Scutellaria Baikal.

Baikal Skullcap

A perennial herbaceous plant of the Lamiaceae family, up to 50 cm high. The root is vertical, with a short fleshy, twisted rhizome. The rhizome is covered with deep grooves.

Stems are erect, numerous, tetrahedral, slightly pubescent. The leaves are opposite, narrowly lanceolate, sessile or petiolate, glabrous, ciliated along the edge. On the underside of the leaves there are numerous black dots - glands. Blooms in July. The flowers are blue, solitary, located in the axils of the small upper leaves.

The fruit is small, round, consists of black nuts with small spines over the entire surface. Ripens in July - August.

Baikal skullcap is widespread in the steppes of Eastern Transbaikalia, Eastern Siberia, the Amur region and South-Western Primorye.

It grows on the slopes of hills, on rocky and gravelly places, along river banks and among bushes.

The roots serve as medicinal raw materials. They are harvested from the second half of August until late autumn.

The roots are dug up with a shovel, shaken off the ground, the above-ground part is cut off and cut into pieces. Dry in a well-ventilated area, in the attic, laying out in a thin layer and turning over often, or in a dryer at a temperature of no more than 40 ° C. After drying, the roots are again cleaned of impurities and the exfoliated plug is removed.

Store in fabric or wooden containers for 3 years.

The roots and rhizomes contain flavonoids (baicalin, chrysin, baicalein, oroxylin and vogonin), tannins, pyrocatechins, essential oil, resins, saponins and coumarins, as well as potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, copper, zinc, cobalt, molybdenum and iodine. The roots concentrate iron, molybdenum and selenium.

The glycoside scutellarin was found in the grass.

Scutellaria preparations have a hypotensive and sedative effect, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties.

Experiments on animals revealed the diuretic effect of the flavonoid baicalin.

It has been established that its administration reduces the body's sensitization to foreign proteins. It has also been proven that a decoction of the root is effective against influenza and tuberculosis infections.

Skullcap preparations dilate blood vessels, slow down the heart rate, eliminate headaches and insomnia, reduce blood pressure associated with atherosclerosis, prevent the occurrence of seizures, inhibit the functional activity of the nervous system, have a positive effect on the gastrointestinal tract, liver function, have a choleretic and laxative effect, do not have a negative effect on the human body even with long-term use.

Scutellaria is prescribed in the initial stages of hypertension, atherosclerosis, insomnia and neuroses combined with high blood pressure, heart rhythm disturbances and inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis). There is information about the positive effect of plant preparations on epilepsy, chorea, acute rheumatism, whooping cough, bronchitis, stomatitis, furunculosis and fever of various origins. Drugs are prescribed for acute and chronic inflammation of the intestines, bladder and urinary tract, colds and flu.

In folk herbal medicine, skullcap is considered a hemostatic, digestive stimulant and anthelmintic. With long-term use of the tincture, there is a decrease or disappearance of headaches and pain in the heart area, and improved health and performance.

To prepare the tincture, 40 g of crushed roots are poured with 200 ml of 70% alcohol and kept in a tightly sealed container for 15 days, shaking daily, then filtered.

When ready, it has a transparent reddish-brown color and a peculiar bitter taste. Store in a place protected from light. Treatment is carried out under blood pressure control.