Shepherd’s Purse Herb – 50g

Shepherd’s Purse Herb (50g)

Description:

Shepherd’s Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) is an annual weed belonging to the Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) family, known for its unique medicinal properties. Common throughout many regions, it’s widely used in both traditional and modern medicine for a variety of applications, internally and topically. This 50g package provides a convenient supply of this versatile herb.

Plant Characteristics and Habitat:

Shepherd’s Purse is an unassuming plant with slender, erect stems. It blooms and produces hundreds of tiny seeds from mid-spring onwards. The basal leaves are lanceolate, with notched or toothed edges. The smaller stem leaves are arranged alternately and heart-shaped, resembling a shepherd’s purse (hence the name). The plant features racemose inflorescences topping each stem, composed of 10-15 small, white flowers. Each flower displays the classic cruciferous structure: four pale petals surrounding a greenish center with four stamens and one pistil. Shepherd’s Purse is not fragrant. After pollination, small siliques (about 5mm long) develop, containing numerous tiny oval seeds (less than 1mm). A single plant can produce up to 65,000 seeds during its growing season.

Its prolific seed production and adaptability allow Shepherd’s Purse to thrive in diverse environments, excluding deserts and permafrost regions. It prefers sunny locations with moderately compact and moist soil, often found along roadsides, in ditches, and under fences. Plants grown in cultivated soil are more succulent but more susceptible to pests and diseases.

Health Benefits of Shepherd’s Purse:

The aerial parts of Shepherd’s Purse are rich in tannins, alkaloids, vitamins C and K, coumarins, and rutin. It also contains essential and organic oils, acids, minerals, and trace elements. This rich composition has led to its long history of use in treating various ailments:

• Gynecology: Atony of the uterus, heavy menstrual bleeding.
• Gastroenterology: Intestinal atony, sluggish peristalsis, indigestion from overeating fatty or heavy foods, insufficient bile production.
• Urology: Treatment of bacterial and non-bacterial inflammation of the kidneys, bladder, and urinary tract; kidney bleeding.
• Pulmonology: Treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis with hemoptysis (coughing up blood).
• Cardiology: Strengthening the heart muscle, regulating heart rate, reducing symptoms of hypo- and hypertension.

Shepherd’s Purse often exhibits enhanced therapeutic effects when combined with other herbs. For example, its use with horsetail effectively addresses kidney stones and colic, while its combination with water pepper helps stop uterine bleeding.

Unique Properties:

The medicinal properties of Shepherd’s Purse stem from its diverse chemical composition. Preparations made from this herb help:

• Normalize blood composition and improve clotting.
• Lower blood pressure in hypertension.
• Stop various types of bleeding (uterine, pulmonary, nasal).
• Reduce pain associated with the passage of kidney stones.
• Cleanse suppurating and slow-healing wounds and ulcers on the skin and mucous membranes.

(Note: This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult with a healthcare professional before using Shepherd’s Purse for medicinal purposes.)