College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

 

AYURVEDIC HERB SUPPLEMENTS

Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)

Nerve tonic that relaxes. Ideal for tension arising from deficiency, and fatigue and weakness due to long term stress.

How Does This Ayurvedic Herb Supplement Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Nerve tonic that relaxes. Ideal for tension arising from deficiency, and fatigue and weakness due to long term stress.

Metabolic Nature of Skullcap

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

METABOLIC NATURE

Metabolic Nature

Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick. Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.

Find Out More

COLD

ABOUT COLD BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold refers to anything that reduces body temperature, metabolism, and blood flow.

LEARN MORE ABOUT COLD

HEAVY

ABOUT HEAVY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Heavy is identified by sedation, sluggishness, or increased weight.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HEAVY

TASTES

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

Find Out More

BITTER

ABOUT BITTER BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Bitter taste has cholagogue action - it is cold, clear, light, and stimulating. It increases digestive enzymes and is laxative, and drying.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BITTER

PUNGENT

ABOUT PUNGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Pungency is characterized by irritation, or sharp, spicy foods that irritate the mouth such as black pepper.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PUNGENT

DOSHAS

The Three Doshas / Body Types

Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.

Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.

Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.

Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.

The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).

Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.

Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
Pitta pacifying Vata pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Kapha aggravating

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors

Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia. They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature. Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHOLERIC

MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold and dry with a slow, variable or erratic metabolism. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant. Analytical, intelligent, detail oriented and creative. Prone to ojas depletion, dehydration, an overactive nervous system, and depression.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MELANCHOLIC

SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

A hot and oily nature with a moderate metabolism and a well nourished body makes Sanguine individuals vigorous, vivacious, outgoing and generous, and prone to impulsivity and self indulgence. Bullish and intense when out of balance.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANGUINE

AGGRAVATES
PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

A Phlegmatic has a cold and wet metabolic nature. The coldness implies a slow metabolism, the moisture that you are well-nourished. Phlegmatics tend towards sluggishness and thickened fluids, including mucus.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHLEGMATIC

Other

Downward

DOWNWARD

Downward-moving (Adho Gati Marga) substances move food downward in the GI tract, settle the nervous system, and relax muscles.

SEE ALL 'DOWNWARD' FOODS / HERBS

Nerves

NERVES

Marrow tissue (Majja Dhatu) includes bone marrow and nervous tissue.

SEE ALL 'NERVES' FOODS / HERBS

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Skullcap
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

(see all)
Nerve Relaxant Grounding

NERVE-RELAXANT-GROUNDING

Encourages feelings of stability and heaviness. Makes you feel settled, mentally relaxed. Mildly sedates the nervous system to ease stress. Can bring a spacey or anxious person back to earth. Reduces agitation, irritation, stress and racing thoughts.

SEE ALL 'NERVE-RELAXANT-GROUNDING' FOODS / HERBS

,
Neuroprotective

STRONG NEUROPROTECTIVE

Repairs / restores damaged nerves. Protects nerve health.

SEE ALL 'NEUROPROTECTIVE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Analgesic

ANALGESIC

Pain reliever, reduces pain without eliminating sensation. Also known as anodyne.

SEE ALL 'ANALGESIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Antidepressant

ANTIDEPRESSANT

Herbs that lift feelings of depression, benefit the mind and improve mental function.

SEE ALL 'ANTIDEPRESSANT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Anxiolytic

ANXIOLYTIC

Herbs that help people suffering from anxiety or panic. They promote a state of calm and often improve sleep. Most anxiolytic herbs are also nervines.

SEE ALL 'ANXIOLYTIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Boosts Gaba

BOOSTS-GABA

GABA, or gamma-aminobutyric acid, reduces nerve excitability. It is the body's primary inhibitory neurotransmitter. Thus, it promotes relaxation, calm, and sleep.

SEE ALL 'BOOSTS-GABA' FOODS / HERBS

,
Brain Tonic

BRAIN-TONIC

An herb that strengthens the brain and thereby enhances memory or other cognitive functions and improves mental stamina or stability.

