Botanical Name: Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Med. (Syn .: Thlaspi bursa-pastoris L.)
Part used: whole plant without root
Therapeutic properties: vasoconstrictor and hemostatic
Therapeutic use:
- internal use: menorrhagia, metrorrhagia; subjective manifestations of venous insufficiency;
- external use: epistaxis (inserting in the nostril a cotton pad soaked in the fresh juice of the plant or decoction); generic astringent in the treatment of small wounds (ointment or tincture on bleeding wounds).
Examples of medical specialties containing shepherd's purse extracts: -
NOTES: when the aerial parts of the shepherd's purse are taken for curative purposes, it is essential to use defined and standardized pharmaceutical forms in active ingredients (flavonoids, glycosilonates or sulfur glycosides, triterpene saponins), the only ones that allow us to know how many pharmacologically active molecules are administering to the patient. In the specific case of the shepherd's purse, standardized extracts are not yet available on the market in the active ingredients that characterize the drug from the pharmacological point of view. Generally, fluid extracts or traditional herbal preparations such as infusions, juices and decoctions are used, which however do not allow to accurately establish the quantity of active ingredients administered to the patient, which increases the risk of therapeutic failure.
Shepherd's purse: traditional herbalist indications
Traditional herbal preparations intended for the reduction of abundant menstrual bleeding, in all those circumstances in which serious underlying medical conditions have been excluded
Indicative dosage in adults and the elderly (oral)
- If the shepherd's purse is taken in the form of an infusion prepared leaving an infusion - for 10-15 minutes in boiling water with a flame off - 1-5 grams of drug per 100-250 ml of water:
- take 2-4 times a day (for a total of 3-20 grams of the infusion mixture)
- If the shepherd's purse is taken in the form of a liquid extract (ratio drug / extract 1: 1, ethanol extraction liquid 25% V / V)
- take 1-4 ml in a single dose, three times a day
NOTES: if symptoms worsen while using the product, consult your doctor. As a precautionary measure, do not take during pregnancy and lactation. Contraindicated use by children and adolescents under the age of 18.
The absence of a significant number of clinical studies and standardized extracts on the market gives reason for the lack of phytotherapeutic information on the use of this plant, also in relation to possible side effects and drug interactions. As a precautionary measure, it is not recommended for prolonged use in patients suffering from venous thrombosis and those in therapy with oral anticoagulants, heparin, platelet aggregation and / or fibrinolytics. Medical supervision is also recommended in case of simultaneous intake of thyroid drugs, due to the presence of glycosilonates (goitogene substances typical of the brassicaceae family, to which also the shepherd's purse belongs). The literature does not report secondary and toxic effects at therapeutic doses, unless there is a particular individual sensitivity (allergic reactions).
For more information on the correct use of a specific shepherd's purse-based product, and for the complete list of side effects, see the package leaflet that comes with the product. This information must always be read carefully before starting treatment.
Examples of herbal preparations containing a shepherd's bag
Antimony remedy (Dr. Lindemann)
Shepherd's purse, aerial parts | 40 g |
Calendula, flowers | 20 g |
Mint, aerial parts | 40 g |
Prepare a 4% decoction (boil 4 grams of the mixture for every 100 ml of water for 5-7 minutes). Take one cup three times a day.
Popular herbal tea for painful menstruation (dysmenorrhea)
Yarrow, aerial parts | 35 g |
Shepherd's purse, aerial parts | 20 g |
Melissa, leaves | 35 g |
Horsetail, aerial parts | 10 g |
Prepare a 5% infusion (let infuse 5 grams of mixture for every 100 ml of water in boiling water over low heat for a few minutes). Take one cup three times a day.
Hypotensive herbal tea (Dr. Paris)
Shepherd's purse, leaves | 35 g |
Alchemilla, leaves | 35 g |
Mistletoe, rhizome | 25 g |
Lavender, aerial parts | 15 g |
Prepare a 4% infusion (let infuse 4 grams of mixture for every 100 ml of water in boiling water over low heat for a few minutes). Take one cup 3-4 times a day.