Shepherd's purse liquid herbal extract, derived from the Capsella bursa-pastoris plant, is a traditional herbal remedy known for its potential astringent properties.

While not typically used in aromatherapy for its scent, this extract has a long history of use in herbalism.

It is often incorporated into topical preparations like compresses or diluted solutions to help soothe minor skin irritations and promote skin health.

Shepherd's purse extract is rich in various compounds, including flavonoids and tannins, which may contribute to its potential benefits.

May help with

Shepherd's purse, known scientifically as Capsella bursa-pastoris, has been used in traditional medicine for various purposes, primarily due to its hemostatic (bleeding-stopping) and astringent properties. Below are some of the traditional uses of shepherd's purse herbal tincture:

Menstrual and Postpartum Bleeding

Heavy Menstrual Bleeding (Menorrhagia): Shepherd's purse is traditionally used to reduce heavy menstrual bleeding. It acts as a uterine tonic and astringent, helping to manage excessive menstrual flow.

Postpartum Hemorrhage: The herb is also used to manage postpartum bleeding. It is believed to stimulate uterine contractions and reduce bleeding after childbirth.

Hemorrhage and Wound Healing

Nosebleeds and Other Types of Hemorrhage: Shepherd's purse has been used to stop various types of bleeding, including nosebleeds and gastrointestinal bleeding. It can be applied as a poultice or taken as a tincture to manage these conditions.

Wound Healing: The herb has astringent properties that make it useful in wound healing. It can be applied topically to bruises, strains, and wounds to promote healing and reduce inflammation.

Gastrointestinal Issues

Diarrhea and Cystitis: Shepherd's purse is used as an astringent to relieve diarrhea and as an antiseptic for urinary tract infections such as cystitis.

Gastritis and Gallbladder Issues: In traditional Russian medicine, it has been used to treat gastrointestinal disturbances, including gastritis and gallbladder problems.

Other Uses

Varicose Veins and Venous Tonic: The herb is believed to have a tonifying effect on veins, making it useful for conditions like varicose veins.

Rheumatic Conditions: Shepherd's purse poultices are traditionally applied to rheumatic joints to reduce pain and inflammation.

Bladder and Lung Problems: It has also been indicated for bladder and lung issues in various traditional practices.

Dosage and Administration

Tincture: Typically, the tincture is made from fresh herb and taken in doses ranging from 1-60 drops, 3 times a day for heavy menstrual bleeding. For acute hemorrhage, higher doses may be taken every few minutes until the bleeding is controlled.

Tea: For bleeding conditions, a tea made from the fresh herb can be consumed 2-3 times a day. This is often recommended to be taken for several days before the expected onset of menstruation to manage heavy menstrual flow.

Compresses and Baths: Shepherd's purse can be used in compresses for engorged breasts and in sitz baths for hemorrhoids.

Precautions and Interactions

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Shepherd's purse is not recommended during pregnancy as it can induce uterine contractions, potentially leading to miscarriage. It should also be avoided during breastfeeding due to insufficient safety data.

Heart and Thyroid Conditions: The herb may interfere with treatments for heart and thyroid conditions and should be used with caution.

Kidney Stones: Due to its oxalate content, it should be avoided by individuals prone to kidney stones.

Drug Interactions: Shepherd's purse may interact with blood thinners, thyroid medications, and sedatives, among others.

In summary, shepherd's purse has a rich history in traditional medicine, primarily for its hemostatic and astringent properties, making it useful in managing various types of bleeding and gastrointestinal issues. However, due to potential side effects and interactions, it should be used with caution and under the guidance of a healthcare professional.

Source : http://www.wikiphyto.org/wiki/Shepherd's purse

Reference on http://www.wikiphyto.org

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plant name

Shepherd 's purse , shepherd's purse , capsule , Capuchin purse , Judah purse , Mithriade mustard, Shepherd's purse , Shepherd's - purse ( English)

International Latin denomination

Moench pastoral scholarship. (former name: Thlaspi bursa-pastoris )

botanical family

Brassicaceae (Crucifères)

Description and habitat

• Herbaceous plant, stem with basal leaves, white flowers, heart-shaped silicles

History and tradition

• Takes its name from its heart-shaped (heart-shaped) silicles (capsules) resembling a purse
• It was used as an ersatz for goldenseal and ergot when these products were lacking during the First World War.

Parts used

• Fresh aerial parts (according to Cazin desiccation causes its properties to be lost) [1]

Dosage forms available

• Whole plant tincture

Usual dosages

Composition

Main components of the plant

• Flavonoids  : quercetin , tricine , diosmetin , kaempferol , luteolin , hesperitin , cupressoflavone , swertisin , and glycosidic derivatives ( rutin , diosmin , hesperidin , luteolin-7-rutinoside , luteolin-7-galactoside , quercetin-3-rutinoside )
• Triterpene saponosides
• Glucosinolates (= sulfurized glycosides): sulforaphane , sinigrin
• Vaso-active amines: choline (0.2%), acetylcholine, histamine
• Alkaloids (traces)
• Fumaric acid ( acid alcohol )
• Phenol acids  : chlorogenic acid , vanillic acid , syringic acid
• Amino acids: proline, tyramine, ornithine, peptides ( alpha-aminobutyric acid and gamma-aminobutyric acid , alpha-aminoadipic acid )
• Tannins
• Essential oil  : camphor (main constituent at a concentration of 0.02% in the plant), triterpenols
• Resin, sterols , triacylglycerols
• Other constituents: carotenoids , vitamin A, ascorbic acid, vitamin K, cardenolide , calcium and potassium salts [2]

