Introduction of Huang Qin:Baical Skullcap Root or Radix Scutellariae.

TCM Herbalism:Medicinals and Classifications. ✵The article gives records of the herb Baical Skullcap Root, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its herbal classic book defined botanical source one plant species, ①.Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi., other three usable plant species, ②.Scutellaria amoena C.H.Wrignt., ③.Scutellaria viscidula Bunge., ④.Scutellaria likiangensis Diels., one plant species which is used in North America and Europe, ⑤.Scutellaria lateriflora., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of these five plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of these five plant species, the features of the herb Baical Skullcap Root, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.

Radix Scutellariae(Baical Skullcap Root).

lilac flowers and plants of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi Pin Yin Name: Huánɡ Qín.
 English Name: Baical Skullcap Root.
 Latin Name: Radix Scutellariae.
 Property and flavor: cold, bitter.

 Brief introduction: The Herb Radix Scutellariae is the dried root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, used (1).to clear heat and dry dampness for treating damp-warm and damp-heat diseases, (2).to clear the lung of heat for relieving cough in cases of lung heat, (3).to purge fire and counteract toxins for treating boils, sores, painful swelling of the throat, (4).to cool blood for stanching hematemesis, epistaxis, abnormal uterine bleeding, and (5).to prevent miscarriage in cases of threatened abortion. The herb is commonly known as Radix Scutellariae, Baical Skullcap Root, Huánɡ Qín.

 Botanical source: The herb Radix Scutellariae is the dried root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi., it is a plant of the Scutellaria (skullcaps) genus, the Lamiaceae family (Labiatae, mint family) of the Lamiales order.

 Herbal classic book defined the herb Radix Scutellariae (Huang Qin) as the dry root of the Lamiaceae family plant species (1). Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. Other famous herbal classics defined the herb Baical Skullcap Root(Huang Qin) as the root of the Lamiaceae family plant species (1). Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi., or (2). Scutellaria amoena C.H.Wrignt., or (3). Scutellaria viscidula Bunge., or (4). Scutellaria likiangensis Diels. The species (5). Scutellaria lateriflora is used in North America and Europe. These 4 commonly used species in TCM and 1 other species are introduced:

(1).Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi.


 a drawing of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi,flowering plant and root Botanical description: Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi is a plant of the Lamiaceae family (Labiatae, mint family) and Scutellaria L. genus, it is commonly known as Baikal skullcap, Huang Qin. A perennial herb, the plant grows up to 30~80 cm tall. The stem is obtusely quadrangular, has thin stripes, glabrous or covered with curved or explanate puberulose, green or often purplish; many thin branches grow at the base.

 flowering plant of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi with purple flowers Leaves are decussate; sessile or subsessile; leaf blades are lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, 1.5~4.5 cm long, 3~12 mm wide, blunt at the tip, base is orbicular, entire, the upper surface is dark green, glabrous or slightly piliferous, the undersurface is pea green (pale green), puberulent along the midrib, densely covered with sunken glandular dots.

 flowering plants of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi with many purple flowers grow in sunny field Racemes are terminal or axillary, lean to one side, 7~15 cm long; flower bracts are foliate (leaf-like), ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, 4~11 mm long, glabrate; the calyx is bilabiate, purplish-green, upper lip has a peltate appendage, enlarged in fruiting phase, membraneous; corolla is bilabiate, bluish violet to prunosus (purplish red), the upper lip is cassideous, the apex is emarginate, the lower lip is wide, the middle lobe is triangular-ovoid, 7.5 mm wide, lateral lobes on both sides converging to the upper lip, corolla tube is thin, the base is sharply curved; 4 stamens, slightly show up, anther cell has white beard hairs on cracks; anther is brown, glabrous, 4-parted, grow on ringlike floral disc, style is slender, the apex is slightly lobed.

 4 Nutlets, ovoid, 1.5 mm long, 1 mm in diameter, black brown, tuberculate. Its flowering period is from June to September, and the fruiting period is from August to October.

 growing plants of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi with small lilac flowers Ecological environment: Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi grows in sunny mountain slopes, hillsides and wasteland, in areas at altitudes of 60~2,000 meters above sea level, and wild in places with sunny spots such as peaks, slopes, forest edges, and roadsides. Geographical distribution: This species is mainly distributed wildly in the northern area, the reaches of the Yellow River, and is mainly cultivated in northwest areas, and other areas of China.

