{"id":4300,"date":"2021-05-18T09:24:14","date_gmt":"2021-05-18T08:24:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/?post_type=herb&p=4300"},"modified":"2025-11-17T17:05:36","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T17:05:36","slug":"baikal-skullcap","status":"publish","type":"herb","link":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/herb\/baikal-skullcap\/","title":{"rendered":"Baikal skullcap"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"featured_media":4316,"parent":0,"menu_order":-209,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","beyondwords_generate_audio":"1","beyondwords_project_id":"47224","beyondwords_content_id":"ad44bce7-9906-43a6-80d9-8d3ca1cc3bf8","beyondwords_preview_token":"3b8b4c2a-3bf7-4338-bc07-0fd0833dc0dc","beyondwords_player_content":"","beyondwords_player_style":"","beyondwords_language_code":"","beyondwords_language_id":"","beyondwords_title_voice_id":"","beyondwords_body_voice_id":"","beyondwords_summary_voice_id":"","beyondwords_error_message":"","beyondwords_disabled":"","beyondwords_delete_content":"","beyondwords_podcast_id":"","beyondwords_hash":"","publish_post_to_speechkit":"","speechkit_hash":"","speechkit_generate_audio":"","speechkit_project_id":"","speechkit_podcast_id":"","speechkit_error_message":"","speechkit_disabled":"","speechkit_access_key":"","speechkit_error":"","speechkit_info":"","speechkit_response":"","speechkit_retries":"","speechkit_status":"","speechkit_updated_at":"","_speechkit_link":"","_speechkit_text":""},"tags":[2026,2027,2028],"conditions":[685,694,693,701,699,696,695],"sustainability":[1575],"sense":[18,17,786,27],"western_action":[993,992,997,1000,1017],"chinese_action":[1042,1168,1033],"ayurvedic_action":[],"energetics_action":[1512,1498,1383,1505,1487,1526,1530,1523,1490,1529,1494],"region":[1898],"class_list":["post-4300","herb","type-herb","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-baical","tag-baical-skullcap","tag-baikal","conditions-digestive-system","conditions-cardiovascular-system","conditions-endocrine-system","conditions-immune-system","conditions-musculoskeletal-system","conditions-nervous-system","conditions-respiratory-system","sustainability-amber-sustainability-status","sense-bitter","sense-aromatic","sense-cooling","sense-sweet","western_action-antimicrobial","western_action-anti-inflammatory","western_action-antispasmodic","western_action-astringent","western_action-nervine","chinese_action-aromatically-transform-damp","chinese_action-clear-heat-dry-damp","chinese_action-clear-heat-and-relieve-toxicity","energetics_action-bitter-taste-chinese","energetics_action-bitter","energetics_action-cold","energetics_action-cold-temperature-chinese","energetics_action-dry","energetics_action-gallbladder","energetics_action-large-intestine","energetics_action-lung","energetics_action-relaxing","energetics_action-stomach","energetics_action-sweet","region-traditional-chinese-herbs"],"acf":{"last_reviewed":"20210518","herb_author":null,"banner_text":"Baikal skullcap is an ancient Chinese remedy with great prospects","latin_name":"Scutellaria baicalensis<\/em>","pseudonym_name":"","family_name":"Lamiaceae","herb_summary":"Baikal skullcap (or simply baical) is one of the most widely used Chinese remedies in western herbal practice, applied to some of the most challenging modern health problems, including complex immunological, inflammatory, neurological and metabolic disease.","key_benefits":"Asthma\r\nBronchitis\r\nRespiratory infections\r\nChronic immunological diseases\r\nInflammatory diseases\r\nAllergies\r\nLiver conditions\r\nDementia","how_does_it_feel":"Baikal skullcap has the complex taste profile one expects from a remedy with so much depth to its reputation. There is heat, aromatic and resinous qualities as well as the bitterness that gives baikal its traditional cooling properties. The aftertaste is predominantly sweet.\r\n\r\nThese traditional qualities add to the intriguing complexity of this remedy and to its prospects for helping a wide range of problems. Although not prominent in the traditional reputation of the herb its sweetness helps us to understand its overall supportive role.","hdif_image_1":8214,"hdif_image_2":4317,"hdif_image_3":"","hdif_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/Goc7jEdzLM8","sense":[17,18,786,27],"what_can_i_use_it_for":"Baikal skullcap is generally used in formulations rather than on its own. The modern practitioner focuses on its role in managing immunological problems, especially involving allergies and hypersensitivity reactions. Conditions in which it might be used include asthma, hayfever, allergic eczema and rhinitis.\r\n\r\nBaikal is also used in complex protocols in the management of autoimmune and other longterm immunological problems and infections. These include particularly chronic hepatitis and lung diseases. It has a modern reputation in China for the treatment of quite severe bacterial and viral infections.\r\n\r\nBaicalin-rich extracts are used topically for skin conditions.","into_the_heart_of":"[caption id=\"attachment_4317\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"510\"]\"Baical Bailal skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis<\/em>)[\/caption]\r\n\r\nThe indications outlined above are consistent with baical\u2019s traditional reputation in Chinese medicine as cooling excessive \u2018heat: modern equivalents of \u2018heat\u2019 include inflammation, agitation and wider hyperactivity. However the traditional quality also points towards relieving heat combined with \u2018dampness\u2019: \u2018damp-heat\u2019 is a traditional descriptor of hepatitis and also mucosal conditions associated with infections and acute inflammations.\r\n\r\nSome of the modern applications are to conditions that would have been described as \u2018dry heat\u2019, notably the classic hypersensitivity conditions like hayfever and uncomplicated asthma. These are marked by dry mucosa and non-productive cough. In such indications, the cooling and drying properties of baical shold be complemented with agents that are moistening and cooling, licorice being the most obvious and common example.\r\n\r\nThere is nothing new in the apparent contradiction between characteristics and application. Baical was a component of a warming prescription (along with bupleurum, licorice, ginseng, ginger and others) recorded in the great Chinese classic\u00a0Shanghan Lun<\/em>\u00a0(On Cold Damage<\/em>), written around 200 AD. As is often the case in traditional medicine it is the combination that counts rather than the action of the remedy alone.","tradtional_uses":"The first description of Baical skullcap was recorded as early as the Zhou Dynasty over 3000 years ago. The Han Dynasty Classic of Internal Medicine \u2018Shennong Ben Cao Jing\u2019 (the earliest existing traditional Chinese medicine book), recorded its medicinal application as a cure for lung and liver diseases almost 2000 years ago.\r\n\r\nAlthough the root of the plant is most often used there is also a tradition for using the aerial parts in teas for clearing heat and removing dampness, and promoting digestion, typical indications for bitters.","what_practioners_say":"[caption id=\"attachment_4316\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"519\"]\"Baikal Baikal skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis<\/em>)[\/caption]\r\n\r\nBaikal skullcap is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for its cardiovascular, hepatic, and renal protective effects. It is commonly used by physicians there to treat potentially serious diseases such as hepatitis, hypertension, acute respiratory infection, acute gastroenteritis, infantile diarrhoea, vomiting during pregnancy and other diseases. It was also used for threatened miscarriage and other problems of pregnancy, and is also used in some cancer therapies.\r\n\r\nIn modern western herbal practice, baical has been most widely used in immunological and hypersensitivity disorders.\r\n

