“I Wish I May, I Wish I Might: Drift into a Full Night’s Sleep Tonight”

There is a kind of longing that lives in our bones when we’re sleep-deprived—a deep, primal yearning for rest that no cup of coffee, no midday nap, no sugar rush can quite satisfy. And in today’s fast-paced, overstimulated world, the art of truly restorative sleep can feel just out of reach.

We scroll ourselves to sleep, carry our to-do lists into bed, and wrestle with the weight of the day long after the sun has set. Whether you’re a new parent waking in cycles, a student with a mind that won’t quiet, or simply a sensitive soul affected by the chaos of the world, sleep may not come easily. Yet it is as essential as water, as grounding as soil, and as healing as the herbs we love.

At Golden Poppy, we believe that true rest isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. And in the gentle arms of herbal allies, we can begin to reclaim it.

One such ally is Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)—a graceful, unassuming plant with soft violet blossoms and a deep affinity for the nervous system. Known traditionally as a nervine and sedative, skullcap does not force sleep like a pharmaceutical might. Instead, she coaxes the body and mind into stillness, gently unwinding the tangled threads of tension, anxiety, and restlessness that keep us from surrendering to sleep.

In tea, she wraps you in a soft lullaby, guiding you toward the dreamworld. In tincture, she supports the nervous system throughout the day, calming frazzled nerves and easing anxious loops without dulling your light. Her medicine is subtle, but deeply restorative—especially when used consistently over time.

In the reflections below, we’ll explore skullcap’s gifts in more depth—how she works, when to use her, and how to prepare her for both nightly ritual and daily support. If you’ve been wishing on stars for a good night’s sleep, this may be the herb your heart (and nervous system) has been calling for.

MATERIA MEDICA: SKULLCAP

Latin Name: Scutelleria lateriflora

Family: Lamiaceae

Botanical Description: This branching plant grows to a height of 1 to 3 feet tall. The green leaves are arranged in opposite pairs on a square stem. The small blue-purple hooded flowers are arranged along one side of the racemes. The flowers bloom starting in mid-summer. The plant is not particularly aromatic, in contrast to most mint family plants (The Herbarium)

Part used: Aerial parts, harvest in mid-late summer when flowers are blooming

Constituents: The active constituents in skullcap include flavonoids (including baicalein, baicalin, scutellarein, wogonin), volatile oil, tannin, and resin (Holmes, 2006; Hoffman, 2003).

Energetics: cool, slightly dry, sweet and mildly bitter

Actions:

• Nervine
• sedative
• nerve trophorestorative
• anodyne
• antispasmodic
• anxiolytic

Uses:

• Helps you relax into a normal state of being when you are locked in a hypertonic tension state due to stress, overwork, or even addictions
• Helpful for PTSD
• Specifically for seizure, hysterical states, and epilepsy
• Also helpful for muscle tension and spasms
• Combines well with Milky Oats for nerve damage (adding other pain relieving herbs can help mitigate the pain associated with nerve damage as well)
• Combines well with Passionflower, Valerian, and Chamomile in tea for help sleeping at night
• Combines well with Vervain, Motherwort, Pulsatilla, and Ashwagandha in a tincture for day-time anxiety and nervous tension

Preparation and Dosage

• Tea – 1-2 tsp. in 8-10 oz hot water, allow to steep for 15-25 minutes.
  • Tea form is best for full sedative effects.
• Tincture – 20-60 drops three times/day.
  • Tincture if best for day-time use for pain, anxiety, and other nervous system conditions.

Safety considerations:

• Do not use during pregnancy.
• Be cautious when drinking the tea during the day, it may impair the ability to drive due to its sedative effects

Additional Resources:

• Corbett, Sarah. (2022). Skullcap Monograph. Rowan + Sage Herbaria Membership. Retrieved Retrieved May 21, 2025 from https://community.rowanandsage.com/c/materiamedica/skullcap
• Herbal Academy. (n.d.). Skullcap Monograph. The Herbarium. Retrieved May 21, 2025, from https://herbarium.theherbalacademy.com/monograph/skullcap/