The shepherd’s purseCapsella bursa-pastoris) is a common plant in the fields of the Iberian Peninsula. It belongs to the cruciferous family, barely 60 cm high, with an upright and poorly branched stem and white flowers. It blooms almost all year round and, for medicinal purposes, the flowering tops and leaves are collected.

Properties of shepherd’s purse

Its biochemical composition highlights the presence of choline, tyramine, acetylcholine, diosmin, alkaloids such as bursin, vitamin C, tannins, an essential oil, flavonoids, saponosides and minerals in abundance.

It is mainly attributed with skin-soothing, healing, diuretic and astringent properties.

What is the shepherd’s purse for?

• One of the greatest uses of this plant is as skin balmas it soothes skin irritation, cracked skin, scratches and tears.
• Shepherd’s purse is also considered one of the best herbal options for stop bleeding nasal, oral or uterine. It is an excellent healing in superficial skin wounds with moderate bleeding and has been shown to be useful in preventing heavy menstruation and regulate the period.
• It also has an effect toning for states of hypotension and it is a good diuretic and antidiarrheal, with mild vasoconstrictive action.
• for its power astringenthas also proven to be very effective in the treatment of varicose veins and hemorrhoids.

How to take shepherd’s purse

Shepherd’s purse is mainly used topically, although it can also be taken orally, with due precautions and for specific uses. It is used in infusion, tincture, drops of fluid extract and in decoction for baths and footbaths.
By combining shepherd’s purse with some plants or others we will achieve benefits by enhancing certain properties. Here we present four herbal formulas for different conditions in which shepherd’s purse is used:

• For skin irritation. To soothe damaged or cracked skin, prepare a decoction to apply to the skin with a mixture of shepherd’s purse, calendula, trinitaria and witch hazel in equal parts. How to prepare it: Take two tablespoons of the mixture per half a liter of water, boil the mixture for 5 minutes and let it infuse for 10 more minutes. After that time, it is strained and applied as warm or cold compresses to the damaged area for 15 minutes.
• For the treatment of hemorrhoids: An effective remedy is to perform sitz baths based on shepherd’s purse, chamomile, yarrow, horsetail and bearberry in quantities of 20 g. How to prepare the bath: Take 50 g of the mixture per liter of water and infuse it. After filtering the decoction, the bath is practiced for twenty minutes.
• For nosebleeds: An effective formula is the one obtained by combining equal parts shepherd’s purse, horsetail, cypress and green anise. How to prepare it: Take one tablespoon of the mixture per cup of water and boil it for two minutes. Afterwards, it is allowed to infuse for 10 more minutes and when it is warm, it is applied with gauze or cotton to the bleeding nostril, keeping the head back. This operation must be repeated several times, changing the gauze.
• To regulate heavy menstruationwhich can end up causing weakness and even anemia: Combine equal parts shepherd’s purse, horsetail and green nettle to make an infusion.How to prepare it: Of the mixture, take four level tablespoons per liter of water. Boil for 5 minutes and let it rest for another ten minutes. The decoction will be drunk in small doses throughout the day, the first taken on an empty stomach and the rest after having eaten something.

Contraindications

Shepherd’s purse should not be taken during pregnancy and is contraindicated in patients who follow antidepressant treatments with MAOIsas well as in hypertensive people.

It is also recommended not to consume a bag of pastor in prolonged periods.

Jordi Cebrián. Advisor: J Mª Teixé, herbalist from “El Manantial de Salud”