Skullcap To Calm The Nerves

Traditionally used to relieve nervousness, nervous tics, or insomnia. Let’s discover the benefits of skullcap to calm the nerves, this incomparable ally plant, which will effectively support the most stressed among us.

An extraordinary natural sedative

Scutellaria is an unrivaled plant for soothing the nervous system. This sweet lamiaceae with delicate flowers is ideal for states of anxiety and nervousness, in the event of an acute crisis or in the longer term to gain confidence and face the hazards of a stressful life. Relaxing muscles, sleeping better, calming obsessive thoughts, that’s its specialty! Let’s discover this incomparable ally plant, which will effectively support the most stressed among us.

Description

Scutellaria is a perennial herbaceous plant that will live 3 to 4 years before giving way to new shoots. It can reach between 35 and 90 cm in height. Its stem is erect, rigid and square, a typical characteristic of Lamiaceae. It is hairy and greenish, marked with wine red. A beautiful pale green, its leaves are opposite, lanceolate and slightly serrated. They are increasingly smaller towards the top of the plant. Its flowers are very small and often a pretty purplish blue. Also hairy, tubular and labiate in shape, they are grouped in pairs, in clusters of 5 to 20 flowers. The plant flowers from July to August. Its small helmet-shaped fruits contain 4 tiny cream-colored seeds.

Distribution

In the wild, it is found mainly in North America, particularly from the American Midwest to southern Manitoba, as well as from the east coast of South Carolina to Newfoundland, including southern Quebec. It appreciates humid and rocky environments such as the edges of lakes and rivers, or in meadows and shrub forests. It is often hidden among larger plants, alongside other varieties of lamiaceae.

Parts used

The leaves and flowering tops are used fresh or dried, although it does not keep for more than a few months once dried.

Constituents

Scutellaria is rich in trace elements such as chromium, cobalt, iron, manganese, silicon, zinc, copper and especially selenium which soothes the nervous system. It also contains calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and some vitamins (A, B1, B2, B3 and C). It also contains flavonoids, including scutellarin, baicalin and lignin, as well as iridoids, catalpol, resin, tannins and essential oils.

Harvesting:

To take full advantage of its medicinal effects, the flowering tops and leaves should be picked when the flowers begin to appear. It is made into a tincture when fresh. The whole plant can also be dried, stems down, to make infusions. It is stored without the stems in an airtight jar or brown paper bag, away from the sun.

Skullcap To Calm The Nerves

–Nervous tonic:

Skullcap restores and supports the nervous system in general. It is used in the long term for chronic nervous disorders but also in times of crisis. Indeed, skullcap acts on GABA receptors, involved in the feeling of well-being. It provides the brain with several neurotransmitter precursors, making it possible to fill the gaps and increase their production. It is therefore used to wean oneself off various potentially toxic substances such as caffeine, nicotine, sugar and other alkaloids or narcotics. Its use also increases the effect of drugs and psychoactive medications used to release these same neurotransmitters.

–Trophorestaurateur of the nervous system:

This plant helps rebuild a damaged nervous system. In other words, it accelerates the regeneration of nerve cells from stem cells and actively repairs damaged and painful nerves over time.

–Calming:

On a daily basis, skullcap soothes the mind without “knocking out”, except when fatigue has accumulated significantly and suddenly prevents us from resisting it. It reduces worries, mental agitation and states of excessive emotionality. It effectively soothes excess vata, states of anxiety, generalized anxiety as well as insomnia, especially when obsessive and recursive thoughts occur at night. Moreover, it has the ability to maintain attention during the day and then encourage us to sleep in the evening. It will be all the more effective, even temporarily sedative for people who are very sleep deprived.

–Analgesic:

It decreases to a certain mmeasures sensitivity to bodily pain of all kinds. Over long-term use, it would therefore gradually be beneficial for people suffering from fibromyalgia and chronic muscle pain. In addition, without being specific to the reproductive system, skullcap will nevertheless be useful for soothing uterine tension and pain, migraines, hypersensitivity and nervous irritation linked to PMS.

Dosages and methods of use

As mentioned above, skullcap can be consumed long-term to support and repair the nervous system over months and years, or it can be used spontaneously to manage a crisis state.

Herbal tea: With the plant dried in the last year, infuse 1 tbsp in 1 cup of boiling water for a good fifteen minutes or make a decoction by boiling the leaves over low heat in water for 10 minutes. Drink 1 to 4 cups per day.

Tinctures, liquid concentrate: For an alcohol tincture of concentration 1:2, take 20 to 80 drops, 1 to 4 times per day or according to the recommendations of an herbalist. Alcohol is known to be a better extractor than water for certain components of skullcap. You can also keep a dose on your nightstand and take it if you wake up at night and have looping thoughts that prevent you from falling back to sleep.

Capsules: Take 1 to 2 g with a little water, 1 to 4 times a day.

Oil: An oily maceration of skullcap could be useful for soothing nerve and muscle pain, when applied externally.

Precautions and contraindications

• It is often suspected of having some toxicity to the liver. In fact, it is confused with other plants in the germander family. It is therefore necessary to ensure its origin and authenticity before consuming it.
• Since it increases the production of neurotransmitters, it significantly increases the effect of sedative and psychoactive drugs in general.
• Skullcap can sometimes reduce pressure below the desired level in people with very low blood pressure or on strong medication for hypertension.
• It is a safe herb to take during pregnancy. In fact, it will benefit expectant mothers who are anxious, insomniac or who suffer from hypertension.

Finally, listen to your body, watch your bad habits, take care of your meals, exercise, slow down the use of screens and above all, and don’t hesitate to seek the advice of a professional if you are not feeling well!

For more mindfulness tips, click here.

I hope you enjoyed this blog post and found it useful. And you, what is your favorite plant to calm the nerves and feel serene? Tell us everything in the comments, we’re waiting for your tips!

Looking forward to reading your comments, sending you love and positive energy!!!