Shepherd's purse ~ Nature's remedy for internal and external bleeding

Shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris (Fam. Brassicaceae/Cruciferae) is a common cosmopolitan weed growing up to 40 cm and indigenous to Europe, West Africa and Asia. Capsella herba (Bursae pastoris herba) consists of the fresh or dried, above-ground parts of Capsella bursa-pastoris Medikus as well as its preparations in effective dosage.

Constituents of shepherd’s purse; flavonoids, amines (choline (1%) , acetylcholine, histamine), aminoacids (22, a.o. proline, tyramine, and ornithine), aliphatic and phenolic acids (chlorogenic, vanilic, syringic, fumaric acid), volatile oil, with at least 74 components identified, with camphor as major constituent (0.02%), resins and saponins.

From a study on the nutritional composition of wild edible crucifer species, a relatively high quantity of fatty acids ω6-polyunsaturated fatty acids was found in Capsella.

Medicinal use of shepherd’s purse mentions that an infusion of Capsella is cooling, diuretic and astringent and therefore beneficial in all kinds of blood and bladder problems (diarrhoea with sharp and bloody stools, piles, profuse menses, dropsy, diseases of bladder, spitting of blood). Extractum Capsellae Bursae pastoris

liquidum is used as a substitute for ergot of rye to arrest bleeding from lungs, stomach, uterus and kidneys. Steinmetz addresses the considerable haemostatic action to the fungi (ystopus Candidus and Peronospora Grisea, which would grow on the plant and produce the odour of trimethylamine. Also Wichtl mentions the former common use of Capsella as a substitute for ergot in uterine haemorrhaging, and its continuous use in folk medicine to treat dysmenorrhoea. Van Hellemont states that both ergot and Capsella are useful in meno- and metrorrhagia, but ergot would perform a stronger haemostyptic activity.

In Tibetan medicine, sheperd's purse is used to stop vomiting, to treat kidneys, lungs and nerve disorders and fluid retention of the body. Capsella is used in Indian medicine in menorrhagia and haemorrhages from renal and genito-urinary tract, in diarrhoea and dysentery and as a diuretic.

In China, a decoction of the whole plant is used in hypertension and as haemostatic agent for treatment of chyluria (fat globules in the urine) and hematuria.