Shepherd's Purse_Shepherd's Purse Benefits and Uses

Shepherd's Purse

Also Known As: Pillow Grass, Zongzi Vegetable, Triangle Grass, Jìjìcài, Water Chestnut Vegetable, Ground Vegetable, Shangsi Vegetable.

Taste and Nature: Sweet in taste, neutral in nature.

Meridian Tropism: Enters the Heart (Hand Shaoyin), Lung (Hand Taiyin), and Liver (Foot Jueyin) meridians.

Medicinal Part: The whole plant of *Capsella bursa-pastoris* (L.) Medic. from the Brassicaceae family is used as medicine.

Shepherd's Purse: Usage and Dosage

Internal Use: Typically prepared as a decoction, using 3–5 qian (approx. 9-15g) of dried herb, or 1–2 liang (approx. 30-60g) if fresh. It can also be incorporated into pills or powders.
*Important Note: When considering any herbal remedy, especially for internal use, always consult a qualified healthcare professional or Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner to ensure safety and appropriate dosage, as individual conditions vary.*

External Use: Ground into a fine powder and applied topically as a poultice, pounded into a paste for application, or juiced and used as eye drops.

Shepherd's Purse: Efficacy and Indications

Efficacy: Cools the blood and stops bleeding, clears heat and promotes urination.

Indications: Traditionally used for conditions such as hematuria (blood in urine) due to kidney tuberculosis, postpartum uterine bleeding, menorrhagia (excessive menstrual bleeding), hemoptysis (coughing up blood) from pulmonary tuberculosis, hypertension, fever associated with common colds, edema from nephritis, urinary tract stones, chyluria (milky urine), and enteritis.

Shepherd's Purse: Pharmacological Actions

① Effects on the Uterus

Shepherd's Purse exhibits effects similar to ergot. Extracts of the herb have shown significant contractile effects on isolated animal uteri or intestines. The alcohol extract of the whole herb demonstrates oxytocin-like uterine contraction. Active components from the whole herb can induce contractions in isolated uteri of mice and rats. Both decoctions and liquid extracts excite animal uteri, enhancing contractions in isolated rat uteri (non-pregnant), *in situ* rabbit uteri (pregnant and non-pregnant), and *in situ* cat uteri (non-pregnant). Intravenous injection of the equivalent of 0.08–0.8 g/kg crude drug into rabbits with uterine fistulas showed increased uterine contractions, with slight increases in muscle tension and frequency; oral administration of a decoction (equivalent to 5.263 g/kg crude drug) had similar effects. The active components responsible for uterine excitation are soluble in water and aqueous alcohol but sparingly soluble or insoluble in pure alcohol, petroleum ether, anhydrous ether, or anhydrous chloroform. Extracts of Shepherd's Purse also have a strong effect on the uteri of un-mated guinea pigs (fresh juice and dried herb show comparable activity). PMID: 18459461

② Hemostatic (Bleeding-Stopping) Effects

Shepherd's Purse contains "shepherd's purse acid," which possesses hemostatic properties. Extracts of Shepherd's Purse (containing oxalic acid), administered intravenously or intramuscularly (2–3 ml per dose, every 2–4 hours, maximum 15 ml/day) to patients with various types of bleeding, show significant hemostatic effects. In hemophilia patients, it can increase blood clot resistance. Oral administration of Shepherd's Purse decoction to mice, in small doses (equivalent to 0.02 g/10g body weight), shortened bleeding time in over half of the mice. Larger doses (equivalent to 0.06 g/10g body weight), however, prolonged bleeding time in most mice. Volatile liquid extracts administered intraperitoneally to mice consistently shortened bleeding time (with larger doses showing more significant effects). Intravenous injection of volatile liquid extracts in rabbits shortened coagulation time. However, there are conflicting reports. Shepherd's Purse grown in hot climates and dry Samarkand soil, when prepared as a 10% infusion and subcutaneously injected into rats, significantly prolonged blood coagulation time and even induced bleeding. A 0.1 ml dose of 10% Shepherd's Purse extract had no effect on rabbit coagulation. PMID: 24391784

