Scutellaria, skullcap

 Sedates the nerves.

Herb: Common Skullcap

Latin name: Scutellaria galericulata

Family: Labiatae

Medicinal use of Common Skullcap: The herb is anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, slightly astringent, febrifuge, nervine and strongly tonic. In the home an infusion is sometimes used in the treatment of throat infections. The plant is harvested in the summer as it comes into flower and can be dried for later use. This plant is rarely if ever used in herbal medicine, though it is said to have the same applications as S. lateriflora. These applications are:- Skullcap was traditionally used in the treatment of a wide range of nervous conditions including epilepsy, insomnia, anxiety, delirium tremens, withdrawal from barbiturates and tranquillisers, and neuralgia. An infusion of the plant has been used to promote suppressed menstruation, it should not be given to pregnant women since it can induce a miscarriage. This plant should be used with some caution since in excess it causes giddiness, stupor,

medicinal herbs: COMMON SKULLCAP - Scutellaria galericulata (naturalmedicinalherbs.net)

From  SPECIFIC INDICATIONS FOR HERBS IN GENERAL USE Third edition Michael Moore:

SCUTELLARIA 

Herpes, early nerve pain, before eruptions. Supportive to other measures; anxiety syndromes in chronic cardiopathies. Functional neurocirculatory disorders; palpitations in evening with emotional agitation. Sydenham's chorea. Convulsions, when other medications may not be necessary. Delirium tremens in sthenics. Epilepsy, when aura is present but condition is marginal for standard medication; petit mal while sleeping. Insomnia in sthenic individual, or from exhaustion following excitement; wakefulness in chronic disorders. Multiple sclerosis, agitated and irritable from distress and fear. Trigeminal neuralgia. Pruritus senilis, with itching. Depression with physical agitation, over- sensitivity to stimulus. Hysteria with great over-sensitivity to stimulus. Pain, neurogenic, with agitation and increased CNS sensitivity. Pain, made less bearable by fear, agitation.