Shepherd’s Purse for Heavy Bleeding

Shepherd’s Purse for Heavy Bleeding

I am so grateful for Shepherd’s Purse. This little weed shines when it comes to helping with heavy periods. Shepherd’s Purse also works for bloody noses and almost any kind of heavy bleeding. It is also well known to help with circulatory and heart problems.

What is Shepherds Purse

Shepherd’s purse(Capsella bursa-pastoris), is a herbaceous flowering plant in the Brassicaceae or Cruciferae (mustard family). Some people will refer to it as a weed. Whatever you decided to call it, it has some wonderful properties.

Shepherds Purse grows all over the world and is even considered invasive in some areas. Here are some of the other names it is known by.

St. James’ weed

Lady’s purse

Shepherd’s heart

Mother’s heart

Witch’s pouch

Casewort

Pickpurse

Pickpocket

Poverty weed

Blind weed

Identification of Shepherds Purse

Shepherd’s purse is an annual plant. This plant seems to prefer cooler spring and fall temperatures. In early spring the leaves emerge and form a rosette. The leaves look similar to dandelion leaves and are also edible. The leaves are deeply lobed and are around 6 inches long.

The flower stalk comes up from the center of the rosette with clasping leaves and heart-shaped flattened seed pods. At the end of the stack are tiny white flowers.

Shepherd’s Purse Constituents

Flavonoids, polypeptides, choline, acetylcholine, histamine, tyramine, fatty acids, sterols, organic acids, amino acids, sulforaphane, many trace elements, and vitamins.

Shepherd’s purse has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, cardiovascular, reproductive, hepato-protective, and sedative properties.

History and Folklore

Shepherd’s Purse is an old plant. It was discovered during a dig in Catal Huyuk, a neolithic settlement in Turkey. The plant was used in ancient Greek and Roman medicine.

The colonists brought Shepherd’s Purse to America. It spread rapidly and was used by colonists and Native Americans for diarrhea, parasites, and stomach issues. Also, it was used as food.

I am not sure if this story is true but it has been past around for years. Throughout history, people have used all parts of the animals they butcher. All parts… including the testicles of male sheep(rams). The sheepherders would dry and tan the testicles and use them as a small purse. I’m not sure if it was to hold snacks or money. Either way, it is a little funny and also strange, but to each their own right?

So how did Shepards Purse get its name? It is believed that the seed pods resemble a coin pouch used by shepherds in medieval times.

Medical and herbal books as far back as medieval times talked about Sheperd’s Purse being used for bleeding issues.

Shepherd’s Purse Uses

The seeds from Shepherds Purse are said to kill mosquitoes and the larvae when you put them in water. It’s believed the seeds and the water act kind of like flypaper trapping the mosquitoes.

Shepherd’s purse is used in cuisine as well as herbal medicine. It has a high nutritional value. It can be eaten raw or cooked.

It can help stop diarrhea.

Helps with heaving bleeding from many causes and also heavy periods.

Helps with uterine hemorrhaging and is still used by clinic herbalists and midwives.

Heart and Circulatory problems.

Nose bleeds.

Helps with urinary infections.

Used for sore throats.

The seeds were ground into a flour and added to a bread Natives Americans made called pinole.

The seeds can be ground up and used as a spice or as a substitute for white pepper.

It can be used for hemorrhoids. Brew a strong tea and pour it into a sitz bath.

Shepherd’s purse is in the same family as cabbage and is effective for engorged breasts when used as a compress.

Benefits of Shepherds Purse

Shepherds Purse was found to have anti-inflammatory properties(1).

Shepherds Purse is good for rheumatism. It is anti-inflammatory and anti-superbacterial(2).

Shepherds Purse is a good source of vitamin A.

Shepherds purse may be effective against Helicobacter pylori. Shepherd’s purse contains sulforaphane, this compound has been shown to kill H. pylori(3).

It is effective against VRE(vancomycin-resistant enterococcus). Vancomycin is an antibiotic usually used to treat urinary tract infections. Enterococcus is a bacteria that normally lives in the female genital tract and also in the human intestinal tract. VRE generally affects those who are already ill or hospitalized or who are severely immune-compromised(4).

Shepherds Purse extract inhibited B. anthracis(anthrax). B anthracis is the bacteria anthrax(5).

Shepherds Purse has anti-coagulant, anti-cancer, anti-thrombin, wound-healing, and anti-oxidant properties.

Shepherds Purse for Heavy Bleeding

Stopping heavy bleeding is what I feel Shepherd’s purse is most well known for. It is used by midwives to help with PPH(postpartum hemorrhaging). This does NOT replace going to the hospital, so please understand that. Please go to the ER if you are hemorrhaging.

There was a study of 100 women at Afzalipour Hospital in Kerman, Iran of participants who had just given birth vaginally and experienced PPH. One group was given Shepherd’s purse extract plus oxytocin and the second group was given placebo plus oxytocin. Both groups had decreased blood loss. But the Shepherd’s purse group had a significant decrease in the amount of blood loss(6).

If you are someone who has really heavy periods Shepherds purse may be able to shorten the duration and severity of your period. In another study of 84 women with heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) half were given Mefenamic acid and placebo capsules. The other group was given Mefenamic acid and Capsella bursa-pastoris capsules(shepherd’s purse capsules). The group that received shepherd’s purse capsules and the NSAIDs had significantly less blood loss than the placebo group(7).

How to Use it

You can make tea from dried leaves, stems, flowers, and roots.

You can dry the whole plant and then powder it and put into capsules.

You can also eat the whole plant, it is in the mustard family. You can use the seeds in the heart shaped pods as a white pepper substitute.

You can make a tincture by filling a glass jar with all the parts of fresh Capsella bursa-pastoris and add 100 proof Vodka until all the plant matter is covered. Place lid on and let sit in a dark room for 4-6 weeks occasionally shaking the jar. After the time is up strain the plant material and rebottle the liquid. The alcohol tincture is good for 3-5 years. It does smell bad, kind of like broccoli pee. I know….gross. But it is still good I assure you.

Shepherd’s Purse Contraindications

• Shepherd’s purse should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women, it can cause the uterus to contract or start menstruating which can cause a miscarriage.

• It may cause drowsiness or have a sedating effect and shouldn’t be taken with CNS depressants.

• Shepherd’s purse may cause your thyroid gland to make less thyroid hormone and shouldn’t be taken if you have a thyroid condition.

• It may increase blood clotting, and if you are taking blood thinners you should avoid Shepherd’s purse.

• If you suffer from frequent kidney stones, it is best to avoid shepherds purse because it contains oxalates, which can contribute to the formation of kidney stones.

Have you ever eaten, or made tea or medicine with Shepherd’s Purse? Let me know in the comments.

Much Love,

Melissa

If you enjoy natural remedies please check out this post on dandelion oil.

This website is for educational purposes only. The information provided by Renaissance Path is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any diseases. Please consult a qualified health care professional for medical advice.