SEE ALL 'BRAIN-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Nerve Growth Tonic

NERVE-GROWTH-TONIC

Stimulate neurite / axon growth, promotes regeneration.

SEE ALL 'NERVE-GROWTH-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Nervine

NERVINE

Balances the nervous system. They can help with stress, memory, early alzheimer's, and even chronic pain. Often they are aromatic in nature.

SEE ALL 'NERVINE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Sedative

SEDATIVE

Sedative herbs create a sense of calm in the mind and body by specifically calming or quieting the nervous system. Excellent for anxiety, stress and chronic pain.

SEE ALL 'SEDATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Tonic

TONIC

A tonic herb restores function through strengthening tissue. This can happen through a combination of nourishing the tissue, and invigorating tissue metabolism. The tonic should not be withering, as in caffeine.

SEE ALL 'TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Calms Heart

CALMS-HEART

An herb that literally calms the heart. These herbs are helpful in the treatment of anxiety, sadness, depression, or other emotional imbalances in the heart. Related to the Chinese Herbal Category 'calms spirit.'

SEE ALL 'CALMS-HEART' FOODS / HERBS

,
Hypotensive

HYPOTENSIVE

An herb that lowers blood pressure.

SEE ALL 'HYPOTENSIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Muscle Relaxant

MUSCLE-RELAXANT

Herbs that relax muscles. Helpful for chronic pain or tension as well as healing from physical trauma.

SEE ALL 'MUSCLE-RELAXANT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Antispasmodic

ANTISPASMODIC

Herbs that reduce or inhibit muscle spasms or cramping, such as in asthma, menstruation, heart palpitations, migraine, or IBS.

SEE ALL 'ANTISPASMODIC' FOODS / HERBS

Constituents:
Tannins,
Aromatase Inhibitor

AROMATASE-INHIBITOR

Blocks estrogen synthesis by inhibiting conversion of progesterone and testosterone into estrogen.

SEE ALL 'AROMATASE-INHIBITOR' FOODS / HERBS

Foods with a Similar Nature to Skullcap

  • Lavender

    Lavender has these Actions in Common

    Sedative, Antispasmodic, Muscle-relaxant, Anxiolytic, Nervine, Analgesic, Boosts-gaba

    LEARN MORE

  • Poppy Seed

    Poppy Seed has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Muscle-relaxant, Anxiolytic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Analgesic, Calms-heart, Sedative

    LEARN MORE

  • Chamomile

    Chamomile has these Actions in Common

    Boosts-gaba, Sedative, Antispasmodic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Anxiolytic, Nervine, Analgesic

    LEARN MORE

  • Nutmeg

    Nutmeg has these Actions in Common

    Anxiolytic, Nervine, Analgesic, Muscle-relaxant, Sedative, Antispasmodic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding

    LEARN MORE

  • Rosemary

    Rosemary has these Actions in Common

    Analgesic, Brain-tonic, Neuroprotective, Antidepressant, Muscle-relaxant, Antispasmodic, Nervine

    LEARN MORE

  • Hemp Seed

    Hemp Seed has these Actions in Common

    Analgesic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Anxiolytic, Sedative, Muscle-relaxant, Tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Sorghum Flour

    Sorghum Flour has these Actions in Common

    Anxiolytic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Brain-tonic, Sedative, Antidepressant, Hypotensive

    LEARN MORE

  • Ginger (Fresh)

    Ginger (Fresh) has these Actions in Common

    Brain-tonic, Neuroprotective, Analgesic, Hypotensive, Antispasmodic, Nervine

    LEARN MORE

  • Almonds

    Almonds has these Actions in Common

    Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Brain-tonic, Nervine, Muscle-relaxant, Tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Mint

    Mint has these Actions in Common

    Analgesic, Anxiolytic, Antidepressant, Nervine, Antispasmodic

    LEARN MORE

  • Saffron

    Saffron has these Actions in Common

    Antidepressant, Neuroprotective, Anxiolytic, Sedative, Nervine

    LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Skullcap

  • Ashwagandha

    Ashwagandha has these Actions in Common

    Boosts-gaba, Tonic, Brain-tonic, Muscle-relaxant, Nerve-growth-tonic, Analgesic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Antidepressant, Nervine, Antispasmodic, Neuroprotective, Anxiolytic, Sedative

