Scutellaria galericulata

The genus Scutellaria has numerous medicinal uses and various species of skullcap are used in the same way. The traditional uses of common skullcap should not be confused with those of other Skullcaps as there are over 200 different species of Skullcap and they are not all used in the same way. Blue skullcap (S. lateriflora) is accepted as the "skullcap" used in traditional North American medicine, however common skullcap shares many of the same active chemicals and is used as a substitute in Britain and Europe. Common skullcap (S. galericulata) is also often used in the same way as Western skullcap (S. canescens) and Southern skullcap (S. cordifolia), all of which are genetically similar. Blue skullcap and common skullcap are mainly known for their traditional use as mild anxiolytics in the form of herbal teas, tablets, capsules, dried leaf for smoking and oral liquid preparations, often in combination with other medicinal herbs. The aqueous extract of the flowering parts have been traditionally used by Native Americans as a nerve tonic and for its sedative and diuretic properties. ==Pharmacology==