American Skullcap

Action and Therapy. Scutellaria is calmative to the nervous and muscular systems and possesses feeble tonic properties. By controlling nervous irritability and muscular incoordination it gives rest and permits sleep. It may be exhibited to advantage during acute and chronic illness to maintain nervous balance, control muscular twitching and tremors, and is sometimes effectual in subsultus tendinum during grave prostrating fevers.

Therapy. Its soothing influence upon the nervous system conduces to quiet and restful sleep. In large doses in delirium tremens, it is a sufficient remedy. Its influence will be enhanced by combining, it with capsicum, the tincture of red cinchona, or some other non-alcoholic stimulant.

Properties and Uses. This much-neglected herb is a truly valuable medicine, but is many times rendered inert by being boiled; and some physicians have laid it aside, having used some of the weaker species instead of the true lateriflora.

Medical Uses and Dosage. (See Scutellaria). Extract of scullcap is tonic, nervine, and antispasmodic. It has been used with advantage in cases of nervous excitability, chorea, wakefulness, and restlessness; it may be used alone or in combination with the alcoholic extracts of cimicifuga, cypripedium, or asclepias. The dose is from 1 to 5 grains, 3 or 4 times a day.