Medicinal properties and contraindications of shepherd's purse herb. Shepherd's purse - medicinal properties, use in folk medicine, contraindications

The shepherd's purse was so unusually named thanks to triangular shape fruits that resemble a shepherd's bag. There are over 25 varieties of this plant and dozens of folk names. Despite its numerous medicinal properties, shepherd's purse also has contraindications.

IN folk medicine Only above-ground parts of the plant are used - shoots, fruits (green), inflorescences. Maximum healing power they accumulate in the spring when the plant blooms. It is at this time that it is recommended to procure raw materials. Dry the grass in the shade, away from sun rays, in a draft. Store raw materials in paper or fabric bags in a dry place. The storage period should not exceed three years.

Common shepherd's purse

Widespread annual plant, belonging to the Cruciferous family. It has an erect and branched stem, slightly more than half a meter high. The inflorescences are a raceme located at the top of the stem. Small flowers, consisting of four white petals, can be seen on the plant not only in spring, but also in autumn. Distinctive feature shepherd's purse are heart-shaped fruits. The roots are the only part of the plant that is not used for medicinal purposes.

Shepherd's purse, whose medicinal properties have been known since ancient times, is today widely used by herbalists and traditional healers.

Beneficial features

Making healing compounds from shepherd's purse, medicinal properties and contraindications should be taken into account. The healing effects of the plant include:

diuretic;
anti-inflammatory;
blood purifying;
vasodilator;
astringent;
wound healing;
hemostatic.

Chemical composition

The composition of the aboveground part of the shepherd's purse includes:

vitamins A, C and B2;
flavonoids;
resins;
phytoncides;
tannins;
peptides;
organic acids;
macro- and microelements.

Application

Due to its pronounced hemostatic effect, the plant is included in many medicinal fees. In folk medicine, it is used for various bleedings - pulmonary, renal, intestinal, uterine, and for uterine atony. Preparations prepared from this medicinal herb cleanse the body and blood of toxins, thereby easing the condition of patients taking medications for oncology.

The anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties of the plant are used in the treatment of diseases genitourinary system and kidneys. Shepherd's purse has proven itself to be excellent in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. Preparations based on it heal ulcers and erosions, relieve inflammation, and relieve constipation.

Many patients note the healing properties of the shepherd's purse, which make it possible to effectively treat diseases of the heart and blood vessels. The herb normalizes blood pressure, strengthens the heart muscle, and is a powerful tool prevention of many heart diseases. Decoctions from this plant help get rid of insomnia and alleviate stress and depression. In addition, the shepherd's purse is used for:

lung diseases and respiratory tract;
metabolic disorders;
atherosclerosis;
gout and rheumatism;
cholecystitis;
dysentery.

Inside medicinal herb consumed in the form of infusions, decoctions, tinctures, tea. For external use, lotions are used for bruises, inflammations, purulent wounds, ulcers.

Use in gynecology: menopause

For bleeding and hot flashes, add boiling water (a quarter liter) to a spoon (tablespoon) of crushed dry herbs and let the mixture brew for two hours. The remedy is taken two tablespoons (tablespoons) four times a day, half an hour before meals.

Uterine bleeding

Brew three tablespoons (tablespoons) of crushed shepherd's purse with a quarter liter of boiling water, cover the container with a lid and let the mixture brew for two hours. The infusion is taken 35 ml three times a day.

Hypertension

Fill a liter glass jar 2/3 full with dry shepherd's purse grass. Fill it with high-quality vodka (to the top). Leave the container in a cool, dark place for a month. Shake the tincture periodically. After a month, strain the mixture and take 20 drops diluted in a tablespoon of water three times a day before meals.

Urinary incontinence

Place two tablespoons of the herb in a thermos and pour 1/2 liter of boiling water. The product is infused for about 4 hours. Take the composition 100 ml three times a day before meals.

Liver and kidney diseases

Brew 50 grams of crushed shepherd's purse with a liter of boiling water. The composition should infuse for about an hour. After this, it should be filtered and taken warm, 100 ml three times a day.

Tea and decoction

Pour two tablespoons of herb into a quarter liter of boiling water and leave for 10 minutes. The strained drink is drunk 2 cups in the morning and evening. Tea made from this herb is recommended for older people, as it has the ability to normalize blood pressure and significantly improve heart function.

