Scutellaria Baicalensis is a name that is hard to pronounce but has many benefits for skin. It is a key ingredient in ALL of our products. Scutellaria baicalensis root extract comes from a flowering plant native to China, where it’s been used for years as one of the many herbal preparations within the field of Chinese medicine.
In China, the extract is known as Huang-Qin or golden herb, because the root is a golden yellow color. It is called Ogon in Japan and is also featured as a popular herb in Kampo Medicine (Japanese Traditional Medicine).
Huang-Qin was first recorded in Shennong Bencaojing (The Classic of Herbal Medicine), written between about 200 and 250 AD, for treatment of bitter, cold, lung and liver problems.The most authoritative book on traditional Chinese medicine, Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica) which was first published in 1593, reported that Scutellaria baicalensis (Fig. 1c) had been used in the treatment of diarrhea, dysentery, hypertension, hemorrhaging, insomnia, inflammation and respiratory infections.
Our products use the root of this plant as it has the most beneficial properties. The root of this beautiful flowering plant is usually dried and used in herbal preparations. The root is significant because it contains different types of flavones such as baicalin and wogonoside. Flavones are a type of antioxidant that lend color to various plants and are known to be soothing. This root can help skin better withstand environmental aggressors such as hot sun, cold or hot temperatures, air pollution and cigarette smoke.
Besides soothing activity, this herb as well has potent antibacterial and anti-viral activities that can benefit atopic skin conditions such as Eczema. In a test amongst 46 herb and spices, it had shown substantial antibacterial effects against bacteria strains such as Staphylococcus aureus which is what causes a secondary inflammation of Eczema, making it worse and harder to control. It is found on the skin on most people with Eczema.
It is a viable option for sensitive skin that needs soothing or improved skin density :)
Fun fact: This is what makes our Aqua Gel golden in colour
The in vitro antibacterial activity of dietary spice and medicinal herb extracts.Shan B, Cai YZ, Brooks JD, Corke H Int J Food Microbiol. 2007 Jun 10; 117(1):112-9.
Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, September 2019, pages 1,353-1,369
PLoS One, February 2017, ePublication
PLoS One, February 2017, ePublication
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5031759/