SHEPHERDS PURSE CAPSELLA BURSA

SHEPHERD’S PURSE (Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik.) ++

Synonym :
Thlaspi bursa-pastoris L.

Activities (Shepherd’s Purse) :
Analgesic (f; CEB); Antibacterial (f; APA); Anticapillary Fragility (1; CAN); Antihemorrhagic (f; BGB; FAD; SHT); Antiinflammatory (1; APA; BGB; PNC); Antineoplastic (1; BGB); Antipyretic (f; PNC); Antitumor (1; PNC); Antiulcer (1; BGB; PNC); Cardioactive (1; PH2); CNS Depressant (1; BGB; CAN); Diuretic (1; APA; FAD; PNC); Emmenagogue (1; AHP; CEB); Hemostat (1; APA; PNC); Hypertensive (2; KOM); Hypotensive (2; APA; BGB; KOM); Larvicide (f; CEB); Laxative (f; APA); Muscarinic (2; KOM; PIP); Myostimulant (f; BGB); Negative Chronotropic (2; BGB; KOM; PH2); Positive Inotropic (2; BGB; KOM; PH2; PIP); Oxytocic (1; APA; PNC); Rubefacient (1; CAN); Urinary Antiseptic (f; CAN); Uterocontractant (2; FAD; KOM; PH2; PIP); Vasodilator (f; BGB); Vermifuge (f; DEM).

Indications (Shepherd’s Purse) :
Arrhythmia (2; PHR); Bacteria (f; APA); Bleeding (1; APA; BGB; FAD; PH2; PNC; SHT); Bruise (1; BGB; FAD); Burn (2; PHR; PH2); Calculus (f; PH2); Cancer (1; JLH; PNC); Cancer, stomach (f; JLH); Cancer, uterus (f; JLH); Capillary Fragility (1; CAN); Cardiopathy (2; PHR); Childbirth (1; FAD); Chyluria (f; BGB); Colic (f; CEB); Colorrhagia (f; BGB); Constipation (f; APA); Cramp (f; DEM); Cystosis (f; APA; BGB; PH2); Dermatosis (f; DEM); Diarrhea (f; APA; BGB; FAD); Dysentery (f; DEM; FAD); Dysmenorrhea (f; CAN; FAD; PH2; SHT); Epistaxis (2; BGB; KOM; PH2; PIP); Fever (f; CEB; PNC); Fibroma (f; JLH); Gastrosis (f; JLH); Headache (f; DEM; PHR; PH2); Hematemesis (f; APA); Hematuria (f; APA; BGB); Hemorrhoid (f; APA; CEB); High Blood Pressure (2; APA; BGB; KOM); Inflammation (1; APA; BGB; PH2; PNC); Leukorrhea (f; BGB); Low Blood Pressure (2; KOM); Menorrhagia (2; BGB; CAN; KOM; FAD); Metrorrhagia (2; APA; KOM; PIP); Nervousness (1; PHR); Pain (f; CEB; DEM); PMS (2; PHR; PH2); Poison Ivy (f; DEM); Pulmonorrhagia (f; BGB); Sore (f; CEB); Stomachache (f; DEM); Tumor (1; PNC); Ulcer (1; APA; BGB; JLH; PNC); Uterosis (f; PH2); UTI (f; APA; BGB); Water Retention (1; APA; FAD; PNC); Worm (f; DEM); Wound (2; BGB; PHR; PH2).

Dosages (Shepherd’s Purse) :
1 tsp herb/cup water 2–4 ×/day (APA); 10–15 g herb/day (KOM; PH2); 3–5 g herb:0.75 cup water for topical tea (KOM); 1–4 g dry herb, or in tea, 3 ×/day (CAN); 1–4 ml liquid herb extract (1:1 in 25% ethanol) 3 ×/day (CAN; PNC); 5–8 g fluid herb extract (KOM; PIP); 1 tbsp herb extract 2–3 ×/day (APA); 20–30 drops herb tincture 2–3 ×/day (APA); 3–5 g/150 ml water (PIP); 10–15 g crude drug (SHT).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Shepherd’s Purse) :
Class 2b. Emmenagogue and uterotonic. Because of oxalates, patients with kidney stones and perhaps those with endometriosis should avoid; large doses of extract may cause heart palpitations (AHP). Commission E reports none known (KOM; PHR). “Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages” (PH2). CAN reports isothiocyanates cause irritation. Reported to be abortifacient and to affect menstrual cycle, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided. May interfere with blood pressure, cardiac, sedative, and thyroid medications. Toxic doses induce difficult respirations (dyspnea), enlargement of pupils, paralysis of hind limbs, sedation, and death by respiratory paralysis. Isothiocyanates may induce goiter (CAN). Seeds may blister skin (FAD). Parenteral application only (KOM). LD50 = 1500 mg/kg ipr mus (CAN). Antitumor activity due to ubiquitous fumaric acid (PNC).