Main components of buds or young shoots

Main components of essential oil

Properties

Plant properties

• Hemostatic, astringent
• Tonic of the uterine muscle
• Venous tonic (smooth muscles)
• Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant [3] , [4]
• Acts on bacterial resistance ( Enterococcus and Bacillus anthracis resistant to vancomycin) [5]
• Anticancer (Ehrlich tumour?) by fumaric acid [6] , [7]

Bud properties

Properties of essential oil

Indications

Indications of the whole plant (phytotherapy)

• Venous insufficiency
• Meno-metrics
• Gastric ulcer

Indications of the bud (gemmotherapy)

Specific indications of essential oil (aromatherapy)

Known or suspected mode of action

• Glucosinolates ( sulphur molecules) confer effects on the hepatic, bronchial and cutaneous spheres
• Glucosinolates are hydrolyzed by an enzyme, “myrosinase” which produces sulfur and isothiocyanates
• Stimulation of smooth muscle by vasoactive amines (choline, acetylcholine, histamine)

Usual formulations

• Injectable formula usable in bleeding fibroids, which it sometimes allows to reduce the volume (according to many personal observations [8] ):
  • Thlaspi bursa pastoris 3 DH
  • Tormentilla 4 DH … àà QSP 1 injectable ampoule No. 12 (Weleda laboratory): One subcutaneous injection per day for the duration of menstruation, and one subcutaneous injection per week, outside of menstruation, continuously.

Regulations

• French Pharmacopoeia list A (flowering aerial part)
• Activity recognized by the German Commission E

Possible side effects and precautions for use

• Toxic in high doses

Bibliographic references

1. Go↑ Cazin FJ. Practical and reasoned treatise on native medicinal plants. Ed. de l'Envol. Mane. 1997. reissue of the original from 1868. p. 212.
2. Go↑ EMA European Medicine Agency. Assessment report on Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medikus, herba. Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC), EMA/HMPC/262767/2010, 12 July 2011
3. Go↑ Kubínová R, Spačková V, Svajdlenka E, Lučivjanská K. Antioxidant activity of extracts and HPLC analysis of flavonoids from Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik]. Ceska Slov Farm. 2013 Aug; 62 (4): 174-6. PMID 24047146
4. Go↑ Hong, J. I., Na, G. S., & Yang, H. C. (1994). Free radical scavenging and antioxidative activities by ethanol extract from Capsella bursa-pastoris. The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition, 7(3), 169-176.
5. Go↑ Choi WJ, Kim SK, Park HK, Sohn UD, Kim W. Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Superbacterial Properties of Sulforaphane from Shepherd's Purse. Korean J Physiol Pharmacol. 2014 Feb;18(1):33-9. doi: 10.4196/kjpp.2014.18.1.33. PMID 24634594
6. Go↑ Kuroda K, Akao M, Kanisawa M, Miyaki K. Inhibitory effect of Capsella bursa-pastoris extract on growth of Ehrlich solid tumor in mice. Cancer Res. 1976 Jun;36(6):1900-3. PMID 1268843
7. Go↑ Tariq A, Mussarat S, Adnan M.Review on ethnomedicinal, phytochemical and pharmacological evidence of Himalayan anticancer plants.J Ethnopharmacol. 2015 Apr 22;164:96-119. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2015.02.003. PMID 25680842
8. Go↑ Jean-Michel Morel. Practical treatise on phytotherapy. Ed. Grancher, 2008.

• Bézanger-Beauquesne, Pinkas, Torck, Trottin. Medicinal plants of temperate regions. Ed. Maloine. Paris. 1980. p. 128
• Kuroda K, Takagi K. Studies on capsella bursa pastoris. I. General pharmacology of ethanol extract of the herb. Arch Int Pharmacodyn Ther. 1969 Apr;178(2):382-91. PMID 5389956
• Kuroda K, Takagi K. Studies on capsella bursa pastoris. II. Diuretic, anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer action of ethanol extracts of the herb. Arch Int Pharmacodyn Ther. 1969 Apr;178(2):392-9. PMID 4390992
• Kuroda K, Kaku T. Pharmacological and chemical studies on the alcohol extract of Capsella bursa-pastoris. Life Sci. 1969 Feb 1;8(3):151-5. PMID 5775160
• W Zhou. Ethnobotany of Capsella bursa pastoris (L.) Medic. Journal of Plant Resources and Environment, 1998

Store in a cool, dry place, away from light. Keep tightly closed, away from the reach of Children and pets.

Do not exceed the daily dose.

This product is not intended to prevent or cure any form of illness or disease.
 

If you are pregnant or nursing ; If you have a medical condition or are in the course of medical treatment ; If you are programmed for theater/operation in the near future, please consult your healthcare practitioner before using this product.

This product cannot replace a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.

This product has not been evaluated by the SAHPRA for its quality, safety or intended use.