SHEPHERD'S PURSE

                                                                                                            Capsella bursa-pastoris
Shepherd's Purse contains saponins, bursinic acid, flavonoids, choline, beta carotene & Vitamins B, C & K.
Shepherd's Purse has also been used as a substitute for quinine.

Shepherd's purse has a considerable effect over the uterus, adjusting the menstrual cycle & putting a stop to the abundant uterine bleedings.
Shepherd's Purse has been used by midwives to stimulate uterine contractions & prevent post-partum hemorrhage.
Women use shepherd's purse for premenstrual problems, long periods & menstrual cramps.
It is an excellent remedy against chronic uterine bleeding disorders, especially uterine bleeding caused by the presence of a fibroid tumor.
It has also been shown to reduce urinary tract irritation & is often used as a mild diuretic.

Shepherd's purse is used for heart & circulatory problems including mild heart failure, low blood pressure & nervous heart complaints.

It is also used for headache, vomiting blood, blood in the urine, diarrhea & bladder infections.

Shepherd's purse is sometimes applied directly to the skin for nosebleeds, superficial burns & bleeding skin injuries.
It is also helpful in cases of gastrointestinal bleedings such as bleeding ulcers.

It is also said to be helpful in cases of eczema & rashes.

In Chinese medicine, it is used for dysentery & eye problems.
People still chew the seeds of the Shepherd's Purse to improve their vision.

Shepherd's Purse has also been used to treat diarrhea, kidney stones, hemorrhoids & varicose veins.

Native Americans used it to kill & expel intestinal worms, to soothe stomach aches, cramps & dysentery & as a lotion to heal the stings of poison ivy.

Juice can be used as an application for earache & tinnitus.

Also, in case of bug bites, the wounds are massaged with mashed herb.

For bleeding hemorrhoids, small enemas can be given or washings & sitz baths with a luke warm decoction.

Nursing mothers with swollen breasts should steam the fresh shepherd's purse in a sieve & apply warm between cloths.

Prolonged treatments with tea or tincture prevent nasal hemorrhoids & abundant menstrual cycles, especially in the cases of hypertensive women or those suffering from obesity.

The use of mixtures made from shepherd's purse is recommended in cases of stress or anxiety.

Shepherd's purse has good results in dealing with muscle-related illnesses.
In case of muscle atrophy it is recommended to rub the spots with shepherd's purse tincture & to drink 4 cups of tea made of lady's mantle herb.

This treatment can also be applied in cases of hernias.

PRECAUTIONS:


It is recommended that the treatments based on this herb be avoided in cases of cortisone treatments, birth control pill - treatments, insomnias, psychic or neurological diseases showing hyperactivity, pregnancies, depressive states, hyperthyroid, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, paralysis, leukemia, allergies.

It is better if these treatments are not administrated to children.

Shepherd's purse might interfere with treatment for heart conditions. It’s best to avoid using shepherd's purse if you have a heart condition.

Since shepherd's purse constricts the blood vessels, it is not recommended for those with high blood pressure.

Shepherd's purse contains chemical compounds called oxalates, which can form kidney stones. If you have had kidney stones in the past, it’s best to avoid using shepherd's purse.

Shepherd's purse can affect the central nervous system. There is a concern that it might slow down the central nervous system’s activity too much when combined with anesthesia & other medications used during & after surgery.

Stop using shepherd's purse at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Shepherd's purse might interfere with treatment for thyroid conditions. It’s best to avoid using shepherd's purse if you have a thyroid condition.

Limit use to 1-2 months, then take a week-long break, resuming if necessary.

Side effects are breathing problems or tightness in your throat or chest,chest pain, skin hives, rash, or itchy or swollen skin.


RECIPES:

Revitalizing Wild Salad:


Take in equal proportions:
shepherd's purse leaves
sheep sorrel leaves
plantain leaves
daisy leaves
chickweed leaves
homemade vinaigrette
Wash the leaves thoroughly.
Mix it all.
It is important to eat this salad as soon as possible after the leaves have been picked.

Shepherd's Purse Tea:

Pour 1 cup of boiling over the 1 tsp of dried herb.
Steep for 10 min.
strain & drink 2-3 cups a day.
Tea for uterine bleeding to be taken only for some time.

2 cups daily, of equal proportions of horsetail & shepherd's purse, are recommended as a tea for bleeding from the kidneys.

The shepherd's purse is a circulation equalizing herb, recommended for high as well as for low blood pressure.

Take 1-2 cups of tea daily & stop when the circulation has become normal.

Shepherds Purse Tincture:

Pour vodka or brandy over the freshly cut herb in the bottle.
Close the bottle & leave in the sun or in a warm place for 10 days.
Add 3 tbsp to infusion or water.
For external treatment, 5-6 tbsp of tincture are put in a cold, concentrated infusion.

Shepherds Purse Macerated:

Leave 6 tbsp of shepherd's purse in a cup with cold water for 8 hours.
After that pass the mixture through a sieve.
Drink on same day.

Compress:

Take 1 heaped double handful of Shepherd's Purse, if possible the fresh herb.
Place in a sieve over boiling water.
Put the moist, warm herb between a cloth & apply.


MAGIC:

Shepherds Purse was used as a protective charm against bleeding.
Eating the seeds of the first three Shepherd's Purse plants one sees is said to protect against all manner of diseases for the rest of the year. The seeds were used as an amulet for teething children.
This plant is good in charm bags for healthy pregnancy, especially where there is a question as to the mother's survival.
Helps with self will & self esteem. Will bolster emotional strength & is refreshing to the spirit. Benefits women who are overly influenced by the wills & desires of others.

In Nanjing, it is a tradition to cook eggs with shepherd's purse flowers & in Suzhou, the flowers are placed on the kitchen range, wishing to ward off disease & disaster.





1 comment:

  1. Herbal Treatment for Hernias can be very useful in the recovery of hernias infection because these remedies totally include herbal ingredients which work properly without any side effects.

    ReplyDelete

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