Pour 15 grams of chopped herbs into a glass of boiling water and leave the container for thirty minutes. water bath. Take a tablespoon of the strained mixture for diseases of the genitourinary system three times a day. This decoction is effective for external use - for ulcers, bruises, and wounds.

Can weed harm your health?

Like most, shepherd's purse has medicinal properties and contraindications. Preparations based on it should not be taken by pregnant women. This is explained by the fact that the plant provokes contractions of the uterus, which can cause premature birth or miscarriage. Bagworm should not be taken during lactation.

However, if bleeding begins after childbirth, the shepherd's purse will stop it quickly and effectively. In this case, treatment is suspended for the duration of treatment. breast-feeding, since preparations based on this plant can negatively affect the development of the baby.

Milk must be expressed regularly in order to resume breastfeeding after treatment. Chemical elements, included in the plant do not accumulate in the body.

Contraindications apply to patients suffering from hemorrhoids and patients with low clotting blood. Hypertensive patients should not get carried away with self-medication. In this case, treatment should not be started without consulting your doctor and should not be continued under his supervision.

However, this applies to the treatment of any diseases with shepherd’s purse - consultation with a specialist is necessary. In addition, you need to closely monitor your health and start therapy with minimal portions, gradually increasing them. It is recommended to take breaks in treatment between courses.

Our country is rich in plants that are multifaceted and are used in different areas. Shepherd's purse is also such a grass. It grows throughout almost all of Russia, except for the northern regions, and also covers many other countries; it is not found only in the tropics. The plant is not particularly picky, so it can be found in the garden, along the highway, on the dam, in the field and in the wasteland. The bagman is a success in Chinese, Tibetan medicine. Few people know that shepherd's purse has the potential to be a source of treatment for common female diseases.

Medicinal properties in gynecology

Shepherd's purse (the second name is purse) is rich in vitamins A, B, C, contains alkaloids, useful microelements, acids, proteins and tannins. In gynecology it is used:

during menstruation;
during pregnancy (only in extreme situations, with severe toxicosis and vomiting, as prescribed by a doctor and under his supervision);
at ;
during lactation;
bleeding;
at .

Important! Shepherd's purse, like many medications has contraindications - do not self-medicate and take herbs unnecessarily!

Contraindications for shepherd's purse:

pregnancy (if we are not talking about toxicosis);
increased blood clotting, hypercoagulation;
And hemorrhoids;
, thrombosis;
individual intolerance.

The plant has properties that are often used to treat various female diseases:

anti-inflammatory;
antifever;
wound healing;
astringent, diuretic;
choleretic;
normalizes blood pressure;
stops bleeding;
cleanses the blood.

How to use the herb and brew

For treatment with shepherd's purse it is used in different forms:

decoction;
infusion;
alcohol tincture;
fresh grass.

Recipes and methods of use depend on the disease, its course, individual characteristics body. The most common ones are prepared this way.

Tea

For preparation:

take 2 tbsp. l. herbs pour 200 ml of boiling water;
let stand 10 minutes.

Take warm twice daily.

Infusion

you will need 20 g of dry crushed herbs, pour 200 ml of boiling water;
Leave for 1 hour in a dry place, strain;
take 1 tbsp. l. before meals 3 times a day.

Decoction

2 tbsp. l. pour 200 ml of boiling water over the plants;
put on fire and boil for 2 minutes;
leave for half an hour.

Strain through a fine strainer or cheesecloth.

Tincture

1 tbsp. l. dry plant pour 10 tbsp. l. alcohol 70%, leave for 2 weeks;
After the expiration date, strain;
Dissolve 25 drops in 1 tsp. water and take 3 times a day before meals.

IN fresh Mash fresh grass and apply to a wound, bruise, or ulcer.

Important! These recipes wide range, they are used not only in the field of gynecology!

During menstruation

Many women suffer from pain before menstruation and in menstrual period. They are often delayed and untimely, which prolongs these painful processes.
If your period is late, it is recommended to drink grass juice with honey.

You need to take this mixture 5 times a day, 1 tsp. after meal. To prepare juice, you need to take the above-ground part of the plant, which is still young. Finely chop and squeeze.
If your period does not appear on time, you are late and at the same time you feel incredible pain, often pulling in the lower back and lower abdomen, then use an infusion of herbs.

Infusion recipe for delayed menstruation:

2 tbsp. l. pour 200 ml of boiling water over the bagworm;
let it brew for 2 hours;
strain without fail;
take 4 times a day, 1 tbsp. l.