 Growth characteristics: Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi likes warm and cool climates, it is tolerant to cold, drought and poor soil, the underground parts of adult plants can pass winter safely at low temperature -30 °C (Celsius, or -22 degrees Fahrenheit), and do not die at high temperature 35 °C (Celsius, or 95 degrees Fahrenheit), but can not withstand continuous high temperature above 40 °C (Celsius, or 104 degrees Fahrenheit). It fears for drought and watering, too much water or rain in the ground leads to poor growth. It should not be planted in poorly drained land. Likewise, it is better to choose a sufficient sunshine field, deep soil layers, fertile, neutral or slightly alkaline loam or sandy loam for cultivation. Avoid continuous cropping.

 dried kharki slices of Baical Skullcap Root are in a pile Characters of herbs: The herb is conical and mostly twisted, 5~25 cm long, and 1~3 cm in diameter. The surface is brownish yellow or deep yellow, coarse, has conspicuous vertical wrinkles or irregular reticulated patterns, with remaining lateral root marks, apex has stem marks or a remaining stem base. The texture of the herb is hard and brittle, easily broken, the fracture surface is yellow, and is reddish-brown in the center; the xylem (wood part) of the old root is withered or hollow, and the root which is brownish-black or hollow in the center is known as "Ku Qin (withered skullcap root)". The herb has a slight smell, and it tastes bitter. The herb of a better grade has long strips, and the texture is solid and firm, yellow.

 Cultivars are slender and have many branches. The surface is light yellow-brown, the cortex is tight, and the longitudinal wrinkles are smooth and fine. The fracture surface is yellow or light yellow, slightly corneous, the herb tastes lightly bitter. The herb of a better grade has long strips, and the texture is solid and firm, and yellow.

 Pharmacological actions: ①.an inhibitory effect on dysentery bacillus, diphtheria bacillus, pyomonas aeruginosa, staphylococcus, streptococcus, and so on; ②.effective for laryngeal spray, meningitis carrier; Even Staphylococcus aureus, which has developed resistance to antibiotics such as penicillin, is sensitive to Scutellaria baicalensis; ③.anti-inflammatory; ④.anti-allergic; ⑤.antipyretic; ⑥.anti-platelet aggregation and anticoagulation; ⑦.lowering blood lipid; ⑧.protecting the liver; ⑨.protect gallbladder; ⑩.anti-oxidation; ⑾.anti-cancer; ⑿.diuretic effects.

 Medicinal efficacy: Clearing heat and drying dampness, clearing heat and reducing fire, reducing fire and detoxification, hemostasis, miscarriage prevention. It is used for the damp-warm syndrome, heat warm chest tightness nausea, dampness and heat, puffiness, dysentery, jaundice, lung heat and cough, high fever and polydipsia, thirst, fever, dizziness, liver fire and headache, red eyes swelling and pain, dampness and heat, jaundice, dysentery, pyretic stranguria, blood heat and epistaxis, bleeding and leakage, carbuncle and swelling, carbuncle ulcer and sore poison, threatened abortion.

 Administration of Radix Scutellariae (Huánɡ Qín): 
 
Reference: Administration Guide of Radix Scutellariae (Huánɡ Qín)
TCM Books: ①.Internally:3~9 grams; ②.Internally:water decoction, 1~3 qian (about 3~9 grams), or prepare to pill, powder. Externally:wash with water decoction, or prepare to ground herb powder and apply; ③.Internally:water decoction, 3~9 grams, prepared to pill, powder; Externally:proper amount, wash with water decoction, or prepare to ground herb powder and apply stick.
 Contraindications, Precautions and Adverse Reactions: the herb Radix Scutellariae should not be combined with seed of welsh-onion, Cinnabar, Tree Peony Bark, Black False Hellebore.

(2).Scutellaria amoena C.H.Wrignt.


 flowering plants of Scutellaria amoena C.H.Wrignt. with six lilac flowers Botanical description: Scutellaria amoena C.H.Wrignt is a plant of the Lamiaceae family (Labiatae, mint family) and Scutellaria L. genus, it is commonly known as Scutellaria amoena, Xi Nan Huang Qin, Dian Huang Qin, Tu Huang Qin. A perennial herb, the plant grows up to 20~35 cm tall. The stem is sharp prismatic, slightly has grooves, covered with sparse hairs along edges and corners, ramificate or unbranched, often purplish. Leaves are opposite; petioles are short, 1~2 mm long; leaf blades are grassy, herbaceous, oblong-ovate or oblong, often folded, 1.4~3.5 cm long, 7~14 mm wide, the apex is blunt, the base is circular or cuneate to shallowly cordate, the edge has inconspicuous crena to entire, the upper surface is dark green, glabrous or covered with sparse soft hairs, the under surface is pea green (pale green), densely covered with sunken glandular dots, covered with soft hairs along midribs.

