Chinese Skullcap 100 g, 50 g, 25 g

Chinese Skullcap  100 g ($14.99), 50 g ($9.99), 25 g ($6.99)

Benefits:
Active ingredients: Baicalin, wogonin, baicalein, wogonoside, and oroxylin A16

Sleep Baicalin, a compound found in both American and Chinese skullcap, is used to treat insomnia in traditional medicine practices. However, more research is needed. While skullcap may relieve anxiety, it also can help those who experience insomnia and other sleeping problems, such as restlessness, muscle tension and clenching the jaws. Research analyzing the use of herbal medicine for insomnia suggests that herbs including skullcap, lemon balm and passion flower are often used to improve sleep. A skullcap tea or tincture could be useful before bed to help you relax, ward off anxiety and give you some well-deserved and much-needed sleep.

Anxiety, Mood  American skullcap has been shown to boost mood and reduce symptoms of anxiety.

A small, older 2013 study of 43 people found that those who received 1,050 mg of American skullcap daily for 2 weeks reported significant enhancements in mood compared to a placebo group. It’s thought that American skullcap positively impacts mood and reduces anxiety by stimulating gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that helps calm nerves.  Notably, this plant was used in traditional medicine practices as a sedative and treatment for conditions like insomnia and anxiety. In fact, many anti-anxiety medications work similarly by increasing GABA activity.

For more than two centuries, American skullcap has been used by both Americans and Europeans as a nerve tonic to help treat anxiety. Research has shown that the plant contains “anxiolytic activity” in animals and humans.

Oxidative stress affects some brain-related diseases, such as anxiety, Alzheimer’s disease, depression and Parkinson’s disease, yet research indicates that bioactive compounds found in medicinal plants, such as skullcap, may neutralize and even eliminate toxic free radicals. When this occurs, oxidative stress is greatly reduced. Skullcap for anxiety may work because of its ability to provide significant antioxidant effects, which could make it a great option for reducing anxiety.

Antibacterial, Antiviral  Scutellaria (S.) barbata, also known as barbat skullcap is another species with medicinal properties. Studies indicate that it has powerful antiviral and antibacterial effects. One test-tube study found that barbata skullcap could potentially help prevent COVID-19 infection by blocking key proteins the virus uses to infect cells. Another older study sampled over 30 Chinese herbs and found that only S. barbata extract showed 100% antibacterial activity against Acinetobacter baumannii (XDRAB), a bacterium that is a leading cause of pneumonia in people who need to get hospitalized.

Furthermore, this herb showed better antibacterial effects than colistin, an antibiotic. The same study demonstrated that S. barbata was also effective in reducing XDRAB bacterial load in the lungs of mice, compared to a control group.

Anti-Inflammatory  Both American and Chinese skullcaps contain an array of beneficial plant compounds, including antioxidants, which have anti-inflammatory effects and protect your cells from damage caused by free radical molecules. Chinese scutellaria has some pretty effective anti-inflammatory properties. Many who suffer with arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases are known for using skullcap as a home remedy.

A 2007 study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine evaluated selected herbs for their ability to protect neuronal cells. Researchers found that ginger and turmeric extracts exhibited the most protective effects, followed by skullcap, ginkgo biloba, Chinese cinnamon and Korean rhubarb. Researchers concluded that these selective herbs may be potentially important resources to discover natural drug candidates against the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

Cancer  Oxidative stress, which results from an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants, is linked to a number of chronic conditions, such as certain cancers and heart disease.

Notably, baicalin, a flavonoid antioxidant in both American and Chinese skullcap, has demonstrated powerful anticancer effects and may help combat oxidative stress. For example, in test-tube studies, baicalinhas been shown to slow down tumor growth, causing cancer cells to die, and affecting important cell signals in the body. Research indicates its effectiveness against several types of cancer, including cervical, breast, stomach, bladder, prostate, and lung cancers.

Studies are needed to determine whether baicalin has similar effects in humans.

Scutellarein is another American skullcap compound that exhibits potent anticancer potential in test-tube studies.

Additionally, some test tube studies reveal that wogonin, a flavonoid compound in Chinese and American skullcap, is particularly effective in treating inflammatory conditions like psoriasis. It’s worth noting that Chinese and American skullcap contain many other anti-inflammatory compounds. In fact, more than 40 flavonoids have been isolated from the Chinese species alone.