Respiratory<\/h3>\r\nThe most common application is for lung and airway symptoms of these disorders, notably asthmatic conditions (especially when associated with secondary bronchitis), hypersensitivity conditions like hayfever and allergic rhinitis, and especially fungal and bacterial infections. It has a reputation in China of being effective also in acute viral infections of the airways. Where there is no infective complication in an allergic or asthmatic condition, baical needs to be combined with licorice or other moistening herbs.\r\n

Nervous system<\/h3>\r\nThere is growing interest in the potential role of baical in helping reducing neuroinflammation, the common factor now implicated in dementia, long-term psychiatric and neurological disease, and conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.\r\n

Metabolism<\/h3>\r\nPositive research findings on the role of baical in managing metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and late-onset diabetes have encouraged practitioners to consider this remedy as these are often co-factors in immunological conditions.\r\n

Liver<\/h3>\r\nBaical is traditionally used for hepatitis and its role in supporting liver function is likely to be very important in some of the conditions above.\r\n

Circulation<\/h3>\r\nBaical is applied clinically in China for hypertension and other cardiovascular problems, including those of late-onset diabetes.","research":"\"\"Emerging evidence has established that baicalin improves chronic inflammation, immune imbalance, disturbances in lipid metabolism, apoptosis and oxidative stress. Thereby it offers beneficial roles against the initiation and progression of cardiovascular disorders such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, myocardial infarction and reperfusion, and heart failure (3).<\/span>\r\n\r\nThe protective effects of baicalin (a molecule from baical skullcap) on liver disease have received research attention. Studies have shown that baicalin protects against several types of liver diseases including viral hepatitis, fatty liver disease, xenobiotic induced liver injury, cholestatic liver injury, and hepatocellular carcinoma, with a variety of pharmacological mechanisms (4).\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nBaicalin also regulates intestinal flora by promoting the production of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Furthermore, Baicalin is involved in the interactions of the liver-gut axis by regulating TGR5, FXR, bile acids and the microbiota (5).<\/span>\r\n\r\nBaical has been used in TCM as a frequent component in prescriptions for depression, anxiety and epilepsy. Modern reviews are supporting the neuroprotective properties of baicalin, with evidence for effects on the production of a variety of relevant anti-inflammatory cytokines (6).<\/span>\r\n\r\nThere are also studies showing the ameliorating effects of baical and its two major bioactive constituents, baicalin and baicalein, on parameters of metabolic syndrome, including antidiabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti- obesity, and antihypertensive activity. Activation and upregulation of AMPK and PPAR-\u03b3 as the main signals in the haemostasis of glucose and lipid metabolisms appear to be important mechanisms (7). Wogonin has also shown laboratory effects in markers of diabetic circulatory complications (8), and has been used as an anti-cancer drug in Chinese medicine practice. It has been found in vitro to effectively tackle cancers cells via several mechanisms, however more studies are needed to see if this will translate into humans (9).<\/span>","did_you_know":"The mandarin name\u00a0huang qin<\/em>\u00a0means \u2018golden herb\u2019. It is one of the most prominent of traditional Chinese remedies, having a new lease of life in the modern treatments in China of cancer, complex infections and immune diseases and even in psychiatric and neurological medicine.","additional_information_right":{"illustration":13785},"additional_information_left":{"botany":"The rhizome of baikal skullcap is thick and fleshy, up to 2 cm in diameter,\r\nelongated and branched. The leaves are lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, 1.5\u20134.5 cm in length and 0.5\u20131.2 cm in width. The terminal raceme borne on stems and branches often aggregated into panicles at the top of stems.\r\n\r\nThe corolla is purple, purple\u2013red and blue. The fruits are hard, ovoid, dark\r\nbrown 1.5 mm in height and 1 mm in diameter.","common_names":"