Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUsesSide EffectsPrecautionsDosageToxicityInteractionsHow to StoreSimilar SupplementsSources & What to Look ForFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Uses
Side Effects
Precautions
Dosage
Toxicity
Interactions
How to Store
Similar Supplements
Sources & What to Look For
Frequently Asked Questions
Skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) is an herb from the mint family commonly used intraditional Chinese medicine.It’s rich in nutrients, includingantioxidantsknown asflavonoidsthat reduce the effects of stress on the body.
In particular, skullcap contains baicalin and baicalein, two compounds studied for a wide range of healing properties.It also contains wogonin, shown in preclinical trials, to exhibit anti-cancer, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-convulsant properties.However, additional human trials are needed to validate these benefits.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements the way it regulates prescription drugs. That means that some supplement products may not contain what the labels says. Whenchoosing a supplementlook for independently tested products and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), or pharmacist.
Uses of Skullcap
Preliminary research in test tubes or animal models suggests skullcap may be useful in the treatment of the following health conditions:
However, clinical trials in humans are needed to explore the health effects of skullcap fully. More research is needed to recommend it for any of these conditions.
There are limited human trials for skullcap for two conditions: ankylosing spondylitis and gingivitis.
Supplement FactsActive ingredients: Baicalin, wogonin, baicalein, wogonoside, and oroxylin AAlternate names:Baikal skullcap, Huang Qin,Scutellaria baicalensis,hoodwortLegal status:Over-the-counter supplement in the United StatesSuggested dose: Unknown due to lack of human clinical trialsSafety considerations:Not enough safety data for children, during pregnancy or breastfeeding
Supplement Facts
Active ingredients: Baicalin, wogonin, baicalein, wogonoside, and oroxylin AAlternate names:Baikal skullcap, Huang Qin,Scutellaria baicalensis,hoodwortLegal status:Over-the-counter supplement in the United StatesSuggested dose: Unknown due to lack of human clinical trialsSafety considerations:Not enough safety data for children, during pregnancy or breastfeeding
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Skullcap has been studied in people with a type of arthritis calledankylosing spondylitis(AS). AS mainly affects joints in the spine.
In the clinical trial, skullcap was more effective than sulfasalazine, adisease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD),which is used off-label for AS.
Along with improving AS symptoms, components in skullcap act as an antioxidant.Oxidative stress may cause damage to cells and tissues in the body.
More human studies are needed to determine skullcap’s effect on AS. Until more research is conducted, it’s best to stick withstandard treatmentslikephysical therapyandnonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Gingivitis
While results were promising, more data is needed before skullcap can be routinely recommended for gingivitis prevention.
What Are the Side Effects of Skullcap?
Your provider may recommend you take skullcap for inflammation or another use. However, consuming an herb like this one may have potential side effects.
These side effects may be common and mild or less common and severe.
Common Side Effects
Only mild side effects were noted, including the following:
Skullcap side effects are still being determined.
Severe Side Effects
There’s not enough safety information to predict severe side effects of skullcap.
People with the following conditions need to take additional precautions before taking skullcap:
Diabetes: People withdiabetesshould not take skullcap without first consulting their healthcare provider. It may lowerblood sugarand, in turn, increase the risk ofhypoglycemia(lower blood sugar than is normal) if it’s taken with other diabetes medicines likemetforminorinsulin.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Skullcap should not be used duringpregnancyorbreastfeeding. There’s no safety data for these populations.
Be sure to speak with your healthcare provider if you have any questions about skullcap.
Dosage: How Much Skullcap Should I Take?
Always speak with a healthcare provider before taking a supplement to ensure that the supplement and dosage are appropriate for your individual needs.
There is no recommended daily allowance for skullcap and insufficient scientific evidence to determine an appropriate range of doses.
What Happens If I Take Too Much Skullcap?
There is not enough data to know if skullcap can cause toxicity.
In a 2014 study, single doses of up to 2,800 mg of skullcap’s major ingredient, baicalein, were well-tolerated in healthy adults, with no signs ofliverorkidneytoxicity.
But a study in rats showed that high doses of baicalein, 800 to 1,600 milligrams per kilogram of body weight (mg/kg), were potentially toxic to the kidneys.
More research is needed to determine to determine the risk for humans.
Speak with your healthcare provider before taking any herb or supplement.
Skullcap and its active ingredients have been found to have several drug interactions in preliminary studies.
Skullcap has been shown to enhance the effect of the following prescription medications in test tube or animal studies:
These interactions may or may not be clinically significant in humans. More trials are certainly needed.
It is essential to carefully read the ingredients list and nutrition facts panel of a supplement to know which ingredients and how much of each ingredient is included. Please review this supplement label with your healthcare provider to discuss any potential interactions with foods, other supplements, and medications.
