I dont have tons of personal experience with scullcap yet, as I really only started using it this past year, but Paul taught that it is THE herb for those with “compensatory tension”. they are stressed out and tight all over.

But I’ve found wood betony and vervain to do very well in those cases. i’m still really trying to figure this scullcap baby out.
thanks for the insights!

I have forgotten to mention smoking skullcap, that is an excellent use of the plant, and I’ve definitely used it that way, though not everyone is very open to using that delivery method LOL I like smoking skullcap with sawtooth sage and mugwort, an instant chill pill, so to speak.

I agree completely about the emotionally reactive aspect, and I find that people who have that desperate, flying off the handle kind of reactivity are usually those so exhausted and worn out that just can’t take it anymore and lash out, “at the end of their rope” is a good metaphor. David Winston describes it as people likely to “fly off the handle” when they get stressed out. Usually this kind of reactivity is followed by a feeling hopelessness and being out of control. I see this as a kind of kidney cycle where there is usually deficient water element in someone.

My friend Mairi Ross who wrote “Smoke Plants of North America” (www.smokeplants.com) considers smoking skullcap specific for acute anxiety, as its action is near immediate.

I consider skullcap specific for people who are “emotionally reactive”. There are other, less polite, synonyms for this…