Skull Cap Extract
Species Name: Scutellaria baicalensis
Also Known As: Baikal skullcap, Scutellaria, Scullcap, huáng qín, Asian skullcap, golden root, Chinese Skull Cap.
What is skull cap extract? Many enjoy this plant for its ornamental beauty.
It has long-lasting purple flowers on curved stems with bright-green foliage.
Skull cap extract is made from the root of the plant and is available in powder form or as a liquid extract.
Chinese skullcap is often combined with other herbs and made into a preparation but it can also be taken by itself.
The name skull cap can refer to two very different herbs: American skullcap (or Scutellaria lateriflora), and Chinese skull cap (or Scutellaria baicalensis).
These two herbs are very different plants and are utilized to treat different conditions. It is important to note that these distinct forms of skull cap are NOT interchangeable.
The herbaceous, perennial, mint plant grown in China and Russia has tiny blue or purple flowers that bloom on a single stem and can reach a height of four feet.
The use of the Skull Cap Plant in traditional Chinese medicine dates back over two thousand years. It is one of the fifty fundamental herbs that are used in traditional Chinese medicine, where it goes by the name huáng qín.
Home Remedies Using Skull Cap Extract:
Benefits of Skull Cap Extract:
Traditionally this extract has been used to treat allergies, infections, inflammation, cancer, and headaches. It is believed to have antifungal and antiviral effects.
The Chinese believed it contained "draining fire" abilities, used to treat symptoms of high fever, mucus, irritability, feverish sores and swelling. It was also used to "dry dampness" from the stomach and intestinal tract. This resulted in relieving the urge to drink fluids.
Today Chinese skull cap extract is typically used in the treatment of inflammatory skin conditions, allergies, high cholesterol and triglycerides. It may also be used to treat Atherosclerosis, epilepsy, hepatitis, and as a possible cancer treatment.
It might also be recommended to treat internal infections like urinary tract infection, and even insomnia.
Chinese skull cap is being researched for many reasons. Some of the research studies show, “The root of Chinese scullcap contains the flavonoid baicalin that has been shown in test tube studies to have protective actions on the liver. "
"Anti-allergy actions and the inhibition of bacteria and viruses in test tube studies have also been documented with Chinese scullcap. Some preliminary Chinese human trials, generally of low quality, suggest that Chinese scullcap may help people with acute lung, intestinal, and liver infections, as well as hay fever."
Side Effects of Skull Cap Extract:
There are no known side effects to skull cap extract. If you have diabetes, do not take Chinese skull cap without your doctor's supervision. This extract may lower blood sugar levels, raising the risk of hypoglycemia or low blood sugar.
Do not use during pregnancy or breastfeeding as the safety of use during this time has not been evaluated.
Skull cap may cause an additive effect with Anticoagulant and Antiplatelet drugs and herbs. Baicalin, an active constituent of Skull cap, may decrease the blood level of statin drugs used to lower cholesterol. If you take these drugs, check with your doctor before using Skull cap extract.