During pregnancy

Shepherd's purse is one of the many plants that is also contraindicated during pregnancy. Primarily due to its ability to nourish the body with the substances tyramine and acetylcholine that the plant contains. Even bleeding that may occur during pregnancy cannot be stopped with a shepherd's purse.

But at the same time, some doctors practice it for severe toxicosis during pregnancy. It is not used independently, but in combination with other plants and components.

Recipe for preparing an infusion for toxicosis:

Mix 60 g shepherd's purse, 40 g leaves;
2 tbsp. l. pour 500 ml of boiling water over the resulting collection;
cover with a lid and let it brew for half an hour;
strain and add 1 tbsp. l. honey;
take 50 ml 4 times a day.

Important! The proposed recipe can only be used in the first trimester of pregnancy as prescribed by a doctor.

For endometriosis

Endometriosis is a pathology that largely depends on hormones. In most cases, the uterine lining tissue grows into the muscle layers. There are 4 degrees of this disease.

The main signs of endometriosis are:

pain in the lower abdomen, which worsens during menstruation;
pain during sexual intercourse;
spotting after menstruation;
presence of blood in urine and feces;
pain during bowel movements and urination;
infertility;
acquisition extra pounds in a short time.

For this purpose, herbs are used that can stop bleeding, restore hormonal levels and relieve pain. Shepherd's purse has such properties.

Infusion recipe:

1 tbsp. l. herbs pour 200 ml of boiling water;
leave to infuse for 1 hour;
strain through cheesecloth;
take 4 times a day, 1 tbsp. l. 30 minutes before meals.

When breastfeeding

After giving birth, women have several new problems in the body that need to be overcome. Almost any woman, having become a mother, wants to breastfeed her child, but at the same time she needs to take care of her health. Many drugs, vitamins and herbs have contraindications during lactation; shepherd's purse is an exception. It is full of vitamin C and K, can increase blood clotting, short time stops bleeding, restores the size of the uterus, strengthens its muscles and the pelvic diaphragm.

If necessary, prepare a decoction:

1 tsp. pour 200 ml of boiling water, let boil for 2 minutes;
let sit for half an hour;
filter the resulting broth, take 3 times a day, 1 tbsp. l.

Important! When preparing decoctions and infusions from herbs, make sure they are fresh. Do not store for more than a day.

For heavy periods

For some reason, periods can be very heavy, which causes a lot of discomfort and worry. This can happen due to previous illnesses or stress.

If this question arises, then you need to prepare a decoction:

5 g of shepherd's purse pour 200 ml of boiling water;
put in a water bath for 10 minutes, strain the broth;
take 35 drops 5 times a day before meals.

For uterine bleeding

There are many reasons why uterine bleeding may occur:

violation hormonal levels;
stress;
fatigue;
climate change;
intoxication of the body.

A tincture of shepherd's purse in 70% alcohol will help quickly eliminate and relieve pain. It can be purchased at a pharmacy or prepared at home:

pour the crushed raw materials with 70% alcohol, in proportions 1:1;
put in a dark place, but not cold, for 2 weeks;
After 14 days, strain;
take before meals, 1 tsp. 20–30 drops of tincture.

For fibroids

This benign tumor, which consists of one or more knots of muscle tissue in the uterus. Occurs due to:

a large number of abortions, unsuccessful abortions;
application contraception that are not suitable for the body;
hormonal imbalance, increased estrogen.

For this common disease, there are many traditional methods treatment. Effective method overcome fibroids:

you need to take 1 tbsp. l. dry shepherd's purse grass pour 250 ml of boiling water;
let it brew for 2 hours, wrapping it in a blanket;
carefully filter the infusion;
take 3 times a day, 1 tbsp. l. before eating.

The herb has great advantages; it removes accumulated medicinal substances in the body of a sick person! The juice of this plant is used for this procedure.

Shepherd's purse (wort grass, purse grass, swan grass, babka, heart grass, field buckwheat) is unpretentious plant, which can be found almost everywhere in Russia and Ukraine: in courtyards, along roadsides, in parks, in vacant lots, on the outskirts of fields, etc.

Shepherd's purse is an annual plant from the cruciferous family. The height of the stem of adult plants is usually from 30 to 60 cm. The basal leaves are oblong-lanceolate, pinnately divided or notched-toothed, tapering in the petioles, mostly collected in a rosette. Stem leaves are arrow-shaped, sessile, stem-embracing, entire.

