Virginian Skullcap – 50 Seeds

Virginian Skullcap Seeds. Virginian Skullcap (Scuttellaria lateriflora) is also known as Blue skullcap, mad-dog skullcap, hoodwort and side-flowering skullcap, is a hardy perennial herb of the mint family, Lamiaceae, native to North America.

It has an upright habit, growing 60 to 80 centimeters in maximum height. It is a wetland-loving species and grows near marshes, meadows, and other wet habitat. The blue flowers are just under a centimeter long. Most of the flowers do not appear at the top of the main stem, but are produced along the length of side branches that grow from the leaf axils.

Skullcap was well known among the Cherokee and other Native American healers as a strong emmenagogue and female medicinal herb. Today Skullcap is recognized as a powerful medicinal herb, used in alternative medicine as an anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, slightly astringent, emmenagogue, febrifuge, nervine, sedative and tonic.

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Virginian Skullcap Medicinal Benefits

• A commonly used herbal medicine, Virginian skullcap is a very effective nervine that has traditionally been used in the treatment of a wide range of nervous conditions.
• Its tonic and restorative properties help to support and nourish the nervous system, calming and relieving stress and anxiety.
• Bitter herb that relaxes spasms, lowers fever and stimulates the kidneys.
• It is used in the treatment of various problems of the nervous system including epilepsy, insomnia, anxiety, delirium tremens, withdrawal from barbiturates and tranquillisers, and neuralgia.

WARNING – PLEASE NOTE:

1. It should not be given to pregnant women since it can induce a miscarriage.
2. This plant should be used with some caution since in excess it causes giddiness, stupor, confusion and twitching.

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Growing Virginian Skullcap

Indoor Sowing: Cold Stratification and then sow seeds in Late Spring.

Direct Sowing: Autumn.

• For indoor sowing, first cold stratify the seeds for about 1 month and then sow the seeds in Late Spring.
• After stratification, fill a tray with a moist growing medium and tamp it down.
• Surface sow the seeds on the moist growing medium and barely cover with a very thin layer of soil.
• Keep moist until germination.
• Transplant outdoors when first true leaves are developed.
• Alternatively, direct sow in Autumn. Surface sow the seeds and barely cover with a thin layer of soil. Keep soil moist until germination.
• Skullcap prefers partial shade to full sun and prefers fertile soil.
• Water moderately, but make sure soil is well-drained.