Research shows that Chinese skullcap extract is toxic to cancer cells, such as brain tumor cells, prostate cancer cells, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. Studies indicate that aqueous extracts suppressed the growth of lymphoma and myeloma cells. It’s believed that certain flavones, which are antioxidants within the plant, are responsible for these anticancer effects, ultimately inhibiting the growth. This may happen due to the free radical scavenging characteristics it contains, which prevents viral infections. One of these flavones is known as baicalein. In a study published in the Beijing Science Bulletin, it appeared as though the baicalein did not cause any mutations, which is a serious problem of many conventional anticancer drugs available today.

Another study published in the International Journal of Molecular Medicine investigated the effects of the extract from skullcap on fibrosarcoma (a highly metastatic cancer of the connective tissue) and showed possible anticancer characteristics. The rate at which cancer cells grew was significantly suppressed by treatment through apoptosis, and the volume and weight of tumors were greatly reduced as well. It appears as though the plant helped prevent further inhibition and migration of cancer cells, indicating its potential as a natural cancer treatment.

Neurodegenerative: Some test-tube studies suggest that American skullcap may have neuroprotective properties, potentially safeguarding against diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Ankylosing Spondylitis   Skullcap has been studied in people with a type of arthritis called ankylosing spondylitis (AS). AS mainly affects joints in the spine. In the clinical trial, skullcap was more effective than sulfasalazine, a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD), which is used off-label for AS.  Along with improving AS symptoms, components in skullcap act as an antioxidant. Oxidative stress may cause damage to cells and tissues in the body. More human studies are needed to determine skullcap’s effect on AS, but in the meantime treatments like physical therapy and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Gingivitis   A review investigated the effects of baicalin, a component of skullcap, on gingivitis, a gum disease caused by plaque buildup. While results were promising, more data is needed before skullcap can be routinely recommended for gingivitis prevention.

Heart  In one animal study, baicalin injections significantly reduced damage linked to an induced heart attack.

A recent study aimed to investigate the cardioprotective effects of baicalein, which comes from skullcap roots, suggests that the plant may help to protect heart health. Subjects were injected with isoproterenol (ISO), which induced acute myocardial infarction. Pretreatment with baicalein greatly reversed alterations induced by the ISO with results showing higher levels of antioxidant defense enzymes. Overall, the study revealed cardioprotective effects of baicalein, giving evidence that pretreatment could prevent, and possibly terminate, some heart disease conditions, such as myocardial infarction.

Fever  According to a 2014 study by the Korean Food Research Institute, skullcap may help reduce fever. Tests were conducted by administering the herb to subjects who had a food allergy. Temperature was monitored, and results indicated that the group given the skullcap demonstrated a drop in body temperature. Studies also indicate that some severe cases of illness involving fever may be treated with skullcap. Combined with other medicinal herbs, such as fried bitter  apricot seeds and unprocessed rhubarb, it’s been shown to help reduce high fever, cough and shortness of breath while reducing heart palpitations, anxiety and irritation.

Epilepsy, Muscle Spasms  Research shows that Ayurveda techniques and treatments using herbal medicine, such as skullcap, may be helpful in treating epilepsy. Specifically, skullcap Ramayana #16 is an Ayurvedic herbal preparation that’s been reported as being used for epilepsy treatment. In addition, healing Ayurvedic ingredients were combined using a base of honey and herbal ghee. Reports suggest that this cocktail of herbal ingredients helped to reduce tremors, muscle spasms, nerve-related symptoms and headaches, ultimately aiding in the treatment of side effects caused from epileptic patients.

An animal study out of Laurentian University in Canada showed that skullcap may reduce the risk and occurrence of seizures. Male rats were given skullcap for a period of time after being diagnosed with epilepsy and did not have seizures, while those not given the herb did. Interestingly, when the treatment was removed, seizures did occur.

