Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora): Uses, Evidence and Safety
Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora): small studies on mood and sleep, documented liver injury cases and germander adulteration, and why Chinese skullcap is a different plant.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
What is Skullcap good for?
What the body uses it for, and how strong the evidence is. A normal job in the body is not proof that extra supplements add benefit; each card says which.
Traditional use for stress, anxiety and sleep
Not enough evidenceAmerican skullcap is traditionally used as a relaxing herb for stress, anxiety and poor sleep. Tradition is not proof that it works.
Supplements: Tradition is not evidence; see the small trials below.
Mood in healthy adults (small crossover trial)
Preliminary or mixedIn 43 healthy adults, skullcap did not differ from placebo on the main anxiety score, but overall mood disturbance scores fell. Anxiety was low at the start and a carryover effect limited the results.
Supplements: Preliminary; the authors call for studies in people who are truly anxious.
Sleep in mild to moderate primary insomnia (one trial)
Preliminary or mixedIn a crossover trial of 66 adults with mild to moderate insomnia, a skullcap extract supplement improved sleep questionnaire scores over placebo across 56 days, with no side effects reported.
Supplements: Preliminary, one product and one trial; not shown for other forms.
Anxiety disorders and depression
Not enough evidenceNo trials in people with diagnosed anxiety disorders or depression were found in the sources read.
Supplements: No evidence of benefit for these conditions.
Different plant: Chinese skullcap
Not enough evidenceChinese skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) is a separate species. Results for American skullcap do not apply to it, and vice versa.
Supplements: Check the Latin name on the label.
Medicines, pregnancy and surgery
Not enough evidenceThe sources read did not describe specific medicine interactions or pregnancy safety. That is not proof of safety; ask a pharmacist or clinician.
Supplements: Do not assume it is safe in pregnancy, breastfeeding or children.
Connected topics
Open a group to see how each topic connects and how strong the evidence is.
Health goals (3)
- Better SleepPreliminary or mixed
One crossover trial in adults with mild to moderate insomnia reported better sleep scores. A single trial of one product; preliminary.
- Mood BalancePreliminary or mixed
One small trial in healthy adults found lower overall mood disturbance with skullcap, but not on the main anxiety score. Preliminary only.
- Sleep QualityPreliminary or mixed
One crossover trial in adults with mild to moderate insomnia reported better sleep scores. A single trial of one product; preliminary.
Body systems (4)
- Hepatic / Liver SystemDocumented risk
Documented liver injury cases and germander adulteration; see the liver safety function.
- Liver & DetoxDocumented risk
Skullcap has been linked to several cases of liver injury, usually with other herbs, and products may be contaminated with liver-toxic germander. This is a risk, not a benefit.
- Sleep & RecoveryPreliminary or mixed
One trial in mild to moderate insomnia; preliminary.
- Stress & MoodPreliminary or mixed
Small trial evidence on mood in healthy adults; preliminary.
Body parts (1)
- LiverDocumented risk
Linked to clinically apparent liver injury in several instances, usually alongside other botanicals.
Functional actions (1)
- Mood SupportPreliminary or mixed
Overall mood scores improved in one small trial in healthy adults; preliminary.
Conditions & symptoms (1)
- Hepatitis, ToxicDocumented risk
LiverTox links skullcap to several cases of clinically apparent liver injury, usually with other botanicals.
Documented risks and interactions (2)
- Liver injury reports. Skullcap has been linked to several cases of clinically apparent liver injury, usually when taken with other herbs. This is the main safety concern.
- Germander adulteration. Skullcap products have occasionally been adulterated or contaminated with germander (Teucrium), which contains liver-toxic compounds. You cannot judge purity by eye.
Safety first: liver. The NIH LiverTox database says skullcap has been linked to several instances of clinically apparent liver injury, usually in combination with other botanicals. [1] Skullcap products have also been reported to be occasionally adulterated or contaminated with germander (Teucrium species), which contains liver-toxic compounds. [2] If you use a skullcap product, tell your clinician, and see Liver Safety and Supplements. Do not try to sort skullcap from look-alike plants yourself.
Overview
Skullcap is a plant in the family Lamiaceae used in herbal products for stress, anxiety and sleep. [3] LiverTox describes it as a "Native American plant" whose dried leaves and stems are used as an herbal medication and in teas for anxiety, stress and insomnia. [1] This page covers American skullcap only. Related tea page: California Poppy and Skullcap Teas.Scientific name, plant part and two plants called skullcap
Scutellaria lateriflora L. (American skullcap) [4] is the accepted name in the GBIF plant database, in the family Lamiaceae. [3] The sources describe use of the dried leaves and stems. [1]Chinese skullcap is a different plant. Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi is a separate accepted species. [5] It is a different herb with its own sources, including a case report of liver injury from a joint supplement that contained Chinese skullcap and another herb. [6] Results for one skullcap do not apply to the other. For Chinese herbs see Liver Injury From Chinese Herbs.
Germander adulteration: what the sources say
- A US Department of Agriculture paper reports that S. lateriflora has occasionally been adulterated or contaminated with the germander species Teucrium canadense and T. chamaedrys because of similarities between the two genera, and that germander contains hepatotoxic (liver-toxic) diterpenes. [2]
- A South African study notes that, because of intentional or unintentional adulteration, cases of hepatotoxicity have been reported with skullcap products. [7]
- A French report described 7 patients who developed hepatitis after taking germander (T. chamaedrys), sold as a weight-loss herb. In 3 patients the hepatitis came back when germander was restarted. [8]
- USDA researchers say the two genera look alike, and they developed a laboratory method to tell skullcap from germander samples. [9] Researchers tell them apart by testing, and this page gives no way to do it by eye.
