Shepherd's Purse
(Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medic., Cruciferae).
Also called: Shepherd's Sprout, Mother's heart, Pick-pocket,
Clapper's Pouch, Rattle Pouch.
Description: Plant 10-60cm (4-24 in) high, generally biennial forming
in the first year a basal rosette of leaves and in the second year producing
a simple or occasionally branched flowering stem. Leaves hairy, variable in
shape, elongated, entire, dentate or deeply incised; the upper ones narrow,
lanceolate and entire. Flowers, borne in a compact inflorescence, white, 3-4mm
(0;1-0.15in) wide, with 4 petals. Fruits obovate, heart-shaped on penduncles
6-9mm (0.2-0.3in) long. Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.
This is one of the most common wayside English weeds, but it grows also in
most parts of the world. It has a rosette of leaves, deeply serrated on the
ground level and a slender stem 10 to 15 inches tall, bearing a spike of small
white flowers, followed by triangular flattened seed pods.
Part used: The whole plant. Dried flowering plant.
Habitat and Collection: One of the commonest weeds, widespread throughout Britain. Cosmopolitan. Collected throughout the year and dried in the shade at 3045"C (86-113 F).
Constituents and Action: Shepherd's purse contains vitamin
K. Choline and other amines. Is a vasoconstrictor and is used as a haemostatic
in certain parts of the body, particularly in assisting contraction of the
womb (action too weak to be of use).
It is excellent for the skin and will stop all bleeding. Culpeper said,
'this herb is excellent for all wounds, especially wounds in the head'.
Usage: Pour 1 litre (1-75 pt) of cold water on 1-2 tablespoonfuls
of drug, raise to the boil and allow to stand: especially for profuse menstruation,
the treatment being commenced 8 days before onset of menstruation. Also used
for other uterine haemorrhages but in such cases a medical consultation is
recommended. Action uncertain for other haemorrhages (nose, stomach).
Usage 2: 1 pint of water should be poured on to 1 oz. of
the dried herb and allowed to cool and then it should be strained. A wineglassful
should be taken 3 times daily.
Dr. Fernie said: 'This herb is of natural growth in most parts of the world, but varies in luxuriance according to soil and situation. Whilst thickly strewn over the whole surface of the earth, it faces alike the heat of the tropics and the rigours of the Arctic regions; even if trodden underfoot it rises again and again with ever-enduring vitality, as if designed to fulfil some special purpose in the far-seeing economy of nature'.
In some parts of England shepherd's purse is known as Clapper's pouch, referring to the licensed begging of lepers when in olden times they walked along with a bell and a clapper which was made of two or three boards which rattled, and so drew attention to passers by, not only that they were contageous but begging for alms which was dropped into the pouches held out on long sticks.
