Baikal Skullcap - Huang-Qin

Scutellaria baicalensis

Physical Characteristics

Scutellaria baicalensis is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. It is in flower in August, and the seeds ripen in September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

Distribution

E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia.

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Edible Uses: Tea Young leaves - cooked as a vegetable[105, 177, 183]. The whole plant is dried and used as a tea substitute[105, 183].

Medicinal Uses

Anodyne Antibacterial Anticholesterolemic Antipyretic Antispasmodic Astringent Cancer Cholagogue Diuretic Dysentery Expectorant Febrifuge Haemostatic Laxative Nervine Sedative Stomachic TB Tonic Urinary Baikal skullcap is commonly used in Chinese herbalism, where it is considered to be one of the 50 fundamental herbs and is used primarily in treating "hot and damp" conditions such as dysentery and diarrhoea[218, 254]. It has been used medicinally for over 2,000 years and recent research has found that the roots contain flavonoids that greatly enhance liver function and also have anti-inflammatory and antiallergenic effects[238]. The root is anodyne, antibacterial, anticholesterolemic, antipyretic, antispasmodic, astringent, cholagogue, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge, haemostatic, laxative, nervine, mildly sedative, stomachic and tonic (for TB)[46, 61, 147, 174, 176, 218, 238]. It reputedly calms the foetus in pregnant women[238]. The root is used internally in the treatment of enteritis, dysentery, diarrhoea, jaundice, chronic hepatitis, urinary tract infections, hypertension, threatened miscarriage, nosebleed and haemorrhage from the lungs or bowel[238]. It is one of the ingredients of the Chinese drug 'injection of three yellow herbs'[238]. The root is harvested in the autumn or spring from plants 3 - 4 years old and is dried for later use[238]. The seed is used to cleanse the bowels of blood and pus[218]. For the treatment of prostate cancer [301].

Known Hazards

Liver toxicity (hepatotoxicity). Unknown effects during pregnancy [301].