Practical point: you cannot judge from a powder or capsule whether it is pure. To learn what product testing can and cannot show, read Quality Testing and Certifications and Chaparral, Germander and Other Liver-Toxic Herbs. For wild plants, do not gather skullcap yourself; for plant poisoning questions call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US) or see Plant and Mushroom Poisoning.
Traditional use (not proof)
A clinical study report describes S. lateriflora as having long-standing traditional use as a relaxing nervine, and a second trial calls it a traditional remedy for stress and anxiety. [10][4] Traditional use is described here in those terms and is not treated as proof of benefit.What research shows (research, not tradition)
| Use | What the source found | Evidence label | Population and form studied |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mood and anxiety in healthy adults | A double-blind crossover trial of 43 healthy volunteers found no significant difference from placebo on the main anxiety scale, but a drop in a total mood disturbance score with skullcap. Anxiety was low at baseline, and a carryover effect limited the results. [4] | Promising but limited | Healthy adults; oral product, two weeks per phase |
| Anxiety in healthy volunteers | An earlier double-blind, placebo-controlled study of healthy subjects reported noteworthy anxiolytic effects (abstract only available to us). [10] | Promising but limited | Healthy adults |
| Primary insomnia | A crossover trial in 66 adults with mild to moderate primary insomnia, comparing a skullcap extract supplement with placebo for 56 days, reported improved sleep scores and no adverse effects. One author was employed by a company, and it is a single trial. [11] | Promising but limited | Adults; one extract product |
| Anxiety disorders, depression, children, long-term use | Proper evidence not found. We searched PubMed for Scutellaria lateriflora trials and found only small studies in healthy volunteers and one in insomnia. | Not established | n/a |
Forms and why the form matters
Skullcap is sold as dried herb for tea, tinctures, capsules and in blends. The trials above tested specific products. Many supplements combine skullcap with other herbs, and LiverTox says the liver cases were usually with other botanicals. [1] See Herbal Blends and Formulas: What to Check.Safety and who should ask first
- Liver: see the box above and Herbs and Liver Injury.
- Medicines: the sources we read did not describe specific medicine interactions. That is not proof that none exist. Ask a pharmacist, and see How Interactions Work.
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding and children: Proper evidence not found in the sources we read. Do not assume safety. See Pregnancy and Breastfeeding.
- Before surgery: no skullcap-specific advice in the sources we read. Tell the surgical team about every herb you use.
- Side effects: the 56-day trial reported none, and it was a small trial. [11]
Frequently asked questions
Does skullcap help anxiety?
Small studies in healthy people suggest possible mood effects, but one trial found no significant difference on its main anxiety scale. [4] Proper evidence not found for people with anxiety disorders. See Anxiety Disorders.
Can skullcap harm the liver?
LiverTox says it has been linked to several instances of clinically apparent liver injury, usually in combination with other botanicals. [1] Adulteration with germander has been reported. [2]
What is germander and why does it matter?
Germander (Teucrium species) has been an occasional adulterant of skullcap products and contains hepatotoxic diterpenes. [2]
Is Chinese skullcap the same as American skullcap?
No. Scutellaria baicalensis and Scutellaria lateriflora are separate species. [5][3]
Is skullcap safe in pregnancy?
Proper evidence not found in the sources we read. Ask a clinician.
Related: Passionflower, Valerian, Supplements for Stress.
References
- NIH LiverTox (NIDDK). Skullcap. Record updated 2020 (read as the PubMed entry). Available at pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Read 2026-10-23.
- Sun J, Chen P. A flow-injection mass spectrometry fingerprinting method for authentication and quality assessment of Scutellaria lateriflora-based dietary supplements. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 2011. Available at pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Read 2026-10-23.
- GBIF Secretariat. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy record for Scutellaria lateriflora L. (species 5341325). Available at api.gbif.org. Read 2026-10-23.
- Brock C et al. American skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora): a randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study of its effects on mood in healthy volunteers. Phytotherapy Research 2014. Available at pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Read 2026-10-23.
- GBIF Secretariat. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy record for Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (species 7309014). Available at api.gbif.org. Read 2026-10-23.
- Yang L et al. Herbal hepatotoxicity from Chinese skullcap: a case report. World Journal of Hepatology 2012. Available at pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Read 2026-10-23.
- Sandasi M et al. Skullcap and germander: preventing potential toxicity through the application of hyperspectral imaging and multivariate image analysis. Planta Medica 2014. Available at pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Read 2026-10-23.
- Larrey D et al. Hepatitis after germander (Teucrium chamaedrys) administration: another instance of herbal medicine hepatotoxicity. Annals of Internal Medicine 1992. Available at pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Read 2026-10-23.
- Chen P, Lin LZ, Harnly JM. Mass spectroscopic fingerprinting method for differentiation between Scutellaria lateriflora and the germander species. Journal of AOAC International 2010. Available at pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Read 2026-10-23.
- Wolfson P, Hoffmann DL. An investigation into the efficacy of Scutellaria lateriflora in healthy volunteers. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine 2003. Available at pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Read 2026-10-23.
- Di Minno A et al. Efficacy and tolerability of a chemically characterized Scutellaria lateriflora L. extract-based food supplement for sleep management: a randomized crossover double-blind clinical trial. Nutrients 2025. Available at pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Read 2026-10-23.