③ Effects on the Heart and Blood Vessels

Intravenous injection of alcohol extracts of Shepherd's Purse into dogs, cats, rabbits, and rats produced a transient drop in blood pressure, an effect not antagonized by 80 µg/kg atropine. Active components of the whole herb also caused a transient hypotensive effect in mice, cats, rabbits, and dogs, which was not antagonized by atropine but could be inhibited by Pronethalol. Electrocardiograms showed no changes, and the extract exhibited coronary artery dilation in isolated guinea pig hearts and *in situ* dog hearts. It also inhibited ouabain-induced fibrillation in isolated cat hearts. Intravenous injection of Shepherd's Purse extract in rabbits lowered blood pressure but could not reverse the effects of adrenaline. Shepherd's Purse decoction or volatile liquid extract had a transient hypotensive effect in anesthetized dogs, which could be counteracted by prior administration of atropine. Intravenous injection of dried Shepherd's Purse infusion rapidly lowered dog blood pressure to 40-50% of its original level and also reduced blood pressure in young chickens. Perfusion of frog hindlimb vessels with Shepherd's Purse alcohol extract (20%–0.5 ml) had no effect; a dried Shepherd's Purse infusion, at high concentrations (10%), caused vasoconstriction, while at low concentrations (below 2%), it induced vasodilation. The alcohol extract had a vasodilatory effect on dog hindlimb vessels. Earlier theories suggested its hypotensive effect was related to choline and acetylcholine, but these two substances were not found in the alcohol extract; instead, a quaternary ammonium compound distinct from acetylcholine was identified. PMID: 23681427

④ Other Actions

Shepherd's Purse extract can prolong hexobarbital-induced sleep time. Intravenous injection of Shepherd's Purse decoction or volatile liquid extract in anesthetized dogs excited respiration; this effect was not influenced by prior administration of atropine. However, some reports indicate that dried Shepherd's Purse infusion can reduce canine respiratory movement to 20-50% of its original level, sometimes even more significantly. Active components of the whole Shepherd's Purse plant can contract tracheal and small intestinal smooth muscles. After atropine caused slight inhibition in guinea pig small intestines, subsequent administration of Shepherd's Purse alcohol extract induced intestinal contractions, which then returned to normal.

Additionally, intraperitoneal injection of Shepherd's Purse alcohol extract inhibited dextran-induced and carrageenan-induced edema in rat hindlimbs, as well as 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced increases in capillary permeability. It showed a 90% inhibition rate against Shay ulcers and accelerated the healing of stress-induced ulcers. It has a diuretic effect in mice. For rabbits with artificially induced fever, Shepherd's Purse showed a slight antipyretic effect.

Shepherd's Purse: Traditional Combinations

① To treat dysentery: (1) Burn Shepherd's Purse leaves to charcoal, mix with honey and soup for consumption. (From *Riyong Bencao*) (2) Two liang (approx. 75g) of Shepherd's Purse. Decocted in water for oral administration. (From *Guangxi Zhongcaoyao*)

② To treat Yang-type edema: One liang (approx. 37.5g) of Shepherd's Purse root, one liang (approx. 37.5g) of plantain grass. Decocted in water for oral administration. (From *Guangxi Zhongcaoyao*)

③ To treat generalized swelling, enlarged abdomen, emaciated limbs, and turbid urine: Equal parts of sweet *tingli* (Styphnolobium japonicum, stir-fried with paper) and Shepherd's Purse root. Grind into powder, form into honey pills the size of a bullet. Take one pill per dose, chewed with tangerine peel soup. (From *Sanyin Fang*, Tingli Da Wan)

④ To treat internal injury with hematemesis (vomiting blood): One liang (approx. 37.5g) of Shepherd's Purse, one liang (approx. 37.5g) of honeyed dates. Decocted in water for oral administration. (From *Hunan Yaowuzhi*)

⑤ To treat metrorrhagia and menorrhagia: One liang (approx. 37.5g) of Shepherd's Purse, one liang (approx. 37.5g) of agrimony. Decocted in water for oral administration. (From *Guangxi Zhongcaoyao*)

⑥ To treat acute red eyes with pain and grittiness: Pound Shepherd's Purse root, squeeze out the juice, and use as eye drops. (From *Sheng Hui Fang*)

⑦ To treat eye membranes/翳膜 (pterygium or similar growth): Wash any amount of Shepherd's Purse, dry, grind into fine powder, then finely mill it. Every night before bed, after thoroughly washing the eyes, take a half-grain of rice-sized amount and place it at the inner corner of both eyes. Do not doubt its efficacy even if it causes a gritty pain. (From *Shengji Zonglu*)

⑧ To treat severe measles in children: One to two liang (approx. 37.5-75g) of fresh Shepherd's Purse (or 8 qian to 1.2 liang, approx. 24-45g, of dried), four to five liang (approx. 150-187.5g) of cogongrass root. Decocted in water and can be consumed regularly as a tea substitute. (From *Fujian Minjian Caoyao*)

3-Second Self-Test + 30-Second Self-Help

If you're experiencing severe or persistent symptoms like excessive menstrual bleeding, unexpected postpartum spotting, or frequent blood in your urine, then immediately consult a qualified healthcare professional. These could be signs of serious underlying conditions that require medical attention.

If you're dealing with mild, temporary discomforts such as a common cold accompanied by a slight fever, or minor urinary issues, then Shepherd's Purse, when used as a food or a mild herbal tea, might offer some supportive relief. However, for any medicinal application, even for minor issues, professional guidance is always recommended to ensure it's suitable for your specific body and condition.