Forums HomeGrown Herbalist Student Forum Medicinal Herbs Rest Easy Formula Skullcap

Viewing 3 reply threads
  • Author
    Posts
    • #46176
      SUZANNE
      Student

        I am wanting to make the Rest Easy Formula. Can I use Chinese Skullcap instead of Skullcap?

        I know there is a difference between the two, but not sure what that is. Can anyone clarify this for me?

        Thank you for your help!

      • #46488
        Dawn
        Student

          Hi Suzanne, You’re right those two herbs are used differently. Since you mentioned the Rest Easy Formula, I believe you want to replace this with another calming/sedating herb. You have some options here and one is simply add extra chamomile and valerian to make up for the missing part of skullcap. Another herb that is similar in action to skullcap is Catnip. It too is a mint that has a reputation as nervous/stress soothing bedtime aid (like skullcap). Or if you have Passionflower, it too is good with other nervines for relaxing and sedating. If you have these and want to look at energetics, that might help you choose Catnip as the cooling/drying or extra Valerian as a slightly warming option to balance the others. (Passionflower, Chamomile, Skullcap are all cooling/relaxing. according to Modern Herbal Dispensatory)

          Chinese Skullcap is not in my herbal books except for the Botanical Safety Handbook. This is used in TCM and called Huang quin and the root is the medicine. They have studies for cancer, headaches, infections, inflamation, allergies … It has more drug interactions where American Skullcap saftey is “none known” with a rating of 1 A. Chinese Skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) rating is 1B  (B means clinical interactions are biologically possible) with several notes for people to be aware of contraindications. I wish I had more info for you … Hope this was helpful.

          2 users thanked author for this post.
          • #46508
            SUZANNE
            Student
            Topic Author

              Thank you, Dawn! It was very helpful and I really appreciate your reply. You are a wealth of knowledge. I do have some of the herbs you mentioned in your reply and I will substitute one or more for the skullcap. I am new to all of this and it is a little overwhelming to say the least. There is so much to learn and

              then try to retain that information. It’s not easy are my age. lol!

              I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Again, thank you!

              • #46553
                Dawn
                Student

                  I’m a student just like you 🙂 I completed this course about a year ago and have been studying over 2 yrs but, I merely know where to look and have several books on hand to help with questions like yours. Doc teaches us that we can use what we have and, knowing that you needed another relaxing herb/nervine, I just looked up other nervines and compared actions with the one you were missing. I’m sure he picked the 3 best nervines for the the Rest Easy formula so, if you end up with all three some other time, it would be worth a try to compare results with both blends.  That being said, God is good and He made lots of plants with similar constituents so something is growing near you for what you need.  Thank you for the compliment. Enjoy your rest  🙂

            • #46625
              SUZANNE
              Student
              Topic Author

                Good morning, Dawn,

                It is great to hear from you again! Thank you for the information. I pray that by the time I have been studying for two years, like you, I would have a clue about some of it! LOL! Would you mind sharing with me the names of the books that you have on hand to use for looking up information on herbs? I would appreciate it. I tried to find some information on the homestead academy website and in a couple of books that I already have regarding the devil’s claw root, but to no avail…kind of frustrating. I was wanting to make the Periodontal Formula for my husband. It takes me a long time to do stuff on the computer and having a few good books to add to my library will help me immensely.
                Yes, our Heavenly Father is good and it is His desire that we learn about the herbs and how to heal naturally. I pray that at some point I will be a blessing to others like you are…
                Thank you and have a wonderful day!

                • #46694
                  Dawn
                  Student

                    Hello Suzanne, I looked up Devil’s Claw for you and shared what I found. I also shared my 4 favorite books which are all found on Doc’s list of books but for some reason my response is not showing up. Maybe it is because I put links to the books to help you find them should you decide to purchase any of them.  I will try to post this reply to you again….. All four books are currently at Thriftbooks.com  and, if you type in the title in the search bar of the website, the book will pop up.   The books are: Medical Herbalism by David Hoffman, The Modern Herbal Dispensatory by Thomas Easley and Steven Horne, Herbal Contraindications and Drug Interactions plus Herbal Adjuncts with Medicines by Franics Brinker, and American Herbal Products Association’s Botanical Safety Handbook. The first two are my favorite references for herbs and the last two are very helpful safety and drug warnings reference books.

                    Devil’s Claw is in all four books. It has a good safety rating but each book shares a little different info as to what might be contraindicated or speculations. As we are taught, everyone must do their own research as each person is different. I think you’ll really like these books as Doc Jones recommends them and I have really been glad to have them … very easy to look up the herbs in the two primary references.

                    Thank you for your kind words; they warm my heart. May God Bless you and yours 🙂

                    1 user thanked author for this post.
                    • #46708
                      SUZANNE
                      Student
                      Topic Author

                        Hi Dawn,

                        Thank you so very much for taking the time to look up the devil’s claw and all the books for me. I was able to order them from the site you mentioned and a couple of other sites. I am excited to get them and dig in even more. I am probably going to have to learn how to do woodworking now and make a bookcase to house all of my goodies! 😀   Thanks again. Blessings to you and your family also!

                    • #47237
                      Dr. Patrick Jones
                      Homestead Instructor

                        Hi Suzanne,

                        If you ever notice that there’s a good plant we don’t have a QuickView on just holler and I’ll do one.  Coincidentally, I have one on Devil’s Claw I put up a week or so ago:

                        Devil’s Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens)

                        Also, here are some books I like:

                        Books Doc Likes

                         

                        Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

                        • This reply was modified 1 year, 6 months ago by Dr. Patrick Jones.
                        2 users thanked author for this post.
                    • #47238
                      Dr. Patrick Jones
                      Homestead Instructor

                        Dawn and the others are giving great advice here.

                        Chinese skullcap is a very different plant. You want regular skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora). If you don’t have that, you can just use either or both of the other two herbs in Rest Easy. Or use some hops, or lemon balm, or ….

                        We’re putting together a really cool new tool for the site that searches herbs by action. So if you need a sedative, anodyne, alterative etc… you can find one quickly. :0)

                        Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

                        2 users thanked author for this post.
                    Viewing 3 reply threads
                    • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
                    Scroll to Top