The flowers of the shepherd's purse are small, white or yellowish-white, collected in long, umbrella-like racemes. The fruit is a strongly flattened pod in the shape of an inverted triangle. There is a heart-shaped notch at the top of the pod.

The grass has a slight odor and a bitter-slimy taste, and is a good honey plant.

Chemical composition

The properties of a shepherd's purse are determined by its rich chemical composition, which contains:

Proteins;
Carbohydrates;
Saponins;
Tannins;
Acids: bursic, fumaric, citric, tartaric, malic;
Choline and acetylcholine;
Vitamin K;
Carotene;
Riboflavin;
Thiamine;
Phylloquinone;
Ascorbic acid (vitamin C);
Potassium salts;
Flavonoids;
Fatty and allyl mustard oil (in seeds).

Beneficial features

Doctors were already aware of the healing properties of the shepherd's purse. ancient world who used grass seeds as a hemostatic agent. Nowadays, bast grass is used in folk and scientific medicine, as well as in veterinary medicine, mainly for pulmonary and uterine bleeding.

The entire above-ground part of the plant - stems, flowers, green fruits - is used as medicinal raw material. It is considered the most effective fresh herbs(the leaves have pronounced phytoncidal activity) or natural juice from a shepherd's purse. Mature plant with ripe fruits do not use for preparing decoctions, teas and infusions.

The most important property shepherd's purse is the plant's ability to have a hemostatic effect. In this regard, field buckwheat is often used for uterine, pulmonary, renal, hemorrhoidal and gastrointestinal bleeding.

It has been experimentally proven that shepherd's purse preparations help normalize blood pressure and stimulate the contractile activity of the uterine muscles.

Infusions, decoctions, teas and alcohol tinctures from this plant have pronounced choleretic, wound-healing, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, vasodilating, antifever, diuretic, astringent, and blood purifying properties. In addition, they are often used as an addition to chemotherapy to neutralize and remove toxic substances.

The shepherd's purse has also found use in cooking: in different countries Young leaves are added to salads and first courses, and they are used as a filling for pies. Old herbs can be used as an additive to broths, ground seeds louse grass are an alternative to mustard.

Medicinal raw materials are prepared in the spring. Dry it in dark places (for example, in the attic), laying it out in a thin layer. Store in paper or canvas bags in a dry place. The plant retains its healing properties for 3 years.

Indications for use

The use of shepherd's purse as a remedy is advisable for:

Bleeding (including heavy menstruation, after childbirth or abortion);
Hypertension;
Atherosclerosis;
Conditions accompanied by fever;
Wounds, ulcers, bruises (herbal decoction is used as an external remedy in the form of lotions and compresses);
Diseases of the liver, kidneys (in combination with horsetail);
Diseases Bladder and hearts;
Metabolic disorders;
Rheumatism;
Cholecystitis;
Urine and cholelithiasis;
Erosive gastritis and peptic ulcer with a tendency to bleed;
Uterine atony;
Diarrhea;
Typhoid fever;
Certain sexually transmitted diseases;
Malaria;
Inflammatory diseases of the stomach and duodenum;
Pyelonephritis (both acute and chronic);
Cystitis;
Urinary incontinence;
Gout;
Vomiting.

Contraindications

The use of shepherd's purse is contraindicated during pregnancy, hemorrhoids, and thrombophilia (increased blood clotting).

Home remedies from shepherd's purse

To prepare an extract (alcohol tincture), medicinal raw materials should be infused in 70% alcohol (the ingredients are taken in a ratio of 1:10) in a dark, warm place for 14 days. It is recommended to take the tincture 20-30 drops three times a day before meals (the drops are first diluted in a teaspoon of water).

According to a similar scheme, they also accept Fresh Juice from the leaves and stems of a plant.

To make tea from shepherd's purse 2 teaspoons crushed raw materials are poured with a glass of boiling water, left to infuse for 10 minutes, then the liquid is filtered. Take 1 glass of the drink twice a day, warm.

A decoction for external use is prepared as follows: 2 tablespoons dry herbs are poured into a glass of water and boiled for a minute, then left for half an hour and strained. The decoction, as well as crushed medicinal raw materials, are used in the form of lotions and compresses - they are applied to wound surface, to ulcers and bruises.

