American Skullcap benefits
Scutelaria lateriflora
Skullcap is the name of a flowering perennial plant from the mint family, Lamiaceae. With the scientific name Scutellaria lateriflora, this plant can be found in North America�s wet habitats. There are a few names for skullcap, including mad dog and blue skullcap. The range of health benefits enjoyed by frequent users of skullcap is due to the presence of various phenolic compounds and flavones that impact the body in many different ways. The plant was traditionally used by native Americans for
Relieves Anxiety
Skullcap tea is a popular method to balance the hormones in your body, as it stimulates the release of endorphins and generally balances your mood. If you are feeling worked up for no reason, and constantly feel tense, then perhaps what you need is a simple cup of this tea. Phenolic compounds can have a wide range of effect on our hormonal balance, as they happen to be rich in antioxidant compounds. There are many herbs such as saw palmetto that can provide relief from stress and anxiety.
Reduces Pain
Skullcap possesses certain analgesic properties, meaning that consuming it can help to relieve pain throughout the body, partially through a reduction in inflammation. However, you can form a paste of the dried one and apply it directly to the areas that are experiencing pain. This can be a major boost for the healing of wounds or if you are recovering from an injury. Also, small scrapes and bruises can be healed more rapidly by applying it topically, as the rich phenolic compounds and flavones stimulate blood flow to the skin and help prevent infection.
Soothes Nervous System
If you suffer from a nervous disorder, you may have experienced seizures or other spasmodic side effects that result from a problem in your nervous system. Skullcap tea can soothe the nervous system and prevent these episodes. It has been traditionally used to reduce seizure frequency and severity in those patients. Adding skullcap to drinking water once a day has also been associated with this positive benefit.
This plant is also a nervine with sedative qualities and is helpful in the treatment of many nervous conditions such as epilepsy, hysteria, anxiety, delirium tremens and as a remedy for panic attacks. It has also been found useful in treating symptoms of withdrawal from barbiturates and tranquilizers.
Removes Toxins
If you are looking for a way to detoxify your body and boost your overall health, skullcap tea may be just the thing. Skullcap has been associated with increased antioxidant activity in the liver, which is one of the slowest-recovering organs, and this effect can significantly boost the efficiency of your liver. This reduces toxin levels in the body and blood, thereby improving overall health and wellness.
Manages Diabetes
Insulin and glucose regulation is essential and it appears that skullcap is able to increase the production of insulin by the pancreas and helps to regulate the insulin levels in the body. Furthermore, it has been linked to lower cholesterol levels, which is an exacerbating factor in diabetes.
Heart Health
By reducing the level of cholesterol in the heart, skullcap is able to lower the chances of atherosclerosis, heart attacks, coronary heart diseases, and strokes that often accompany the build-up of plaque in the arteries.
Weight Loss
Although research on this particular aspect of skullcap is still unclear, it appears that the reduction of triglycerides stimulated by this herb can help with rapid weight loss when combined with a proper diet. This research is ongoing but presents an option for those looking for new ways to lose weight.
Anticancer Potential
According to the International Journal of Molecular Medicine, Chinese skullcap has been known to induce apoptosis (sudden cell death), in cancerous cells and is used for the treatment of cancer. This action is found to be caused by a compound called scutellarein in the herb.
The Medicines Research Group, School of Health and Bioscience, University of East London, Stratford, UK found that skullcap has been used as an herbal remedy for the treatment of lung cancer in the Chinese medicine. Although no sufficient evidence is available, there is a chance of apoptosis induced by skullcap and it also acts as a toxin to lung cancer cells. This is surely a great finding in the world of medicine.
Adrienne Scheck, Ph.D., a member of the American Association for Cancer Research, in his research on the effects of skullcap on the brain tumor cells, found that it helps to inhibit the cancer cell growth and is also a potential adjuvant treatment to current chemotherapeutic agents used in cancer treatment.
One 2007 study by the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York University also suggests that skullcap can be a very effective anticancer agent in the treatment of prostate cancer.
Word of Caution:
Avoid excess intake of this herb as it may cause giddiness, nausea, and lightheadedness, as well as seizures in extreme cases. Always get it from a trusted, certified source, and don�t combine it with other medicines, unless you specifically discuss the choice with your doctor.
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