Shepherd's Purse

Shepherd’s Purse

Capsella bursa-pastoris

Jo Francks MH

One of the first plants to come up in the spring is shepherd’s purse. This plant is

considered a weed by most, but those who have had opportunity to use it and see its

virtues think differently. The plant receives its common name from the shape of its seed

pods which resemble an old fashioned leather purse which used to be carried by

shepherds. One of the greatest virtues of this plant is to stop bleeding. It is used quite

often to stop bleeding during and after childbirth, to stop a nosebleed, or to regulate

heavy menstrual flow.

A lady who was a river guide was wondering what to do because she typically had heavy

menstruation and an upcoming trip would coincide with her cycle. She was told to make

a sun tea each day of equal parts shepherd’s purse and red raspberry leaves. She used a

plastic Gatorade bottle (glass was not allowed on the river) and put about a tablespoon of

each herb into the bottle and filled it with water to make a quart of tea. She then put it on

top of the baggage pile to steep in the sun. She drank this every day and to her

amazement, experienced very little bleeding or discomfort.

Shepherd’s purse has many other uses as well. It is used as a diuretic and in cases where

there is scalding urine or white mucus in the urine. It can also be used to help heal

wounds.

You can make your own shepherd’s purse tincture by filling a glass jar half full with

dried shepherd’s purse, then fill the jar to the top with 100 proof vodka or raw unfiltered

apple cider vinegar. Put the lid on the jar and shake 3 or 4 times a day for 2 weeks.

Strain off the liquid and keep this liquid in a clean amber glass bottle. This is your

tincture and can be used for bleeding. For heavy bleeding use one or two droppers of the tincture

every half hour until bleeding slows down or stops. If you have access to fresh

shepherd’s purse, fill the jar to the top with the fresh plant, add ever clear to the top of the

jar, cap tightly and shake 3 or 4 times a day for 4 to 6 weeks and strain. The tincture can be

used internally for bleeding or externally on cuts and wounds