 a drawing of Scutellaria amoena C.H.Wrignt.,purple flowers Flowers are opposite, arranged in terminal racemes growing up to 5~14 cm long; flower bracts are foliate (leaflike), lance-oblong, 5~10 mm long; the calyx is bilabiate, often purplish, scutellum on the back surface is membraneous, enlarged in fruit phase; corolla is bilabiate, purple or bluish violet (blue purple), 2.4~3 cm long, outside is covered with glandular trichome; 4 stamens, the filament is oblate; the ovary is glabrous, style is slender, stigma is slightly cracked.

 flowering plant of Scutellaria amoena C.H.Wrignt.,with two small lilac flowers Nutlets are ovoid, 1.25 mm long, 1 mm wide, tan (chocolate brown), and tuberculose. Its flowering period is from May to September, and the fruiting period is from July to October.

 Ecological environment: Scutellaria amoena C.H.Wrignt grows in grassland or pine forest, in areas at altitudes of 1,300~3,000 meters above sea level. Geographical distribution: This species is mainly distributed in southwest areas, Yunnan, southern region of Sichuan, and northwest of Guizhou, China.

 Characters of herbs: The rhizome of Scutellaria amoena is transverse or oblique, with a thickness of more than 1 cm. The roots are conical irregular strip-shaped, often branched, 5~20 cm long, and 1~1.6 cm in diameter. The surface is sienna (yellowish brown) or brownish yellow, typically has rough cork bark, and wrinkles. There are rootlets marks at the lower end, and the fracture surface is fibrous, canary-yellow (bright yellow), or slightly greenish.

(3).Scutellaria viscidula Bunge.


 flowering plant of Scutellaria viscidula Bunge. with light yellow flowers Botanical description: Scutellaria viscidula Bunge is a plant of the Lamiaceae family (Labiatae, mint family) and Scutellaria L. genus, it is commonly known as Scutellaria viscidula Bunge, Nian Mao Huang Qin, or Xian Mao Huang Qin. A perennial herb, the plant grows up to 8~25 cm high. Roots are thick, straight, or oblique, up to 1.5 cm in diameter, and have dark brown skin. Stems are prismatic, covered with sparse or dense glandular hairs, and usually have many explanate branches. Leaves are opposite, subsessile, or short stipitate; leaf blades are lanceolate, linear-lanceolate, linear-oblong to linear, 1.5~3 cm long, 2.5~8 mm wide, the apex is blunt, the base is cuneate or wide cuneate, entire, densely covered with short cilia, both surfaces are covered with pubescence and glandular hairs, and with many yellow glandular dots.

 Racemes are terminal, 4~7 cm long; flower bracts are foliate (leaf-like), elliptic or elliptic-ovate, densely covered with glandular pilose, about 5 mm long; the calyx is bilabiate, the back surface of the upper lip has scutellum, enlarged in fruit phase, membraneous; corolla is bilabiate, yellow or primrose yellow (pale yellow), the lower lip has pinkish patches, about 2.5 cm long, out surface is densely covered with glandular hairs and soft hairs; 4 stamens, filaments are oblate, with sparse hairs; the ovary is 4-parted, style is slender, the apex is 2-lobed.

 Nutlets are black, ovoid, and tuberculate. Its flowering period is from May to August, and the fruiting period is from July to August.

 Ecological environment: Scutellaria viscidula Bunge grows in gravel wild grass ground, farmland, abandoned land, and roadsides, often clustered into clumps. Geographical distribution: This species is mainly distributed in the mountains of the North China plain area, in mountain areas of Southern Xing'an, Northern Yanshan, Yinshan, etc.

 Characters of herbs: The root of Scutellaria viscidula is slender and long, conical or cylindrical, 7~15 cm long, and 0.5~1.5 cm in diameter. The surface is similar to Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, rarely hollow or decayed in the center.

