SKIRRET SIUM SISARUM SKULLCAP

SKIRRET (Sium sisarum L.) ++

Activities (Skirret) :
Aperitif (f; PH2).

Indications (Skirret) :
Anorexia (f; PH2); Dyspepsia (f; PH2); Salivation (f; HHB).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Skirret) :
Not covered (AHP). “Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages” (not given) (PH2). The danger comes from confusing this with poisonous umbellifers (JAD).


SKULLCAP (Scutellaria lateriflora L.) ++

Activities (Skullcap) :
Anaphrodisiac (f; CRC); Antibacterial (f; PED); Anticonvulsant (f; APA); Antioxidant (1; PH2); Antiinflammatory (1; PH2); Antipyretic (f; CRC; PH2); Antispasmodic (f; APA; CRC; PH2; SKY); Antiviral (1; WAM); Astringent (f; CRC); Bitter (1; PH2); Diaphoretic (f; CEB; CRC); Diuretic (f; CEB); Emetic (f; DEM); Emmenagogue (f; CRC); Hypotensive (f; DAW); Nephrotonic (f; CRC); Nervine (1; CRC; PNC; WAM); Sedative (f; APA; PH2; SKY; WAM); Tonic (f; APA; CRC; PED; PH2); Tranquilizer (f; APA).

Indications (Skullcap) :
Addiction (f; APA; CRC); Alcoholism (f; APA; CRC); Anxiety (f; APA; HHB; SKY); Bacteria (f; PED); Bite (f; CEB); Cancer (f; JLH); Childbirth (f; CRC; DEM); Chorea (f; CRC; CAN; PH2); Cold (f; PED); Convulsion (f; APA; CEB; CRC); Cramp (f; APA; CEB; CRC; PH2; SKY); Delirium (f; CEB; CRC); Diarrhea (f; DEM); Dysmenorrhea (f; APA; CRC; DEM); Dysuria (f; CRC); Embolism (1; CAN); Epilepsy (f; APA; CAN; CRC; PH2); Fatigue (f; HHB); Fever (f; CEB; CRC; PH2); Headache (f; CRC); Hepatosis (f; TOM); Hiccup (f; CRC); High Blood Pressure (f; CRC; DAW); Hydrophobia (f; CRC); Hyperactivity (1; WAM); Hysteria (f; APA; CAN; CRC; PH2); Inflammation (1; PH2); Insomnia (f; APA; CRC; PH2; SKY; WAM); Malaria (f; CEB); Mastosis (f; DEM); Nephrosis (f; CRC; TOM); Nerve (f; CRC); Nervousness (f; APA; CAN; PH2; SKY; WAM); Neuralgia (f; CRC); Neurosis (f; CEB); Pain (f; DEM); Palsy (f; CRC); Rabies (f; APA; CEB); Rheumatism (f; TOM); Rickets (f; CRC); Smallpox (f; DEM); Snakebite (f; CRC); Stress (f; CAN; PH2); Stroke (1; CAN); Tetanus (f; CEB); Throat (f; DEM); Thrombosis (1; CAN); Trevor (f; CEB); Tumor (f; JLH); Virus (1; WAM); Water Retention (f; CEB).

Dosages (Skullcap) :
1–2 g herb (PNC); 0.5 oz herb/pint water (CEB); 2–4 tbsp fresh herb (PED); 1–2 tsp dry herb/cup to 3 ×/day (APA; SKY); 1–2 g dry herb, or in tea, 3 ×/day (CAN; SKY); 3–6 g dry herb (PED); 4.5 g dry herb/22 ml alcohol/22 ml water (PED); 2–4 ml liquid herb extract (PNC); 2–4 ml liquid herb extract (1:1 in 25% ethanol) 3 ×/day (CAN); 1–2 ml herb tincture (1:5 in 45% ethanol) 3 ×/day (CAN); 2–4 ml herb tincture 3 ×/day (SKY); 1–2 droppers herb tincture (APA); 2–3 (429 mg) capsules 3 ×/day (APA).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Skullcap) :
Class 1 (AHP). APA rating = 4 (APA). No contraindications known (WAM). “Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages” (PH2). Reports of hepatotoxicity may be due to adulteration with germander, a black eye in itself (AHP). “There is no evidence to indicate that Scutellaria is toxic when ingested at normal doses” (AHP). The FDA has suggested that overdose of the tincture causes confusion, convulsions, giddiness, pulsar irregularities, and twitching (LRNP, January 1993). The USP, in its proposed monograph of valerian, note that preparations containing skullcap “caused hepatosis” (the preparation, not necessarily the valerian). Reported fatality in Norway possibly Scutellaria, or possibly Teucrium, a frequent adulterant. CAN cautions that a mixed product (adulteration with Teucrium spp.) caused hepatotoxicity. Because of traditional use to eliminate afterbirth and promote menstruation, and potential hepatotoxicity, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided (CAN). Clinical trials with scutellarin in 634 cases of cerebral embolism, cerebral thrombosis, and stroke paralysis showed an overall effective rate of more than 88%, following intramuscular, intravenous, or oral administration (CAN).