Health Benefits of Skullcap

Skullcap is revered for its neuromuscular benefits, which means that it offers favorable effects to the nerves and muscles. It’s for this reason why its name should not scare you away — when used correctly, skullcap can make all sorts of positive changes to your life, from lowering your anxiety, regulating blood sugar to preventing cancer.

Actually, skullcap is a member of the mint family. This means that it is closely related to a variety of culinary and medicinal herbs such as oregano, basil, thyme, sage, rosemary and lavender.

These days, skullcap is commonly employed in tea form. However, you may also come across the herb in capsule form. No matter which one you wish to opt for, see to it that the product of choice comes from a reputable manufacturer and vendor. Certainly, it’s a good idea to use it under the supervision of an experienced herbalist.

So what are the perks that you may get from skullcap? Some of them are the following:

Body Detoxification

Because of the loads of antioxidants in skullcap, its consumption can help in neutralizing poisonous substances in the body. According to scientists, skullcap helps enhance the antioxidant activity of the liver, which is a multitasking organ of yours and eliminating toxins that have accumulated within being one of its most important jobs.

Improved Cardiovascular Health

Skullcap is said to be capable of maintaining healthy blood vessels and reducing bad cholesterol levels. Because of this, the arteries can be kept from being clogged and the blood pressure can be saved from increasing. A person’s risk of heart disease, as a result, is considerably reduced.

Reduced Weight

Numerous studies say that skullcap may be beneficial for people who wish to drop excess body pounds rapidly. Scientists say that it can be attributed to the herb’s ability to metabolize fat. Especially when combined with good eating habits and regular exercising, the intake of skullcap can make it easier for a person to slim down.

Lowered Risk of Cancer

For so many years now, traditional healers have been using skullcap for the prevention of cancer. According to modern-day investigations, skullcap works by inducing the so-called apoptosis. In layman’s terms, this means that the herb is capable of causing those rapidly multiplying and spreading cancer cells to kill themselves.

Pain and Inflammation Reduction

Another traditional use of skullcap is for the relief of achy and swollen muscles and joints. Commonly, various parts of the herb are dried and pulverized, and then turned into paste. This paste is then applied on problem areas. For healing from within, the intake of skullcap tea may be done as well.

Controlled Blood Sugar

Earlier, it was mentioned that skullcap is known to help keep the levels of sugar in the blood within the normal range. It does so by encouraging the production of insulin, which is a hormone that helps the cells use sugar as fuel. By having the blood sugar controlled, skullcap can help lower a person’s risk of diabetes.

Reduced Levels of Anxiety

One of the most popular uses of skullcap is the reduction of anxiety. Especially when taken in the form of tea, the herb is known to help calm the mind and body. Skullcap is also known to help encourage the production of those happy hormones known as endorphins, and that is why it can also help in lifting the mood.

Maintained Memory

Last but not the least, the intake of skullcap is said to be very good at preventing memory loss. In other words, it is something that may be taken to keep the memory sharp. Since skullcap also helps prevent the nerve cells in the brain from damage, it may also be used for lowering risk of Parkinson’s.

Caution

Make sure that you do not take skullcap in excessive amounts. Otherwise, you may experience some unfavorable side effects such as nausea and lightheadedness. Some people reported having seizures. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, diagnosed with a medical condition or taking a prescribed drug, always consult your doctor first.

 

 

Sources: urbol.com

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