Scutellaria Baicalensis

Otherwise known as golden root or Chinese skullcap

Discussion

In order to avoid confusion, we must point out that this is not the same herb as the better known skullcap, scutellaria lateriflora. This herb is well known as a sedative, and is mainly used as such.

People nowadays are becoming familiar with the term "flavonoid". So far, over 4000 of these substances have been discovered in plants. They are naturally occurring plant chemicals (phytochemicals) that can have wide-ranging and powerful effects in the body, and are the main reason why fruit and vegetables are so essential to health.

Flavonoids tend to be highly coloured, and brightly coloured plants have the highest flavonoid activity. The root of scutellaria baicalensis has a flavonoid content of 35%, giving it a yellow colour, hence the common name of Golden Root.

This high flavonoid content gives the root strong effects. As with the other form of skullcap, it does have a slight sedative effect, but its main strength lies in its anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties. Not so well documented is its effect on excessive sweating, especially at night, and the resultant insomnia.

The process of inflammation in the body is still not fully understood. Most people have heard of histamine, the best-known promoter of inflammation. Less well known are the group of chemicals called leukotrienes, which are released by cells in the body called mast cells.

Leukotrienes are in turn produced by the metabolism of arachidonic acid, which is a component of animal fats. As arachidonic acid is broken down, it stimulates the release of leukotrienes. Arachidonic acid breakdown is in turn caused by an enzyme called lipoxygenase. This enzyme is released by blood cells that have been in contact with potentially harmful materials within the body, and on or near its surface.

Flavonoids have evolved in plants for two main purposes; partly to give the plants colour (in other words, to act as pigments) and partly as protective substances, having antioxidant and antimicrobial effects and protecting against variations in the environment. Animals, including human beings, cannot manufacture flavonoids, but if we consume enough in our diet, they can have the same powerful effects for us as they do for the plants.

When ingesting plant medicines in the form of herbs or herbal extracts, we are absorbing a mixture of natural chemicals that work together in a balanced way. They can therefore have very powerful effects, without the side effects normally associated with drugs consisting of single synthetic chemicals. They are therefore in the main non-toxic.

For those with a scientific frame of mind, the main flavonoids so far studied in scutelleria are baicalin, baicalein, wogonin, ganhuangin and wogonside, although many others have been isolated.

One of the main initiators of inflammation in the body is free radical damage. As with any other type of damage to the body, when tissues are damaged by free radicals the body attempts to defend itself, and inflammation often results. Inflammation is often a necessary part of the protective process, but if it gets out of hand it can become damaging in itself. Nutrients that inhibit free radical damage are called antioxidants, and some of the components of scutellaria are extremely effective in this respect, therefore helping to stop inflammation before it starts. A particularly severe type of free radical damage is lipid peroxidation. This damages essential fatty acids in the body, which form part of the structure of every cell wall. Ganhuangin  has effects against lipid peroxidation more powerful than those of vitamin E.

Sometimes the body reacts far too violently against what should normally be comparatively benign stimuli, mainly near the surface of the body, such as the skin or breathing passages and even the skin surfaces of the intestines. Such inappropriate reactions are called hypersensitivity reactions. Baicalin inhibits these reactions, hence the traditional use of scutellaria in Chinese medicine for asthma and allergic dermatitis.

One health concern which is not normally connected with allergy and inflammation is high blood pressure. However, one of the points of connection between the two is that as arachidonic acid is broken down, as mentioned above, some of its metabolites can cause constriction of blood vessels and increase in blood pressure. Baicalein reduces arachidonic acid breakdown, and helps to relax the blood vessels, thus reducing blood pressure.

Scutelleria can help the following problems:

¨    Hayfever

¨    Allergic rhinitis

¨    Post-nasal drip

¨    Sinusitis (if allergy-related)

¨    Excessive sneezing

¨    Inflamed eyelids (blepharitis)

¨    Throat irritation (if allergy related)

¨    Breathing problems (if allergy related)

¨    Allergic dermatitis

¨    Some allergic intestinal problems

¨    Hypersensitivity to chemicals – inhaled or contact

¨    Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

It should be pointed out that some of the problems mentioned above can be caused by infections rather than allergies. We have followed these by the words (if allergy related). Where these are caused by an infection, scutelleria will help somewhat because it does have proven anti-microbial effects, but other herbs are more useful in this respect, and scutelleria may need to be combined with the appropriate herb for viral, bacterial, fungal or parasitic infections.

Scutelleria will help particularly where problems are caused by dust mites, pollen, animal dander and environmental chemicals.

Other known potential benefits of scutelleria are:

¨      Antiviral

¨      Antibacterial

¨      Antifungal

¨      Blood pressure reduction

¨      Some anticoagulant effect

¨      Liver support

As a matter of  some interest, it has recently been found that scutelleria has effects against fungi, particularly against Candida Albicans. As candidiasis often causes multiple allergies, it may be that scutelleria could be a useful addition to the treatment of this problem; a new idea, but one that may work, particularly in the initial reduction of symptoms.

Dosage Recommendations

We recommend initially two capsules three times per day, decreasing to one three times per day as the symptoms subside, which is usually after about a week. Dosage can then be lowered according to symptoms.

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