Verywell / Anastasia Tretiak
How to Store Skullcap
Store skullcap according to manufacturer’s advice, away from children and pets.
Discard after one year or according to product directions.
Other herbs that have been studied for cancer include the following:
Sources of Skullcap & What to Look For
Skullcap can be consumed as a tea or used in a variety of supplement forms.
Food Sources of Skullcap
Skullcap may be used to make a tea. It has a slightly bitter taste. It’s not likely to be found as an ingredient in other commercially available foods in the United States.
Skullcap Supplements
Skullcap supplements are available online and in health food stores and pharmacies. It’s sold in capsule and as an extract. Skullcap is often combined with other herbs into a preparation.
Frequently Asked QuestionsThe dried root of skullcap, known as Huang-Qin, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine fordiarrhea,high blood pressure,hemorrhaging,insomnia, andrespiratory infections.Of note, there have not been clinical trials in humans to support these traditional uses.Preliminary studies suggest skullcap’s active ingredients may benefitbrain,breast,cervical,colon,esophageal,liver,lung,ovarian,pancreatic, andskin cancers, among others.Researchers noted that more safety, toxicity, and dosage studies are needed. Research in humans is needed.Due to a lack of research findings supporting its use, skullcap is not recommended for use in children.
The dried root of skullcap, known as Huang-Qin, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine fordiarrhea,high blood pressure,hemorrhaging,insomnia, andrespiratory infections.Of note, there have not been clinical trials in humans to support these traditional uses.
The dried root of skullcap, known as Huang-Qin, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine fordiarrhea,high blood pressure,hemorrhaging,insomnia, andrespiratory infections.
Of note, there have not been clinical trials in humans to support these traditional uses.
Preliminary studies suggest skullcap’s active ingredients may benefitbrain,breast,cervical,colon,esophageal,liver,lung,ovarian,pancreatic, andskin cancers, among others.Researchers noted that more safety, toxicity, and dosage studies are needed. Research in humans is needed.
Due to a lack of research findings supporting its use, skullcap is not recommended for use in children.
Summary
Due to limited research, it’s too soon to recommend skullcap as a treatment for any condition. It’s also important to note that self-treating a condition and avoiding or delaying standard care may have serious consequences. If you’re considering using skullcap for any health purpose, please first consult your healthcare provider.
26 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Bonham M, Posakony J, Coleman I, et al.Characterization of chemical constituents in Scutellaria baicalensis with antiandrogenic and growth-inhibitory activities toward prostate carcinoma.Clin Cancer Res. 2005;11(10):3905-14. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-04-1974Brock C, Whitehouse J, Tewfik I, Towell T.American Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora): a randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study of its effects on mood in healthy volunteers.Phytother Res. 2014;28(5):692-8. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5044.Cheng Y, He G, Mu X, et al.Neuroprotective effect of baicalein against MPTP neurotoxicity: behavioral, biochemical and immunohistochemical profile.Neurosci Lett. 2008;441(1):16-20. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2008.05.116Jin BR, Chung KS, Kim HJ, An HJ.Chinese Skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi) inhibits inflammation and proliferation on benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats.J Ethnopharmacol. 2019;235:481-488. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2019.01.039.Kim DH, Kim S, Jeon SJ, et al.The effects of acute and repeated oroxylin A treatments on Abeta(25-35)-induced memory impairment in mice.Neuropharmacology. 2008;55(5):639-47. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2008.05.019Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Center.Scutellaria Baicalensis. https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/scutellaria-baicalensisPenn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.Skull Cap. http://pennstatehershey.adam.com/content.aspx?productId=107&pid=33&gid=000273
Bonham M, Posakony J, Coleman I, et al.Characterization of chemical constituents in Scutellaria baicalensis with antiandrogenic and growth-inhibitory activities toward prostate carcinoma.Clin Cancer Res. 2005;11(10):3905-14. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-04-1974
Brock C, Whitehouse J, Tewfik I, Towell T.American Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora): a randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study of its effects on mood in healthy volunteers.Phytother Res. 2014;28(5):692-8. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5044.
Cheng Y, He G, Mu X, et al.Neuroprotective effect of baicalein against MPTP neurotoxicity: behavioral, biochemical and immunohistochemical profile.Neurosci Lett. 2008;441(1):16-20. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2008.05.116
Jin BR, Chung KS, Kim HJ, An HJ.Chinese Skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi) inhibits inflammation and proliferation on benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats.J Ethnopharmacol. 2019;235:481-488. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2019.01.039.
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Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.Skull Cap. http://pennstatehershey.adam.com/content.aspx?productId=107&pid=33&gid=000273
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