Blue Skullcap: What is it and what are its effects?

Blue Skullcap, also known as Scutellaria, is a versatile plant from the same family as mint (lamiaceae family) and is widely used as a dietary supplement.

Blue skullcap extract has been used for centuries in North America and Asia, and recently its benefits have also been discovered in Europe.

It only really became popular when the American company Herb-e-Concept added the extract to their LTO3® formula together with omega-3 and L-theanine: a natural agent to support concentration.

In this article I will explain to you:

• What types of blue skullcap are there?
• How to recognize a good blue skullcap supplement
• What are the active ingredients in blue skullcap
• Which supplements are best to combine with blue skullcap

The names Skullcap and Scutellaria are synonyms for Common Skullcap and are often used interchangeably. These are general terms, meaning they don't specifically refer to any particular species within the group. And there are quite a few... Within the genus Scutellaria, there are approximately 350 known species.

Each type of Blue Skullcap has its own unique properties and uses. Where the plant grows largely determines its active ingredients and effects.

These are the most well-known varieties of Blue Skullcap:

• The American skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) - This species grows in North America, mainly in moist areas such as swamps and along rivers.
• The Chinese skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) - Better known as "Baikal skullcap," this variety is native to the Baikal region of Russia and parts of China. It grows in dry, mountainous areas and has been important in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries, where it is known as Huang Qin.(1)
• Swamp skullcap (Scutellaria galericulata) - Swamp skullcap is found in moist areas worldwide, particularly in North America, Europe, and parts of Asia. This plant often grows in swamps and along the banks of rivers and lakes. Although not widely used traditionally, this variety contains similar active ingredients to the other species.

Unfortunately, I'm not allowed to say much about the effects of Blue Skullcap due to legal restrictions. However, I can give you an idea of ​​why there's a growing interest in the skullcap:

1. Popular Varieties - The most researched varieties are the American skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), often used in brain supplements , and the Baikal skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis), popular in immune system supplements .
2. Active ingredients - The main active ingredients in Blue Skullcap are scutellarin, baicalin, baicalein, wogonin, wogonoside and oroxylin A.
   These flavonoids may help neutralize free radicals and reduce inflammation, which can contribute to overall health.(1)(2)
3. Binding to Brain Receptors - Some flavonoids can bind to brain receptors, such as dopamine and serotonin receptors. This may explain how skullcap plays a role in our emotions and mood.(3)
4. Varied components - In addition, there are a number of interesting components in skullcap, which vary by species, such as tannins and alkaloids. These substances protect the plant, and when we ingest them, they can contribute to a wide range of bodily processes.(4)

If you're looking for a skullcap supplement, there are a few things to consider. The following list will help you determine if it's a good skullcap supplement.

1. What species of blue skullcap is in the product? - If you want to use it to support your concentration, Scutellaria lateriflora is most suitable.
2. See if they use blue skullcap powder or a blue skullcap extract - An extract is better. If you see "5:1 extract," they mean it's purified and contains five times more active ingredient than regular blue skullcap powder. If there's no "extract" listed, it means it's simply dried and ground skullcap.
3. Check if it's produced in the Netherlands (or the EU) - Preferably produced in the Netherlands or the EU. Products from China are (often) not inspected or have different regulations, meaning they could contain all sorts of things that aren't permitted in the Netherlands (pesticides, heavy metals, etc.).
4. Check the dosage of blue skullcap - You ideally want to be above 500 mg of blue skullcap powder per dose, which equates to 125 mg of 4:1 extract or 100 mg of 5:1 extract.

Blue Skullcap has received a lot of attention in recent years, especially since the popular LTO3® formula came onto the market.

The LTO3® formula is a registered trademark of the American company Herb-e-Concept. The product combines Scutellaria lateriflora extract (American skullcap) with omega-3 and L-theanine. This combination of ingredients is designed to support concentration.

• DHA (omega-3 fatty acid) – is necessary for normal brain function
• L-theanine – often used in supplements aimed at relaxation and sleep*
• Blue skullcap - supports learning performance and concentration*

Herb-E Concept's LTO3® product is a great product, but in our opinion, it's underdosed and not optimally formulated. Here's why:

• Underdosed Blue Skullcap - studies show that 100 to 2800 mg of blue skullcap is needed to experience benefits. The LTO3® formula contains only 12.5 mg of 4:1 extract.(1)(5)(6)(7)
• Relatively low in omega-3 fats - Sementis (herring roe) in LTO3® contains 28% omega-3 fats (EPA and DHA). A serving contains 300 mg, making it only 84 mg of omega-3 per serving.
• Synthetic form of L-theanine - LTO3® uses a synthetic form of L-theanine. We prefer L-theanine from a natural source, such as green tea.

