective in curing aching joints, which is the major symptom of arthritis.

If you are suffering from painful arthritis, then regular consumption of a cup of hot skullcap root tea twice or thrice a day will help to cure the inflammation of the joints most effectively thus getting rid of the throbbing pain naturally.

[Recommended Read: Special Tips For Arthritis]

FAQs

1. Where does Skullcap grow?

Response: Skullcap thrives in wetlands and marshy meadows of North America. It is a perennial flowering herb that grows to a height of 60-80 centimeters.

2. What does Skullcap do for you?

Response: Skullcap helps to bring down stress and anxiety. It induces a sound slumber and ensures healthy physiological functioning.

Skullcap benefits gastrointestinal, cardiac, renal and hepatic health. It prevents the occurrence of cancer and detoxifies the body by fighting against free radicals. The herbal remedy is a natural cure for inflammatory diseases like arthritis and ulcers and is overall replete with health benefits.

3. What is Skullcap Tincture good for?

Response: Skullcap tincture serves as an excellent nerve tonic. Its antioxidant content protects the brain and central nervous system from oxidative stress caused by free radicals. Skullcap tincture is especially effective in the prevention of depression, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and more.

It is highly effective against diseases like inflammatory bowel syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcers and more. When blended with other medicinal herbs, skullcap tincture can be administered to lower high body temperature, cure coughing fits, and breathlessness, and stabilize the rate of heartbeats and so on.

4. What is Skullcap used for?

Response: Skullcap would be traditionally used for the relief from tension, stress, and anxiety. The anxiolytic properties of the phenolic compounds of skullcap are highly beneficial for driving out anxiety.

The flavonoids contained in skullcap herb, especially baicalin and scutellarin, are especially effective in curbing the symptoms of menstruation and regulate healthy bleeding.

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