By Libby Landes, Leadership in Urban Agriculture Internship, Fall II 2020

SKULLCAP

Scutellaria lateriflora

Parts used | Aboveground parts.

Nutrients | Calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, zinc, vitamins B1, B2, B3, and C.
Therapeutic uses | Aids sleep, improves circulation, and strengthens the heart muscle. Relieves muscle cramps, pain, spasms, and stress. Good for anxiety, fatigue, cardiovascular disease, headache, hyperactivity, nervous disorders, and rheumatism. Known to be useful in treating barbiturate addiction and drug withdrawal.
Origins | The American Skullcap is a member of the mint family and native to eastern North America. The name Scutellaria refers to the helmetlike or skullcaplike form of each flower. Lateriflora, meaning “flowering on the side,” reveals that the skullcap’s blooms grow along just one side of its stalk.
Growing habits and cultivation | Skullcap is a perennial, 1 to 3 feet tall, that is found in the wetlands, riverbanks, and marshes in much of North America. It likes a relatively rich, moist but acidic soil and is propagated by seeds or cuttings.
Actions | Compounds in skullcap may bind to a GABA receptor in the brain responsible for modulating anxiety. Skullcap also contains the amino acid glutamine, which provides both sedative and anxiety-fighting effects.
How to use | Skullcap may be ingested orally through capsule, alcohol tinctures, or teas. Some herbal experts may recommend tinctures of the fresh plant to capture more of the healing compounds lost in drying the plant. When smoked, skullcap enters the bloodstream more quickly than other forms of consumption for quick anxiety relief.
Precautions | Drowsiness may result from this sedative herb.

MULLEIN

Verbascum thapsus

Part used | Leaves & flowers.

Nutrients | Calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, zinc, vitamins B1, B2, B3, and C.
Therapeutic uses | Acts as a laxative, painkiller, and sleep aid. Clears congestion, soothes inflammation. Taken internally, aids in getting rid of warts. Useful for asthma, bronchitis, difficulty breathing, earache, hay fever, and swollen glands. In past years, research has shown that mullein kills disease-causing bacteria.
Origins | The name mullein may come from the Latin word mollis, which means “soft”, a reference to the plant’s velvety texture. European settlers introduced mullein into North America. In the late 1800s, doctors prescribed mullein for the cough and congestion associated with tuberculosis and other respiratory infections such as laryngitis, whooping cough, influenza, and asthma.
Growing habits and cultivation | Mullein is now found throughout the U.S. and Canada, in dry gravelly or sandy soils along roads and dry fields. Easily grown from seed on the edge of a garden among the other weeds, especially in sandy or rocky soil.
Actions | Mullein is known for its tissue-coating properties as well as anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antibacterial effects.
How to use | Mullein tea has been used for respiratory problems and touted for its ability to soothe irritated membranes, relieve congestion, and break up phlegm. Infusions of the flower may be dabbed on the skin to heal sores, burns, and infections. It may also be made into a tincture or infused in oil. Mullein has been known to be a base herb in smoking preparations as well.
Precautions | Aside from the seeds, mullein is thought to be safe and well-tolerated.