THE HERB COLLECTION

American Skullcap

Blue-Hooded Meadow Mint of Traditional North American Herbals.

Explore the common forms, learn a little about the plant, and choose what suits your cupboard.

We do not link to skullcap products because of the liver injury reports described in the cautions below.

A little about american skullcap.

The plant

Mildly bitter, herbaceous, and grassy-minty without strong aromatic essential oils. Native to North American Wetlands & Meadows (Lamiaceae (Mint Family)).

The forms

Most often prepared as a covered aerial infusion using 2 g (1 to 1.5 tbsp cut aerial herb) at 200°F (93°C) (10–12 min covered).

Before you choose

Check the label for the Latin name (Scutellaria lateriflora), and choose the form that suits your cupboard.

Traditional uses & research +

Botanical taxonomy: Scutellaria lateriflora (Lamiaceae (Mint Family)) · Tradition: Calming Nervines · Key constituents: Baicalin, Scutellarin, Wogonin, Flavonoids.

Curated collections: Evening Calm & Bedtime Infusions · Seasonal almanac: July Almanac (High-Summer Mint, Basil & Meadow Nervines).

Traditional background: Named from the Latin scutella ('little dish') for the helmet-like shape of its seed calyx after the blue petals fall, American skullcap is a traditional North American herb used as a nervine.

Everyday & kitchen uses: Blended with passionflower, lemon balm, and oatstraw in evening infusions.

Standard preparation methods (compare all 50 steeping temperatures):

Covered Aerial Infusion (2 g (1 to 1.5 tbsp cut aerial herb) at 200°F (93°C)): 10–12 min covered
Fresh-Plant Tincture (Preferred) (1:2 fresh flowering aerial herb in 50% alcohol at Dark amber maceration): Steep 4 weeks; a traditional preference for keeping flavonoids
Evening Blend (1 tbsp skullcap + 1 tbsp lemon balm + 1 tsp chamomile at 200°F (93°C)): 10 min covered

Cautions & interactions +

General information, not medical advice. Check with a doctor or pharmacist before using this herb if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, giving it to a child, taking medication or managing a health condition.

Who should use caution: American skullcap has been linked to rare cases of liver injury, including at least one of acute liver failure, usually in products mixed with other herbs. Some cases involved germander contamination or mislabeling, so buy only identity-tested products, though testing does not remove all risk. Stop and seek care for jaundice, dark urine, fatigue or nausea. Chinese skullcap has separate liver injury reports. Because skullcap is used as a sedative, avoid combining it with sedatives or alcohol. Safety in pregnancy, breastfeeding and children is not well studied.

Species & lookalike verification: CRITICAL SPECIES & ADULTERATION WARNING: Two completely different plants are sold as 'Skullcap': (1) American Skullcap / Mad-Dog Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), which uses the green leafy aerial tops and blue hooded flowers as a traditional relaxing herb; and (2) Chinese Skullcap / Baikal Skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis / Huang Qin), which uses the bright yellow bitter root in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Furthermore, S. lateriflora products have been adulterated with germander (Teucrium species), which can seriously harm the liver. Buy identity-tested S. lateriflora, and know that skullcap itself has been linked to rare liver injury.

Cupboard storage (amber glass guide): Protect from light and moisture; fresh-dried green aerial leaf is preferred over aged yellow stem.

Sources & further reading +

What is the difference between American Skullcap and Chinese Skullcap?
American Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) uses the above-ground leafy stems and flowers steeped as a traditional evening tea. Chinese Skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) uses the dense, golden-yellow root—rich in baicalin and wogonin—which is decocted as a bitter cooling herb in East Asian herbalism.

Why is supplier identity testing so important when buying Skullcap?
In the late 20th century, wild-harvesters occasionally mistook wild Germander (Teucrium spp., another square-stemmed mint relative) for American Skullcap. Germander contains neoclerodane diterpenes that are toxic to the liver, which is why identity testing matters. Testing does not rule out every risk, because skullcap itself has been linked to rare liver injury.

Where did Skullcap get its name?
After the small blue-violet two-lipped flowers drop off, the remaining green calyx closes up into a miniature dish-shaped helmet with a visor ridge that looks just like a medieval leather skullcap.

Why do many herbalists prefer fresh-plant Skullcap tincture or newly dried leaf?
Skullcap's primary flavonoids—scutellarin and baicalein—are thought to decline as dried leaves age in air. Newly harvested, shade-dried green leaf kept in airtight amber glass may keep better.

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