MISSIVES FROM THE APOTHECARY:
Skullcap for Stress
January 30th, 2025
by Kamden Cornell, our head herbalist and owner of Heart & Vine Apothecary
Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)
Oh my goodness, the stress is high as a dragonfly! With every day bringing in more and more news and nonsense, it’s hard to keep your head on straight and give yourself the time to actually process what’s happening in the world, both at home and abroad. That’s where skullcap comes in! Think of it as a cute little hat keeping your cute little brain from exploding right out of your cute little head! I know it is an ESSENTIAL ally for me in times of high stress and crisis.
Scutellaria lateriflora, or American skullcap, is a powerful nervine that helps us to meet stress better and calm down faster, meaning it can be a lovely tool to help maintain equilibrium in trying times. The plant acts as a GABA agonist, meaning the compounds it carries with it promote the production of GABA, thus allowing our central nervous systems to quieten and come into balance again. This makes it an anxiolytic (anxiety reducer). To make sure you’re getting the most bang for your buck, make sure to be eating what you can of dark leafy greens, nuts, tomatoes, citrus fruits, ferments (like kimchi or sauerkraut), and drinking plenty of green tea.
It is also useful for increasing the quality of sleep you’re getting (though, there is not as much evidence for it helping you get to sleep. There are other herbs for that!). The flavonoids in skullcap have been show to bind to the 5-HT7 receptor, helping to regulate the circadian rhythm and bring deeper, longer-lasting, and more beneficial sleep. It may also help to mitigate some of the potential adverse effects of taking things like valerian, which can be harsh on their own.
Magically, skullcap is used as a protection, especially against things like mal ojo and envidia. It can also be a useful plant to treat susto, the shocks that remove us from out bodies and make us susceptible to spiritual attack. It is also used to increase our awareness of the unseen world, which is also very handy when dealing with spiritual maladies. Wear a bit of skullcap in a black bag and carry it on your left side to ward off the negative influence of others!
We have a few products that include skullcap in the store:
Skullcap Herb: We carry skullcap as a dried herb. Add 1-2 tsp. of dried herb to a cup of nearly boiling water (175-180 degrees F. NEVER fully boil water for medicinal teas). Allow this to steep for 10-15 minutes, strain, and enjoy about 3 times daily.
Skullcap Tincture: We carry an in-house made tincture of skullcap. 2-4 droppers full 2-3x daily!
Calming Tea: a mixture of chamomile, passionflower, skullcap, blue vervain, basil, California poppy, damiana, hibiscus flower, and poppy seed to help calm and focus the mind.
Sleep Well Tea: chamomile, oatstraw, lemon balm, passionflower, skullcap, lavender, and milky oat to help relax your mind and make you feel comfy, cozy, and ready to sleep.
Headache Tea: white willow bark, lemon balm, nettle, spearmint, skullcap, rosemary, fennel and rosehips to take the edge off when the exploding brain feeling creeps in.
We are also more than happy to mix up, concoct, and conjure anything you might need! Just come in and ask. Our apothecary section is a part of the whole business, so we are open daily from 8am to 6pm, and Kami, our clinical herbalist (me! It’s me! Kami!) is in and available for clinical consultations on Monday through Thursday from 10am to 6pm, or by appointment.