To prepare water infusion, pour a tablespoon of dry herb into a glass of boiling water, leave for an hour, then strain. The scheme for using shepherd's purse in the form of an infusion is as follows: three times a day, a tablespoon before meals. It is recommended to drink the infusion as cholagogue for rheumatism, gout, urinary incontinence, as well as intestinal atony, gastritis, stomach ulcers, peptic ulcers duodenum, dysentery, diarrhea.

What's in a shepherd's purse? Unusual at first glance objects - an egg, bread in the shape of a cross, a grain of consecrated salt, consecrated chalk, intended to protect the herd, a candle, various “magical” herbs and coals. However, when we're talking about about the shepherd's purse plant, its main component is useful material. Exactly about healing properties This plant is what I want to talk about today.

Each of our readers probably knows what the shepherd’s purse plant looks like, because they were introduced to it back in primary school. But at school they don’t pay special attention I will tell you about its beneficial properties. Now we will fill this gap in education.

Shepherd's purse: composition

In medicine, only the above-ground part of the plant (stems, flowers, green fruits) is used. The composition of the raw materials includes carbohydrates, proteins, tannins, saponins, organic acids (citric, fumaric, malic, tartaric), choline and acetylcholine, hissopin rhamnoglycoside, bursic acid and a lot of vitamins, including riboflavin, phylloquinone, thiamine, carotene, ascorbic acid acid.
In addition to what is indicated, the seeds of the shepherd's purse contain up to 20% fatty oil and not a large number of allyl mustard oil.

Beneficial features

The valuable composition of shepherd's purse makes this plant an assistant in the fight against many ailments. Among the main properties of the miracle herb are::
Hemostatic effect in pulmonary and uterine bleeding, injuries.
Blood purifying and vasodilating effect.
High effect for cystitis, pyelonephritis, urolithiasis.
Removal and neutralization of toxins due to the use of oncological drugs.
Antifever action.
Stabilization of blood pressure.
The list of beneficial properties of the shepherd's purse plant is not limited to the above.

Shepherd's purse: contraindications

Despite the many beneficial properties of shepherd's purse, do not rush to get rid of ailments with its help, since the plant has several contraindications. So, the use of drugs containing shepherd's purse is contraindicated during pregnancy, increased blood clotting, as well as hemorrhoids. However, even if you are not at risk for any parameter, we advise you to consult with your doctor before using shepherd's purse.

Shepherd's purse: traditional medicine recipes and uses

Now it’s time to tell you a few traditional medicine recipes based on shepherd’s purse.

An infusion of shepherd's purse has anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effects. It is often used for stomach, pulmonary, kidney, nose, and uterine bleeding after childbirth, abortion, and heavy menstruation.

How to prepare an infusion of shepherd's purse

You will need:
Crushed leaves, stems and flowers of shepherd's purse - 2 teaspoons,
Water – 1 glass.

Cooking method
1. Pour boiling water over the herbal raw materials.
2. Leave for 10 minutes. We filter.
3. You should take 2 glasses of this infusion daily.

An infusion of shepherd's purse is also effective for problems gastrointestinal tract. In particular, it helps with gastritis, intestinal atony, gastric and duodenal ulcers, dysentery, diarrhea, as well as liver diseases. The infusion is used as a choleretic agent for cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, and vomiting. The infusion has a diuretic effect, therefore it is recommended for gout, rheumatism, and urinary incontinence.

Second tincture recipe

Chopped shepherd's purse - 1 tablespoon,
Water – 1 glass.

Cooking method
1. Pour boiling water over the grass.
2. Let it sit for an hour. We filter.
3. Take 1 tablespoon before meals 3 times a day.

A decoction of shepherd's purse is used externally. As a compress, it is applied to wounds, ulcers and bruises.

How to prepare a decoction of shepherd's purse for external use

You will need:
Chopped stems and leaves of shepherd's purse - 2 tablespoons,
Water – 1 glass.

Cooking method
1. Fill the shepherd's purse with water.
2. Put it on fire. Bring to a boil and cook for one minute.
3. Let it sit for half an hour. We filter.

You can find it in pharmacies liquid extract shepherd's purse. It is used for various bleeding, uterine atony, stomach ulcers, stones in the urinary and gallbladder, hypertension, after diluting 15-30 drops of the extract with water. This extract can also be prepared at home.

You will need:
Shredded stems, leaves and flowers of shepherd's purse,
Vodka.

