North American nervine with emerging clinical evidence for sleep and mood. Quieting without sedating - but real hepatotoxicity risk means this herb requires more than casual use.
Traditions: North American Eclectic, Western herbalism (modern)
Aerial parts used for nervous system conditions. Traditional name 'mad dog skullcap' reflects historical use for calming excitable states, including rabies management.
Primary nervine for nervous exhaustion, hysteria, delirium tremens, chorea, epilepsy support, and insomnia. Described as 'one of the most reliable nervines in the materia medica.' Preparations: tinctures and fluid extracts.
Survey of 62 UK/Ireland registered practitioners (NIMH, Brock 2012): primary indications are anxiety, stress, spasms, digestive disorders, hypertension. Regarded as having a favorable therapeutic index.
Three RCTs for S. lateriflora. Strongest signal is for sleep: 400mg/day standardized extract for 56 days improved total sleep time by 1.22 hours and reduced sleep quality scores by 3.5 points in 66 adults with primary insomnia. Mood benefit without sedation documented in healthy adults. Anxiolytic effect suggested but not consistently demonstrated on validated anxiety scales.
66 adults with mild-moderate insomnia; 400mg/day standardized extract (10% baicalin), 56-day crossover. PSQI decreased 3.5 points (vs deterioration in placebo group, p<0.001). Total sleep time increased 1.22 hours. Sleep efficiency increased ~9%.
43 healthy adults; 1050mg/day (350mg × 3), 2-week crossover. Significant reduction in Total Mood Disturbance (POMS, p<0.001) vs no change in placebo. No reduction in energy or cognition — improved mood without sedation.
Double-blind placebo-controlled crossover in healthy volunteers. Reported anxiolytic effects vs placebo; sample size and specific effect measures not widely reported in secondary literature. Established initial clinical evidence base; less detailed than the 2014 and 2025 studies.
Most evidence-based preparation. BlueCALM extract (10% baicalin) was used in the 2025 sleep RCT. Whole herb capsules used in the 2014 mood study.
Taste: Mildly bitter, slightly grassy, earthy. More subtle than valerian.
Traditional Western herbalism standard. Liquid allows dose adjustment. Mild, slightly bitter taste.
Steep 10-15 minutes covered. Traditional gentle preparation. Often combined with valerian or passionflower.
Skullcap has a small but real clinical evidence base — three RCTs for the North American species (S. lateriflora), which is the one used in Western herbal practice for anxiety and sleep.
Sleep: A 56-day crossover trial with 66 adults who had mild to moderate primary insomnia found 400mg/day standardized extract (10% baicalin) increased total sleep time by 1.22 hours and reduced Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores by 3.5 points — above the 1.8-point threshold for clinical significance (p<0.001) [1]. Placebo deteriorated over the same period. Sleep efficiency improved by roughly 9%.
Mood: A 2-week crossover in 43 healthy adults found 1050mg/day (350mg three times daily) produced significant reductions in Total Mood Disturbance on the POMS scale (p<0.001) while placebo showed no change [2]. Notably, energy and cognitive function were not reduced — this is not a sedating herb by the clinical evidence.
Anxiety: A 2003 double-blind crossover trial demonstrated anxiolytic effects in healthy subjects [3], but the 2014 study showed no significant difference on the Beck Anxiety Inventory specifically. The honest read is that the primary signal is mood enhancement rather than anxiety reduction on validated tools. Practitioners report strong clinical impressions of anxiolytic effect; the trial evidence is suggestive but not robust.
What this isn’t: No meta-analyses, no long-term efficacy data, no pharmacokinetic data on the whole herb in humans. The evidence base is promising and the effect sizes are meaningful, but you’re working with three small studies — not the convergent, replicated evidence behind ashwagandha or valerian.
S. lateriflora is indigenous to eastern North America and has roots in Indigenous North American medicine for nervous conditions. The name “mad dog skullcap” references its historical use for calming rabies symptoms — which is really just a dramatic shorthand for its traditional identity as a herb for excitable, agitated states.
19th Century Eclectic Medicine: The American Eclectic physicians built the herb’s formal reputation. Their indications were expansive: nervous exhaustion, hysteria, delirium tremens, chorea (involuntary movement disorders), epilepsy support, insomnia. Their characterization of it as “one of the most reliable nervines in the materia medica” is the foundation of its reputation in Western herbalism.
Contemporary practice: A survey of 62 UK/Ireland registered herbal practitioners (National Institute of Medical Herbalists, 2012) found it still in regular use for anxiety, stress, muscle spasms, digestive complaints secondary to nervous tension, and hypertension — essentially the same nervine indication profile from 150 years ago [6]. Practitioners generally regard it favorably, citing a good therapeutic index.
The TCM species is a different herb: S. baicalensis (Chinese skullcap, Huang Qin) shares the common name but is pharmacologically distinct. It has 2,000+ years of documented use in the Shennong Bencao Jing primarily as a Heat-clearing, anti-inflammatory herb for fevers, lung conditions, and damp-heat diarrhea — not as a nervine [9]. It holds WHO monograph status and European Pharmacopoeia inclusion. If you’re buying “skullcap” in the US, you want to confirm species. Most Western products intend S. lateriflora.
Standardized extract (most evidence-based):
Tincture (traditional, flexible dosing):
Tea (gentlest option):
For sleep: Start with 400mg standardized extract (10% baicalin) taken 1-2 hours before bed. This is the studied dose — no need to titrate up.
