Baikal Skullcap

This is a cosmopolitan genus of about 300 species of annuals and perennials. Scutellaria baicalensis is an attractive small perennial fo borders. Its first mention as a medicinal herb is in the Shen Nong Canon of Herbs, which dates back to the later Han dynasty (CE25-220). It has been well-researched in China and found to contain flavonoids that improve liver function and have anti-inflammatory and anti-allergenic effects. The Himalayan Scutellaria barbata (barbed skullcap) is also used, mainly as a detoxicant for certain kinds of cancer, liver diseases, poisonous bites, pharyngitis. Scutellaria laterifolia (Virginia skullcap) is widely grown in herb gardens and nurseries, although many plants labeled as such are in fact S. altissima, a larger plant with showier flowers; care should be taken to check the identity of plants grown for medicinal use. Virginian skullcap was used by native tribes, such as the Cherokee, for menstrual problems, but rose to fame in the 18th century after a Dr. Vandesveer began using it as a cure for rabies, hence its common name, "mad dog skullcap". The plant was first listed as a sedative and anti-spasmodic in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia in 1863 and was widely used by the Physiomedicalists (followers of Samuel Thomson) as a remedy for convulsions, epilepsy and schizophrenia. The European S. galericulata appears to have similar constituents to S. baicalensis, and is used as a substitute for S. lateriflora. Scutellaria is from the Latin scutella "a small dish", referring to the pouch-like appearance of the fruit's calyx.

Bushy, spreading perennial with lanceolate leaves, to 4cm (1½in) long. Dense, one-sided racemes of hairy, tubular, blue-purple flowers, 2.5cm (1in) long, are produced in summer.


Common Name:
Baikal Skullcap
Botanical Name:
Scutellaria baicalensis
Genus:
Scutellaria
Family:
Lamiaceae
Native Location:
Mongolia, China, and Japan.
Cultivation:
Light, well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. Scutellaria lateriflora enjoys damp conditions. Scutellaria baicalensis needs sharp drainage and tolerates drought. Cut back to within 7-10cm (3-4in) of the base in early spring and pinch out in spring to encourage bushy growth.
Propagation:
By seed sown in autumn; by division in autumn or spring; by basal ans semi-ripe cuttings in spring or summer.
Harvest:
Roots (S. baicalensis) are lifted in autumn or spring frm plants 3-4 years old, and dried for decoctions. Plants (S. lateriflora) are cut when flowering for use in infusions, liquid extracts, and tinctures, or dried for tablets.
Height:
30-38cm (12-15in)
Width:
20-30cm (8-12in)
Hardiness:
Z4-8
Parts Used:
Roots (huang qin)
Properties:
A bitter, sedative, cooling herb that lowers fever, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels, relaxes spasms, stimulates the liver, improves digestion, controls bleeding, and has diuretic, anti-bacterial, and anti-toxic effects. It reputedly calms the fetus in pregnant women.
Medicinal Uses:
Internally for enteritis, dysentery, diarrhea, jaundice, chronic hepatitis, urinary tract infections, hypertension, threatened miscarriage, nosebleed, and hemorrhage from lungs or bowel. It is an ingredient of the Chinese drug san huang zhe she ye ("injection of three yellow herbs"), the others being Coptis chinensis (See, Mishmi Bitter) and Phellodendron amurense (See, Amur Cork Tree).
Bibliography:
Encyclopedia of Herbs by Deni Brown Copyright © 1995, 2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited Pp 364-365