    LEARN MORE

  • St. John's Wort

    St. John's Wort has these Actions in Common

    Calms-heart, Nerve-growth-tonic, Analgesic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Antidepressant, Nervine, Antispasmodic, Neuroprotective, Anxiolytic, Tonic, Boosts-gaba, Brain-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Oats, Fresh Milky Seed

    Oats, Fresh Milky Seed has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Sedative, Anxiolytic, Tonic, Brain-tonic, Muscle-relaxant, Nerve-growth-tonic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Nervine, Antidepressant, Neuroprotective

    LEARN MORE

  • Lemon Balm

    Lemon Balm has these Actions in Common

    Brain-tonic, Muscle-relaxant, Nerve-growth-tonic, Analgesic, Nervine, Antidepressant, Neuroprotective, Antispasmodic, Sedative, Anxiolytic, Boosts-gaba

    LEARN MORE

  • Passionflower

    Passionflower has these Actions in Common

    Antidepressant, Sedative, Anxiolytic, Boosts-gaba, Calms-heart, Hypotensive, Muscle-relaxant, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Analgesic, Nervine

    LEARN MORE

  • California Poppy

    California Poppy has these Actions in Common

    Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Analgesic, Nervine, Antidepressant, Sedative, Antispasmodic, Anxiolytic, Boosts-gaba, Calms-heart, Muscle-relaxant

    LEARN MORE

  • Black Cohosh

    Black Cohosh has these Actions in Common

    Anxiolytic, Hypotensive, Muscle-relaxant, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Nervine, Analgesic, Sedative, Antidepressant, Tonic, Antispasmodic

    LEARN MORE

  • Tagar (Indian Valerian)

    Tagar (Indian Valerian) has these Actions in Common

    Hypotensive, Muscle-relaxant, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Nervine, Analgesic, Sedative, Antispasmodic, Anxiolytic, Boosts-gaba

    LEARN MORE

  • Valerian

    Valerian has these Actions in Common

    Anxiolytic, Boosts-gaba, Hypotensive, Muscle-relaxant, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Nervine, Analgesic, Sedative, Antispasmodic

    LEARN MORE

  • Eleuthero Ginseng

    Eleuthero Ginseng has these Actions in Common

    Hypotensive, Muscle-relaxant, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Nervine, Analgesic, Tonic, Antidepressant, Antispasmodic, Anxiolytic

    LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

Guidelines - Preparation & Dose

1 dropper full 2x/day or as directed by your practitioner.
See guidelines for tinctures?

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Skullcap may be beneficial for these symptoms. The suitability of any herb supplement for a condition is highly dependent on the individual. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

CONTRAINDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Skullcap may be harmful or contraindicated for these symptoms. Note this is not a complete list of all possible contraindications. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

Herb Drug Interaction Risk

Here are some potential herb drug interactions with Skullcap. Please see your health care provider for more information.

Look for similar items by category

Herbs-and-Formulas, Tinctures, Vata-Reducing, Mind-Stress-Sleep
Satisfaction Guarantee

Summer Diet

The season is about to shift into summer. Are you ready?

upcoming courses

Apply for Scholarship. Monhly payment plans available.

What is Ayurveda?

Founder of Joyful Belly Ayurveda, John Immel, answers the question ‘What is Ayurveda?’

Reviews for Skullcap

Sign in to review or comment

Improve Enzyme output & Master your Digestion

Improve Enzyme output & Master your Digestion

BOOKS BY JOYFUL BELLY

BOOKS BY JOYFUL BELLY

Master Ayurvedic Digestion & Nutrition

Master Ayurvedic Digestion & Nutrition

Join Joyful Belly

Want our top Ayurvedic recipes and health tips?
Subscribe to our free newsletter!

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information and products on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.