The Anxiolytic Effect of Scutellaria lateriflora (American skullcap): A Literature Review.

While pharmaceutical medications are the most common treatments for anxiety disorders, many are addictive and may have severe side effects. Many individuals seek other alternatives, such as herbal remedies, to avoid the potentially harmful side effects of pharmaceutical drugs. Scutellaria lateriflora (S. lateriflora), also known as American skullcap, is an herb that has been used in traditional medicine for hundreds of years as a sedative/nerve tonic and anticonvulsant to treat anxiety, epilepsy, insomnia, nervous tension, neuralgia, and gastrointestinal problems. RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: The objective of this review is to investigate the anxiolytic effects of S. lateriflora based on the present literature. METHOD: Databases of PubMed, MEDLINE (OVID), Embase, and Web of Science were searched using the terms Scutellaria lateriflora, S. lateriflora, and American skullcap. Articles of medicinal herbs to treat anxiety, epilepsy, seizures, insomnia and psychiatric disorders were also searched. RESULTS: Four studies related to the anxiolytic effect of S. lateriflora were found; two double-blind, placebo-controlled trials; one pilot survey study; and one in-vivo study. The review of the literature showed that the therapeutic use of S. lateriflora demonstrated anti-anxiety effects without noticeable adverse effects. However, these studies were either of low-quality and/or had some design flaws. CONCLUSION: There has been extensive use of S. lateriflora for the reduction of symptoms of anxiety but it lacks conclusive evidence. Well-designed clinical trials are needed to overcome the flaws in previous studies.