For mood and anxiety: Start with 350mg once or twice daily, moving toward three times daily over the first week. Effects accumulate over days to weeks.
For general nervous tension: Tincture or tea allows more flexible dosing. 2mL tincture or 1g herb per cup, 2-3 times daily. Take the final dose in the evening.
Most people describe skullcap as quieting rather than sedating. The 2014 mood study specifically measured energy and cognition alongside mood — and found no reduction in either [2]. This is unusual for a nervine. You’re not getting a pharmacological hammer; you’re getting a reduction in background nervous tension.
What this tends to feel like: less reactive to daily irritations, easier mental settling at bedtime, subtler stress response rather than blunted affect. The effect is cumulative — more apparent after a week than on day one.
The taste, if you’re using tincture or tea, is mildly bitter and earthy — nothing dramatic. Far more tolerable than valerian. A small amount of juice or water is enough to make a tincture dose easy to take.
Baseline (before starting):
During trial (weeks 1-4): Same markers daily, plus:
RED FLAGS — stop immediately:
These are signs of possible liver injury. This is rare, but it happens. If you see these, stop the herb and check in with a doctor. The documented cases resolved after discontinuation in most patients — early detection matters [7].
What users typically report: “Takes the edge off,” quieter mental chatter, easier to settle at bedtime, less reactive to daily stressors.
This herb has far less evidence than ashwagandha. The 2025 sleep study is genuinely well-designed, but it’s one study (n=66). The mood benefit is real but may not translate to clinical anxiety disorders. You may need to be your own experiment here.
The species problem is real. Products labeled “skullcap” may contain S. lateriflora, S. baicalensis, or a mix of both. These are different herbs with different traditional uses and different safety profiles. Most Western-tradition products intend S. lateriflora — look for this on the label.
Germander adulteration has a documented history. Germander (Teucrium canadense) has historically been used to adulterate S. lateriflora products. Germander contains neoclerodane diterpenes that cause hepatotoxicity — some of the “skullcap” liver injury cases in the literature may actually be germander toxicity. The American Herbal Pharmacopoeia developed HPLC authentication methods specifically for this problem [8]. Buy from suppliers who provide authentication certificates.
What to look for:
Brands known for authentication and quality: Herb Pharm (tincture), Gaia Herbs (extract), Mountain Rose Herbs (bulk). This is not exhaustive; independently verify authentication documentation.
Skullcap occupies an interesting middle ground: meaningfully supported by a small clinical evidence base, deeply rooted in traditional North American herbal practice, with a real but manageable safety concern.
When it works: Quieter nervous system background noise. Better sleep. Improved mood without grogginess. The non-sedating quality is distinctive — this is a nervine that may let you function normally while feeling less reactive.
What the evidence doesn’t support: Using it as a primary anxiolytic for diagnosable anxiety disorders, or expecting dramatic, fast-acting effects. The signal is real but subtle.
The safety issue: Hepatotoxicity is rare but documented and occasionally severe. If you have liver disease, are on warfarin, or take regular acetaminophen, this isn’t the right herb. For everyone else: know the warning signs, buy authenticated product from a reputable source, and consider baseline liver enzymes if you plan to use it continuously for more than a few weeks.
Start with the preparation that matches your goal. Give it 2-4 weeks of consistent use before deciding. Track your response honestly.
[1] Di Minno et al. 2025 (PMID 40362800) [2] Brock et al. 2014 (PMID 23878109) [3] Wolfson & Hoffmann 2003 (PMID 12652886) [4] Thakral et al. 2023 — Drug-Induced Autoimmune Hepatitis Case [5] Yi et al. 2009 — CYP2C9/CYP2E1 Human Trial [6] Brock et al. 2012 — NIMH Practitioner Survey (n=62) [7] LiverTox Database (NIH/NCBI NBK548757) [8] American Herbal Pharmacopoeia — S. lateriflora Monograph (2009)
Duration: Minimum 2 weeks for mood effects; 4-8 weeks for sleep. Effects are often subtle and accumulating rather than immediately obvious.
What to notice:
Start with the preparation matching your goal: 400mg standardized extract (10% baicalin) for sleep, or 350mg whole herb three times daily for mood and anxiety. Tincture or tea are good starting points if you prefer to titrate gradually. Unlike valerian, this herb typically doesn't cause grogginess - the mood study specifically showed no cognitive impairment. Confirm the product specifies S. lateriflora (not S. baicalensis) unless you're specifically seeking TCM anti-inflammatory applications.
Generally considered: caution
Contraindications:
Pregnancy/Nursing: Contraindicated. Insufficient safety data. Traditional TCM use of S. baicalensis to 'calm the fetus' does not constitute modern safety evidence. Given documented hepatotoxicity risk, risk-benefit does not support use in pregnancy or lactation.
Hepatotoxicity is the primary safety concern. Onset in reported cases: 1 week to 3 months. Pattern: hepatocellular, usually self-limiting but at least one case of drug-induced autoimmune hepatitis with dialysis dependency and transplant listing (62-year-old woman with prior Sjögren's syndrome). One case involved positive rechallenge — causality confirmed. Baseline liver function tests are reasonable before starting; repeat at 4-8 weeks for ongoing use. CYP2E1 induced 1.42-fold — use caution with regular acetaminophen or alcohol. NSAIDs, ibuprofen, diclofenac, celecoxib are also CYP2C9 substrates. Germander adulteration complicates the hepatotoxicity picture: some 'skullcap' liver injury may be germander toxicity — buy only authenticated products.