Herb module

Skullcap Leaf

American SkullcapScutellaria lateriflora

A gentle, leafy mint-family herb from North America, valued in Western herbalism for calming a busy mind and tense nerves.

★ Chief herb in Women's Health · Ríza ★ Chief herb in Brain + Mood · XýloAlso inDigestive Relief · Édafos

Skullcap Leaf is the leaf and flowering top of American skullcap, a small mint-family plant native to North American wetlands. It comes from the Western herbal tradition, where it is known as a calming herb for the nervous system. Zoi blends it into Ríza™, Xýlo™ and Édafos™. It is a different plant from Huang Qin, the Chinese skullcap root.

Best functions

Traditionally used in Western herbalism to ease nervous tension, restlessness and sleeplessness
Studies have looked at skullcap’s calming, anti-anxiety effects
Lab and animal studies have looked at its hormone-balancing and anti-inflammatory activity
Research has explored its gastro-protective and liver-protective properties

Fascinating facts

American skullcap is a different plant from Huang Qin, the Chinese skullcap, even though the two share a name. Noa’s herb index makes a point of keeping them apart.
Skullcap gets its name from the shape of its tiny flower base, which looks like a little helmet or old-fashioned cap.
With Chinese skullcap the root is used, but American skullcap is harvested for its leaves and flowering tops. That is why Zoi’s sheets call it Skullcap Leaf.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine

American skullcap comes from the Western herbal tradition, so it has no classical Traditional Chinese Medicine profile of its own. Zoi’s practitioners blend it with Chinese herbs in Ríza™, Xýlo™ and Édafos™.

Go deeperDownload the fact sheet on the Women's Health · Ríza page

Biomedical deep dive

Skullcap Leaf American Skullcap

From the Zoi Medicinals fact sheets’ Biomedical Details, with lines from Noa’s herb notes marked “Noa’s notes”.

On the fact sheet

Skullcap Leaf (Scutellaria lateriflora) is cold, enters the LU, ST, GB, and LI meridians; clears Heat and dries Damp, drains Fire and detoxifies, cools the Blood and stops bleeding, clears Heat, calms the fetus, and calms ascending Liver Yang. Women’s Health | Ríza · Brain + Mood | Xýlo · Digestive Relief | Édafos sheets

Key active constituents

The fact sheets don’t name constituents for this herb.

Pharmacology and mechanisms

Animal and other studies indicate skullcap has hormone-regulating properties, which may explain benefits for PMS, menstrual and menopausal symptoms (Dietz et al., Pharmacol Rev 2016).
Skullcap is among the Xýlo herbs that have exhibited anti-anxiety effects in various studies (Sarris et al., Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2011).
Anxiolytic (calming) and sedative through positive GABA-A receptor modulation, without tolerance or dependence; Notion credits scutellarein (see conflicts). Noa’s notes
Anti-inflammatory: inhibits COX-2, 5-LOX and NF-κB (inflammation pathways). Noa’s notes
Neuroprotective against oxidative-stress damage to nerve cells. Noa’s notes
Antispasmodic for uterine, gut and other smooth muscle; used clinically for menstrual cramps and nervous tension. Noa’s notes

What the research says

No herb-specific study on the fact sheets.

Safety, interactions and cautions

Every Zoi fact sheet: do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding unless directed by your health care practitioner.
The Brain + Mood (Xýlo) fact sheet cautions: if you have a medical condition or take medication, check with your doctor before use.
Avoid in excessive Cold or Yang deficiency. Noa’s notes
Use caution in pregnancy at high doses. Noa’s notes

In these Zoi formulas

★ Women’s Health | Ríza (#1 on the fact sheet)
★ Brain + Mood | Xýlo (#2 on the fact sheet)
Digestive Relief | Édafos (#8 on the fact sheet)

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.