Skullcap

Skullcap is one of the most versatile pain relieving herbs I can think of. Often called the "there, there" herb in reference to it's calming quieting effect on the nerves, it's like a mother calming her frantic child. Skullcap calms the emothions, quiets overexcitability and improves motor ability and impairment of the senses. It helps stimulate the brain to produce more endorphins and enhances awareness and calmness.

When used as a pain reliever it works at the site of the pain, rather than dulling the brain and causing the sleepiness or "brain fog" that some pain relievers can cause.

I have known women who used skullcap instead of valerian to help with mood swings, to calm down in cases where anger was inexplainable and extreme.

Skullcap is a great aid in relieving acute pain. If you choose to "tough it out" when you have acute pain, many times, depending on the cause of the acute pain, it can become chronic pain.

Skullcap can be taken as a tea, tincture or capsules. I always prefer tea as it seems to work faster, but capsules are handy to carry with you "just in case". It can be used in cases of anxiety resulting from emotional trauma, or the many symptoms that result from the stress in daily living.