Cooking method
1. Fill the shepherd's purse with vodka 1/3 above the grass level.
2. Put it in a dark place for a month.
3. Squeeze out the grass.
4. Before use, the infusion should be diluted with water.

Often we are not even aware of the beneficial properties and vitamin and mineral riches of grass growing right next to the house, in a country plot or garden, calling it a weed.

At the same time, everyone has probably seen a shepherd's purse - a grass with unique healing properties and capable of providing effective assistance in the treatment and prevention of gynecological and other diseases.

Let's look at its features in the article.

Botanical description: what it looks like

Common Shepherd's Purse, or Shepherd's Purse, what is called Capsella bursa pastoris in Latin - here correct name this herbaceous plant, widespread in temperate and tropical latitudes. It is unpretentious and can often be seen growing along the road, in vegetable gardens and fields.

The plant has a single, straight, branched stem that can reach 60 cm in height and has a thin, spindle-shaped root. It is annual and botanically belongs to the cruciferous family. Its fruits are similar in appearance to a shepherd's bag, which is why the grass got its name.
The inflorescences are located at the top of the stem and become larger during the fruiting period. The fruits look like hearts - this is a constant indicator of what kind of plant is in front of you.

Small white flowers have four petals each. Grass seeds have oval shape. The plant is very prolific, since one individual can produce from 40 to 70 thousand seeds, which can grow at any time of the year, since there are winter and spring forms.

Chemical composition

The richness of the herb’s composition is the key to its successful use in folk medicine, because shepherd’s purse contains:

bursic, tartaric, citric, malic, ascorbic acids;
choline;
vitamin K;
flavonoids;
tannins;
carotenoids;
carbohydrates;
thiamine;
saponins.

Medicinal properties

The shepherd's purse is effective means to solve many medical problems: treatment of diseases, elimination of symptoms. Beneficial features This plant has been well studied in both traditional and folk medicine, and is successfully used in practice. First of all, this:

Hemostatic property. More often this effect herbs are used in gynecology, for uterine bleeding and uterine atony, but it is also used to eliminate bleeding in the kidneys, lungs and intestines. Shepherd's purse is one of the main components in pharmaceutical herbal hemostatic preparations.
Anti-inflammatory. By making external lotions using a shepherd's purse, you can eliminate the inflammatory process, relieve swelling, and stop the bleeding of superficial wounds on the skin and mucous surfaces.
Diuretic- during treatment urinary system and kidney herb relieves inflammation, for example, with pyelonephritis, cystitis, and urolithiasis.
Purifies the blood, removing toxins and congestion harmful substances from blood. The effect of drugs created on the basis medicinal plant, is aimed at improving the condition of the body of people taking drugs to combat cancer.
Astringent. The properties of the herb are used for treatment painful conditions stomach and intestines. It has a beneficial effect on peristalsis and can accelerate the healing process of ulcerative lesions, erosions and inflammation of the mucous membrane.
Dilates blood vessels, which has a beneficial effect on the condition and work of cardio-vascular system. Drinking a cup of tea with shepherd's purse daily will help you strengthen your heart muscle and improve vascular patency. Accordingly, blood pressure will also approach normal age levels.
The shepherd's purse has calming effect , helps normalize sleep and minimize the impact of stress and depression on the body.

Use of shepherd's purse

Shepherd's purse can be used in different ways, using certain parts of the herbaceous plant. It is most widely and most effectively used in medicine, but inventive chefs will be able to surprise you with unusual delicacies made from this inconspicuous herb.

In medicine

In therapeutic practice, the plant is used as a means to normalize blood pressure, helps eliminate inflammatory processes, has an antifever effect. By taking decoctions and teas from the shepherd's purse, you can achieve a diuretic effect.

Thanks to the fact that the composition medicinal herb contains a large amount of potassium; older people are recommended to use the leaves and flowers of the plant to improve heart function.

For cooking healing decoctions and teas, only the dried above-ground part of the herb is taken.

In cooking

Since ancient times, the culinary traditions of many peoples have included the use of shepherd's purse as a source of vitamins, especially during the period of shortage of greens in the spring.

IN modern world this herb is actively used in India, where it can serve as an independent side dish; it is also used to make puree and use it as a filling for dough products.

Shepherd's purse can also be used as a seasoning, but the seeds of the mature plant provide a richer flavor. As a spice, it can add a bitter taste and aroma, therefore being an analogue of pepper and mustard.

