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This herb may help to promote sleep by reducing the aches
and pains that can keep you up at night. It is often included in herbal
sleep formulas.
Scullcap is a sedative/tranquilizer that might help
relieve the nervous tension and irritability of PMS.
The American species, Virginian Scullcap, flowering in
July, with inconspicuous blue flowers in one-sided racemes, is one of the
finest nervines ever discovered.
Popularly this plant is known in America as Mad-dog Scullcap or Madweed,
having the reputation of being a certain cure for hydrophobia.
The English species, Scutellaria galericulata and S. minor, possess
similar nervine properties to the American, and with S. integrifolia and
other American species with the flowers in one-sided terminal racemes, are
often used as substitutes.
Among the cultivated species are S. micrantha, from Siberia and the north
of China, a handsome species with spiked racemes of blue flowers; and S.
Coccinea, from Mexico, with scarlet flowers.
The French name for this plant is Toque.
The various species of Scutellaria will grow in any
ordinary garden soil, preferring sunny, open borders, where they will live
much longer and grow more strongly than on a rich soil, though they seldom
continue more than two or three years.
Plant in March or April, 6 inches apart.
Propagation is mostly effected by seeds, sown in gentle heat in February
or March or out of doors, in half-shady positions, in light soil in April.
Transplant into permanent quarters in the autumn. No further care is
necessary than weeding.
Propagation may also be effected by division of roots in March or April,
but the roots are generally lifted, divided and replanted only when
overgrown.
Constituents: A volatile oil, Scutellarin, and a bitter glucoside,
yielding Scutellarein on hydrolysis. Also tannin, fat, some bitter
principle, sugar and cellulose.
Medicinal Action and Uses: Scullcap has strong tonic, nervine and
antispasmodic action, and is slightly astringent.
In hysteria, convulsions, hydrophobia, St. Vitus's dance and rickets, its
action is invaluable. In nervous headaches, neuralgia and in headache
arising from incessant coughing and pain, it offers one of the most
suitable and reliable remedies. The dried extract, given in doses of from
1 to 3 grains as a pill, will relieve severe hiccough.
Many cases of hydrophobia have been cured by this remedy alone.
It is considered a specific for the convulsive twitchings of St. Vitus's
dance, soothing the nervous excitement and inducing sleep when necessary,
without any unpleasant symptoms following. Fluid
extract, 1/2 to 1 drachm.
It may be prescribed in all disorders of the nervous system, and has been
suggested as a remedy for epilepsy. Writing on this point in the British
Medical Journal, 1915, Dr. William Bramwell says: 'Its efficacy appears to
be partly due to its stimulating the kidneys to increased activity....'
Overdoses of the tincture cause giddiness, stupor, confusion of mind,
twitchings of the limbs, intermission of the pulse and other symptoms
indicative of epilepsy, for which in diluted strength and small doses it
has been successfully given.
The usual dose is an infusion of 1 oz of the powdered herb to a pint of
boiling water, given in half-teacupful doses, every few hours. Both fluid
and solid extracts are prepared and Scutellarin is also administered in
doses of 1 to 2 grains. Fluid extract, 1/2
to 1 drachm.
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