Botanical Name: Scutellaria barbata
English: Quaker Bonnet, Mad dog, Skullcap
Also, known as: Helmet Flower, Hoodwort, Quaker Bonnet, Skullcap, Huang Qin, Kappenhelmkraut, Scutellaire, Craneo gorra, Scutellaria maggiore, Huang-ch’in, Blue Skull Cap, Blue Pimpernel, Hood-Wort, Mad-Dog Weed, Side Flower, Skull Cap Helmet Flower, American Skull Cap, Ban Zhi Lian, #2, pinyin
banzhilián, Chinese skullcap, Chinese Scullcap,
Habitat: Asia
Origin: China
Harvested: Wild
Parts Used: Herb

General Information:
Scutellaria barbata, the barbed skullcap. It is a species of flowering plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is native to Asia. It is a perennial herb generally reaching up to 35 centimeters tall, sometimes taller. The lightly toothed leaves are somewhat lance-shaped or triangular and up to about 3 centimeters long. The flowers are borne on pedicels that have tiny, sharp bracteoles. For centuries, medicinal plants and natural herbs have been used as remedies for a variety of ailments. In China, barbed skullcap, also known as Scutellaria barbata The purple-blue, lightly hairy flower corolla is roughly a centimeter long. The plant grows in moist and wet habitat, such as paddy fields. As an herb used in traditional Chinese medicine, it is known as Ban Zhi Lian (Chinese: , pinyin: bánzhīlián).

 

How to use:
We make these suggestions to help you get the best benefit from the herbs that you’re choosing to improve your health. Also we make these ideas and recommendations so that consuming them easier and better fit into your lifestyle by adding them to the food that you already eat.
For the full health benefit, it is best to consume (or use the whole herb in poultices) the whole herb. All of the compounds in the herb act best together, as nature intends. Extracts draw out the most prominent beneficial compounds and may concentrate them. What is not extracted can be helpful in ways that we do not yet understand.

Cut Pieces or Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use cut pieces or powdered herb.
Food Preparation: You can add powdered or pieces of herb (if the pieces you buy are bigger than you like, a coffee or herb grinder will quickly reduce) to any yogurt, smoothie, apple or other sauces, spreads, salads or other foods more familiar to you that don’t use heat. Heat can be damaging to the beneficial compounds in the herb. Other options like oatmeal, scrambled eggs, pasta sauce, soup, cookies and anything else that fits your lifestyle, but minimizing (by adding near the end of cooking) the heat is helpful.
Also, for children, you can mix powdered herb with honey or glycerin to make paste. The thicker the paste, the more potent and herbal in taste. The sweet taste of honey and glycerin will help medicine go down. The resulting liquid is called an electuary.
For seeds in general, but especially small seeds, it’s best to grind these to break the protective hulls a short time before consumption. This makes all the benefits available, rather than some remaining locked inside the hulls that are unbroken by insufficient chewing.
To make adding herbs even easier, you could add a week’s worth of your chosen herb(s) to an amount of, for example, yogurt that you would eat in a week. Mix thoroughly and eat this each day of the week. So you make once /week and just eat each other day.
Hot Infusion: The basic method for dried herbs and flower is, take 2-3 tablespoons of dried herb in a cup or teapot. Pour hot water over it and cover it with lid for 10-30 minutes. The heat from making tea can degrade some of the beneficial compounds in the herb. This method minimizes this effect. For the full health benefit, it is recommended to consume what is left over after making tea.
Decoctions: Decoctions are suitable for roots, barks, large seeds & berries, and other dense material. The simple way to make decoction is, in a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs to 1 cup of water, Bring the water to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30-60 minutes with the pot covered. Squeeze out as much as liquid as possible. Best practice is to drink the liquid and also consume the solid material that remains. Herb pieces can also be used.
Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use powdered herb.
Capsules: HerbsCrafters makes capsules guaranteed to be filled with the pure herb with no filler or any other products. You can also use powdered herb to make your own capsules at home. These capsules are best taken with liquid to aid in digestion and absorption and to ensure it doesn’t stick in your throat.
Poultice: Poultice can be made with an herbal powder and liquid (mostly water) to form a paste which is then applied to the skin. This method is very helpful for skin conditions.
Herbal shot: Powdered herb can be mixed with water, fruit juice or other liquid to make herbal shot.

Tips:
You can sweeten your herbal decoctions with bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder or licorice root powder.

Precautions:
You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
All information on this website is for educational purpose ONLY.
This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.