(4).Scutellaria likiangensis Diels.


 a flowering plant of Scutellaria likiangensis Diels with yellow flowers Botanical description: Scutellaria likiangensis Diels is a plant of the Lamiaceae family (Labiatae, mint family) and Scutellaria L. genus, it is commonly known as Scutellaria likiangensis Diels, Li Jiang Huang Qin or Xiao Huang Qin (it means small Skullcap.). A perennial herb, the plant grows up to 20~35 cm tall. Roots are hypertrophic, about 2~12 mm in diameter, and the fracture surface is yellow, often bifurcating. The stems are upright, brown purple, prismatic and covered with antitropous pubescence, and the internode length of the stem's middle part is 1.8~3.6 cm. Leaves are decussate; leaf blades are elliptic-ovoid or elliptic, 1.3~3 cm long, 6~15 mm wide, the apex is blunt, sometimes emarginate, and the edge over the middle part has inconspicuous crena or is subentire, the upper surface is green and covered with sparse pubescence, the under surface is pea green (pale green) and densely covered with concave glandular dots.

 Flowers are opposite, arrange on the top end of the stem, or form terminal racemes, 6.5~12 cm long; flower bracts are foliate (leaf-like), and both surfaces are covered with glandular hairs; the calyx is bilabiate, often purplish, out surface is densely covered with glandular hairs, scutellum is a semicircle (semicircular), upright in fruit phase, reflexed; corolla is bilabiate, yellowish-white, yellow to green-yellow, often with purple-pink patches or stripes, 2.6~3 cm long, out surface is covered with glandular hairs, corolla tube is gibbous at basal part; 4 stamens; the ovary is 4-parted, style is slender, stigma is slightly cracked.

 4 Nutlets, black, ovoid, nodular (tuberculiform). Its flowering period is from May to August, and the fruiting period is from July to September.

 Ecological environment: Scutellaria likiangensis Diels grows in sparse forests, shrubs, or on grass slopes, in areas at altitudes of 2,500~3,100 meters above sea level. Geographical distribution: This species is mainly distributed in the southwest area, north-western area of Yunnan Province, and other areas of China.

 Characters of herbs: The root of Scutellaria likiangensis is cylindrical, has rootlets, 8~20 cm long, and 0.2~0.5 cm in diameter. The surface is yellowish-brown, the fracture surface is yellow, and the center of the old root is darkish brown and withered.

(5).Scutellaria lateriflora.


 flowering plant of Scutellaria lateriflora with many pendulous lilac flowers Botanical description: Scutellaria lateriflora is a plant of the Lamiaceae family (Labiatae, mint family) and Scutellaria L. genus, it is commonly known as Scutellaria lateriflora, or Scutellaria laterifolia, also known in many other names: Blue Pimpernel, Helmetflower, Helmet Flower, Hoodwort, Mad-Dog Weed, Madweed, Quaker Bonnet, skullcap, Side-Flowering Scullcap, Virginia skullcap, Virginian Scullcap.

 flowering plant upper part of Scutellaria lateriflora with lilac flowers The stems are light green to pale reddish-green, 4-angled, and glabrous or sparsely canescent; they tend to sprawl. The blades of the opposite leaves are up to 3" (3 inches, or 7.62 cm) long and 2" (2 inches, or 5.08 cm) across; they are cordate-ovate to broadly lanceolate, glabrous, and coarsely serrated along the margins. On the upper surface of each leaf blade, there is a conspicuous network of veins. The petioles of the leaves are light green to pale reddish green, slender, and up to 1" (1 inch, or 2.54 cm) long. Both terminal and axillary racemes of flowers are produced by the upper stems. Each slender raceme is up to 6" (6 inches, or 15.24 cm) long, consisting of about 6 –7 pairs of flowers; the axillary racemes spread outward from their stems. Underneath each flower, there is a short leafy bract.

 a flowering plant of Scutellaria lateriflora with small lilac flowers This capsularfruit consists of two lobes that are joined (connate) at the base, but spread slightly apart from each other at their tips; these lobes are somewhat flattened and round along their margins. The root system consists of a taproot and either rhizomes or stolons. Small colonies of plants are often produced from the rhizomes or stolons.

 Its flowering period is from June to September.

 Ecological environment: Scutellaria lateriflora grows in moist sedge meadows, openings in floodplain woodlands, soggy thickets, swamps, bogs, seeps, and springs, edges of vernal pools and ponds, moist depressions in limestone glades, and shaded areas of cliffs. Geographical distribution: This species was native to North America.
 

 
  

 

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References:
  • 1.Introduction of Huang Qin:Baical Skullcap Root or Radix Scutellariae.

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