Shepherd's Bag.

Shepherd's purse: properties, uses and medicinal properties

Shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) is an annual herbaceous plant that belongs to the cruciferous family. This is a common plant throughout Russia, except for the Far North and desert regions of Central Asia. Shepherd's purse grows in fields, cities, gardens, near houses, along roads, in ditches, etc. The plant is used as food for rabbits, and in cooking - to prepare a spicy seasoning. In some countries, shepherd's purse is a garden crop and is used for making borscht, soups, and purees. It is consumed fresh and dried.

Description of the plant

The stem of the shepherd's purse is single, erect, round, thin, spindle-shaped, abundantly branched. The height of the plant can reach from 20 to 60 cm. The basal leaves are petiolate, lanceolate, collected in a rosette, the stem leaves are few, alternate, sessile, oblong-lanceolate, entire. Blooms from April to September. The flowers are small, white, located on short stalks and collected at the top of the stem in a gradually blooming and lengthening raceme. The fruit is a multi-seeded pod, strongly flattened on the suture side. The seeds are small, ellipsoid, flattened, light brown. They ripen from May throughout the growing season.

Use in medicine

Shepherd's purse is used as a medicinal plant. Medical raw material is the above-ground part of the plant. The grass is collected during flowering, in dry weather, by cutting off the above-ground part with pruning shears along with the basal leaves. Harvesting plants with ripe (opened) fruits should be avoided. The raw materials are loosely placed in containers and quickly dried under a canopy or in an attic with good ventilation. In good weather, you can dry it outdoors for 5-7 days. Store in a dry, ventilated area in a cardboard container for 3 years.

Shepherd's purse contains tannins, choline, acetylcholine, tyramine, inositol, organic acids (oxalic, fumaric, malic, citric and tartaric), steroids, saponins, alkaloids, vitamins (C, PP, K), carotenoids, flavonoids, coumarins and other biologically active substances.

Shepherd's purse has hemostatic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, decongestant, diuretic and choleretic effects. It is used for bleeding, including from the nose, uterine, hemorrhoidal, bleeding after childbirth, as well as bleeding in the eyes and joints. Shepherd's purse is also used to treat diseases of the urinary tract, biliary tract, diarrhea, cough, colds, heart and vascular diseases.

Shepherd's purse can be used in the form of tinctures, decoctions, alcoholic extracts, syrups, ointments, powders and other dosage forms. Tinctures and decoctions are prepared from dry or fresh plant materials. To prepare the tincture, take 200 ml of boiling water per 1 tablespoon of raw material, infuse for 30-40 minutes and filter. Take 1 tablespoon of tincture 3-4 times a day. The decoction is prepared in the same proportion, only left in a water bath for 30 minutes.

Despite its medicinal properties, before using shepherd's purse for medical purposes, you should consult a doctor and make sure there are no contraindications. Some people may be allergic to this plant, so do not use it unless necessary.