If you want to buy a supplement with blue skullcap to support concentration, we have a great product for you.

We have put a lot of energy into developing a well-dosed blue skullcap supplement: Alfa Focus.

• Contains 150 mg of 5:1 Skullcap extract per dose - so you get more active ingredients and the dosage falls within the range also used in scientific studies.
• Natural L-theanine from green tea - This is extracted from green tea through a natural extraction process.
• An active B complex added – this supports learning performance and concentration.
• The best folate in the world - we use 5-MTHF folate from Quatrefolic. This patented form of folate is the best absorbed and benefits cognitive function.

We recommend combining this product with Omega-3 (just like in the well-known LTO3® formula). We've included this in an L-theanine Omega-3 and skullcap package.

The Alfa Focus + Ultra-Omega-3 combo package builds on this world-famous composition.

But we go one step further and have optimized the combination by:

• Using only top quality ingredients
• Elevated (but safe) doses
• Addition of effective vitamins that support learning performance and concentration
• A separate capsule with omega-3 fats for a more effective dosage

This is what's in the L-theanine Omega-3 and skullcap package:

A powerful supplement with L-theanine and high-quality blue skullcap extract (5:1), containing up to five times more active ingredients than comparable products.

In addition, it contains an active B-complex, zinc and patented 5-MTHF folate from Quatrefolic®:

• L-Theanine from real green tea (98% L-theanine extract) – 300 mg per serving (2 capsules)
• Blue Skullcap in 5:1 extract in higher dosage – 150 mg per dose
  Complete active B-complex – including 200 mcg Quatrefolic® 5-MTHF folate per dose
• Safe Dosage Zinc – 5 mg per dose

The omega-3 in this supplement comes from high-quality liquid fish oil and contains more EPA and DHA than all-in-one formulas. Each capsule contains a total of 550 mg of omega-3 fatty acids.

In addition, the fatty acids EPA and DHA are present in the natural 2:3 ratio (220 mg DHA and 330 mg EPA), which contributes to effective absorption.

The use of skullcap is generally considered very safe, with few reported side effects.(6)(7)

In rare cases, symptoms may occur such as:

• Nausea
• Decreased appetite
• Drowsiness

At extremely high doses, there have been some reports of serious side effects, such as liver problems. However, these cases were rare and often combined with other herbal extracts, making it uncertain whether the Skullcap was the cause.

Sources used

1. Zhao, Q., Chen, X., & Martin, C. (2016b). Scutellaria baicalensis , the golden herb from the garden of Chinese medicinal plants. Science Bulletin , 61 (18), 1391–1398. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-016-1136-5
2. Alsharairi, N.A. (2021). Scutellaria baicalensis and Their Natural Flavone Compounds as Potential Medicinal Drugs for the Treatment of Nicotine-Induced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer and Asthma. International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health , 18 (10), 5243. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18105243
3. Gafner, S., Bergeron, C., Batcha, L.L., Reich, J., Arnason, J.T., Burdette, J.E., Pezzuto, J.M., & Angerhofer, C.K. (2003). Inhibition of [3H]-LSD Binding to 5-HT7 Receptors by Flavonoids from Scutellaria lateriflora. Journal Of Natural Products , 66 (4), 535–537. https://doi.org/10.1021/np0205102
4. Shah, M., Mubin, S., Hassan, SSU, Tagde, P., Ullah, O., Rahman, MH, Al-Harrasi, A., Rehman, NU, & Murad, W. (2022). Phytochemical Profiling and Bio-Potentiality of Genus Scutellaria: Biomedical Approach. Biomolecules , 12 (7), 936. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom12070936
5. Brock C, Whitehouse J, Tewfik I, Towell T. American Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora): a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study of its effects on mood in healthy volunteers. Phytother Res. 2014 May;28(5):692-8. doi:10.1002/ptr.5044. Epub 2013 Jul 22. PMID: 23878109
6. Song, J., Long, J., Xie, L., Zhang, L., Xie, Q., Chen, H., Deng, M., & Li, X. (2020). Applications, phytochemistry, pharmacological effects, pharmacokinetics, toxicity of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. and its probably potential therapeutic effects on COVID-19: a review. Chinese Medicine , 15 (1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13020-020-00384-0
7. Li, M., Shi, A., Pang, H., Xue, W., Li, Y., Cao, G., Yan, B., Dong, F., Li, K., Xiao, W., He, G., Du, G., & Hu, X. (2014). Safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of a single ascending dose of baicalein chewable tablets in healthy subjects. Journal Of Ethnopharmacology , 156 , 210–215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2014.08.031