Botanical

Skullcap

Scutellaria lateriflora

Evidence TierDWADA NOT PROHIBITED

tuneTypical Dose

There is no well-established evidence-based long-term dosing protocol

watchEffect Window

The available human study looked only at acute effects.

check_circleCompliance

WADA NOT PROHIBITED

Overview

Clinical Summary

Skullcap has very limited human evidence and should be treated as a low-confidence calming herb rather than a proven sleep or anxiety supplement.

Skullcap is traditionally used for calming and sleep support, but the direct human evidence is extremely thin. The main available study is a small acute crossover mood trial in healthy volunteers, not a robust insomnia or anxiety-disorder literature. That makes skullcap a low-confidence herb whose reputation depends more on tradition than on modern clinical validation.

Skullcap is often discussed in relation to flavonoids such as baicalin-like compounds and mild GABAergic effects, but those mechanistic ideas are not matched by strong human evidence.

Outcomes

What This Is Expected To Influence

Primary Outcomes

  • Weak evidence for mild acute calming effects

Secondary Outcomes

  • No robust human evidence for insomnia treatment
  • No robust human evidence for anxiety-disorder treatment

Safety

Contraindications and Interactions

Contraindications

  • Relying on it for clinically significant insomnia or anxiety

Side effects

  • Mild drowsiness

Interactions

  • Sedatives or alcohol

Avoid if

  • You are expecting evidence-based treatment for insomnia or anxiety
  • You cannot verify product quality

Evidence

Study-level References

scu-SRC-001Randomized crossover trial
Sourceopen_in_new

Brock C, Whitehouse J, Tewfik I, Towell T. Effects of Scutellaria lateriflora on mood in healthy volunteers during periods of occasional stress. Phytother Res. 2004;18(5):385-390. doi:10.1080/10284150500186036. PMID:16207907.

Population: Healthy adults experiencing occasional stress.

Dose protocol: 350 mg single-dose skullcap extract

Key findings: Some favorable acute mood effects in healthy volunteers during occasional stress.

Notes: Human evidence exists, but it is very limited.

Paper content

This is the main direct human skullcap trial, and it is only a small acute crossover mood study. It suggests possible calming effects without heavy sedation, but it is far too limited to support strong anxiety or sleep claims.

scu-SRC-002Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial.
Sourceopen_in_new

Di Minno A, Morone MV, Buccato DG, et al. Efficacy and Tolerability of a Chemically Characterized Scutellaria lateriflora L. Extract-Based Food Supplement for Sleep Management. Nutrients. 2025;17(9):1491. doi:10.3390/nu17091491. PMID:40362800.

Population: Adults with mild-to-moderate insomnia.

Dose protocol: Scutellaria lateriflora extract 400 mg daily versus placebo for 56 days in crossover design

Key findings: Significant improvement in sleep-wake balance and sleep quality in adults with mild-to-moderate insomnia, with no adverse effects.

Notes: First robust sleep-focused RCT for skullcap. Substantially strengthens the human evidence base.

Paper content

This is the first robust sleep-focused RCT for Scutellaria lateriflora. A crossover design with 66 participants tested 400 mg daily skullcap extract versus placebo for 56 days in adults with mild-to-moderate insomnia. The extract significantly improved sleep-wake balance as measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and related metrics, with no adverse effects reported. This study substantially strengthens the human evidence base for skullcap, moving it beyond the single small acute mood study that previously anchored the literature. It supports a calming and sleep-supportive role at a defined dose and duration.

Guides

Setup

Help