Botanical Index No. 930

Shepherd’s Purse

capsella bursa-pastoris

Medicinal Actions

Colic, Analgesic, Antibacterial, Anticapillary Fragility, Antihemorrhagic, Antiinflammatory, Antineoplastic, Antipyretic, Antitumor, Antiulcer, Cardioactive, CNS Depressant, Diuretic, Emmenagogue, Hypertensive, Hypotensive, Larvicide, Laxative, Muscarinic, Myostimulant, Negative Chronotropic, Positive Inotropic, Oxytocic, Urinary Antiseptic, Uterocontractant

Primary Conditions Treated

Arrhythmia Bacteria Bleeding Bruise Burn Calculus Cancer stomach uterus Capillary Fragility Cardiopathy Childbirth Chyluria Colorrhagia Constipation Cramp Cystosis Dermatosis Diarrhea Dysentery Dysmenorrhea Epistaxis Fever Fibroma Gastrosis Headache Hematemesis Hematuria Hemorrhoid High Blood Pressure Inflammation Leukorrhea Low Blood Pressure Menorrhagia Metrorrhagia Nervousness Pain PMS Poison Ivy Pulmonorrhagia Sore Stomachache Tumor Ulcer Uterosis UTI Water Retention Worm Wound Hemostat Rubefacient Vasodilator Vermifuge

General Dosage

1 tsp herb/cup water 2–4 ×/day; 10–15 g herb/day; 3–5 g herb:0.75 cup water for topical tea; 1–4 g dry herb, or in tea, 3 ×/day; 1–4 ml liquid herb extract 3 ×/day; 5–8 g fluid herb extract; 1 tbsp herb extract 2–3 ×/day; 20–30 drops herb tincture 2–3 ×/day; 3–5 g/150 ml water; 10–15 g crude drug.

Safety & Contraindications

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. Commission E reports none known. “Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages”. 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, enlargement of pupils, paralysis of hind limbs, sedation, and death by respiratory paralysis. Isothiocyanates may induce goiter. Seeds may blister skin. Parenteral application only. LD50 = 1500 mg/kg ipr mus. Antitumor activity due to ubiquitous fumaric acid.

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