Skullcap: An Ally for the Migraine Epidemic
Lately it seems like almost everyone I know is dealing with migraines, from dear friends, college students, women moving through perimenopause and menopause, even teenagers. It's not just anecdotal, either. Migraine prevalence really has been climbing: global cases have risen an estimated 42% over the past three decades, roughly 28% of teenagers now report migraines, and women remain three times more likely than men to get them after puberty, making up about 75% of all migraine sufferers [SingleCare, 2026]. The hormonal transition of midlife seems to make things worse before they get better. One study found migraine prevalence jumping from about 17% in the premenopausal years to 31% in late perimenopause [Women's Midlife Health], and college-aged women dealing with PMS show a similar pattern, with migraine turning up in nearly 19% of that group compared to under 6% of their peers without PMS [Scientific Reports, 2025].
With all of that as the backdrop, I've had the chance to watch the plant Skullcap work as a genuine ally for people in my life who are suffering. Daily use has significantly reduced how often migraines show up for the folks I've been working with. This isn't a clinical study, it's my own observation, plant by plant, person by person. But it's been effective enough that I wanted to share it with you.
Meet Skullcap
I wrote about Skullcap in March of 2025 (here you can find that post and all the plant info: https://www.meetinghouse.farm/blogs/news/the-many-varieties-of-skullcap). Most of my Gathering Basket notes tend to stay closer to growing and gardening, but this felt important enough to bring back.
Skullcap is a lovely member of the mint family, easy to grow, and it comes in four varieties native to North America. At Meeting House Farm, we now grow all four. Last year we were only growing three. We've since had success growing the Chinese variety too, which is a balm to my plant-geek heart.
The extract and dried herb we offer from the farm is a blend of three varietals. I love working with this blend; it gives a well-rounded mix of the nervine constituents that make Skullcap so singular in how it works with the nervous system.
Why Skullcap, Why Migraines
Skullcap is a nervine meaning it supports and nourishes the nervous system, and migraines are deeply connected to the nervous system. Herbalists have used it this way for well over a century: nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Eclectic physicians relied on Skullcap for nervous exhaustion, anxiety, and related conditions [Restorative Medicine, Skullcap Monograph]. Modern research shows that Skullcap's flavonoids (baicalin and wogonin) appear to interact with GABA receptors in a way similar to how anti-anxiety medications work, and at least one human trial found it reduced anxiety and depressive symptoms without dulling energy or focus [American Botanical Council / HerbalGram]. I haven't found research that studies Skullcap specifically for migraines. What exists is research on its broader nervous-system and anxiety benefits - connecting those dots to migraine relief is based on what I've personally observed, not on published studies.
There's a theory I read recently about "why" migraines happen that I found interesting, though I'm honestly not sure I fully agree with it. I'll share it anyway, in the spirit of putting information out there. The idea is that migraines (which so often baffle doctors and researchers) happen when the body becomes so overloaded that it essentially shuts down. This isn't necessarily about stress, though it can be; it might be too much screen time, light, pain, or inflammation. The core idea is that when the body simply can't handle what's being asked of it (and we often don't even realize we can't handle it though I suspect we usually think we can), it shuts down for a bit to reset. The trouble is, that reset is painful and disruptive. This is where Skullcap comes in: by gently and consistently supporting the nervous system, it may expand the nervous system's capacity to handle what comes its way.
This is a theory, not an established finding. I haven't been able to find case studies to support it. It's an interesting hypothesis, especially given how much migraine seems to be around us right now. The idea comes from Kelly Brogan, MD, and I'd encourage you to do a little digging of your own if you want to explore more ideas in a similar vein.
From My Experience
There are two ways to take Skullcap: daily as an extract, or as a tisane (recipe below). Both work, though the alcohol extract enters the bloodstream fastest. Neither is a cure for an acute migraine already underway. What I've observed is that the plant needs to be taken daily, ideally two to three times a day, to be effective: three dropperfuls of extract per day, or two cups of tea daily.
Taking Skullcap only when a headache is already coming on isn't enough. The people I've seen find real relief are the ones taking it as a steady daily practice.
For more on Skullcap see my blog from last year - it is most certainly a plant worth growing in your garden, and who can resist the little fairy cups of purple when it blooms?
Lots of love,
Emily
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Nervous-System Tisane
*1 part Skullcap, 1 part Nettles, 1 part Milky Oats*
- Combine the dried herbs in equal parts.
- Use about 1 tablespoon of the blend per cup of water, or 1 cup of the blend per quart of water for a larger batch.
- Pour freshly boiled water over the herbs, cover, and let steep. Skullcap is happy with a 10–15 minute steep, but Nettles and Milky Oats are both nutritive herbs that give more of themselves with time. For the fullest infusion, let it steep covered for 4 hours, or overnight.
- Strain and enjoy warm or cold. Refrigerate any extra and drink within 1–2 days.
Aim for two cups daily, taken consistently rather than only when a migraine is already setting in.
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Sources
- [Migraine Statistics 2026: Prevalence, Demographics, and Impact — SingleCare]
- [The Impact of Midlife on Migraine in Women — *Women's Midlife Health*]
- [Prevalence and Associated Factors of Migraine Among Female College Students with Premenstrual Syndrome — *Scientific Reports*, 2025]
- [Skullcap Monograph — Restorative Medicine]
- [Skullcap Has Anxiolytic and Mood-Enhancing Effects in Healthy Subjects — HerbalGram / American Botanical Council]