In gynecology

The most popular and widespread use of shepherd's purse is in gynecology. It can effectively influence irregular menstrual cycle, on menstruation with complications, heavy and long-term bleeding, as well as bleeding that occurs in the postpartum period. In addition to these indications for the use of medicinal herbs, there are also the following: vomiting during pregnancy, atony and uterine fibroids, oncological diseases.

Did you know? Shepherd's purse can be an excellent food for rabbits and act as a substitute for mustard in mustard plasters. Also, the oil obtained from this herbaceous plant can be used for technical needs.

Harm and contraindications

The chemical composition of the herb does not contain substances that could negatively affect the body of a person who consumes shepherd's purse, however, given the properties of the herb, it should not be taken by people who have diseases or problems with blood clotting:

hypercoagulability;
thrombocytosis;
haemorrhoids;
varicose veins

Medicines from shepherd's purse: how to take

Shepherd's purse can act both as a main ingredient in the cuisines of some nations, and as an additional component. Soups are prepared with its use, it acts as a seasoning for fish and meat dishes, but, of course, the most popular way to use this medicinal herb is to prepare drinks in which shepherd's purse is the main ingredient.

Tea

To prevent most of the diseases listed above, for example, to improve blood circulation and dilate blood vessels, it is recommended to drink a cup of tea (maximum two) a day.

To prepare, you need to take 1 tsp. dry herbs and pour a glass of boiling water over it.

You can also prepare a stronger tea drink: 2 tsp. dry herb pour 1 tbsp. boiling water and let brew for 10 minutes, then strain. You should drink a cup 2 times a day.

To prepare the infusion, it is better to use a thermos. So, to begin with, you need to take 1 tbsp. l. herbs in a glass of boiling water and pour it into a thermos. Under conditions of maintenance high temperature It will be enough for the drink to brew for an hour. Then it is better to pass the contents through gauze or a sieve. You need to take the infusion 4 times a day, 1 tbsp. l.

An infusion of shepherd's purse is very useful for bleeding that occurs in the stomach, kidneys, lungs, uterus, and even in the nose. This drink will be useful in postpartum period, as well as for menorrhagia. It acts like wound healing agent, so it is often used for injuries.

To prepare an alcohol tincture you will need 70% alcohol. You will need to take 10 g of dry herb per 100 ml of alcohol: pour the herb with alcohol and place in a glass container. Let it brew for 10-14 days. Accept this alcohol tincture follows in following doses: 20-30 drops three times a day - it is better to dilute the tincture in small quantity water, 1 tsp will be enough.

The tincture is often used as a means to lower blood pressure.

Juice

Juice from shepherd's purse is very effective in the treatment and prevention of all the diseases listed above. During the period when fresh greenery appears, from spring to autumn, it is most effective to use medicinal herbs.

Fresh herbs are used to make juice. The resulting product must be diluted in a 1:1 ratio with boiled water. You can use the juice orally, 40 drops 3 times a day, or you can treat it with it superficial wounds, abrasions, use to rinse the mouth.

Did you know? In China, the shepherd's purse plant is grown as a vegetable and is actively used in the preparation of both everyday and festive dishes.

Growing shepherd's purse

Shepherd's purse is a fairly common plant in our latitudes, and it can be seen in almost every park, in the courtyard of a house, outside the city - along roads, in fields and vegetable gardens. From all this we can conclude that this grass is quite unpretentious and easily reproduces, expanding its range, so it will not be difficult for you to find it.

If you need to use shepherd's purse in significant quantities - for use as medicinal products or consumption, then we recommend that you familiarize yourself with some tips for breeding it.

Sowing and propagation

It is best to choose early spring for sowing shepherd's purse, since its growing season is quite long. Autumn sowing is also possible, but the first shoots will appear only with the onset of spring warmth.
For planting, choose a sunny place. Grass seeds must be mixed with sand in a proportional ratio of 1:5 and sown in even rows at a distance of at least 20 cm from each other. The crops are lightly sprinkled with soil; the first shoots may appear within a week.

Important! For sowing, it is best to use seeds collected in summer.

Soil and fertilizers

The soil should be moist and nutritious before planting: it would be ideal to choose a period when the snow has just melted and there is still enough water in the soil. Experienced gardeners say that for planting shepherd's purse, the soil should be prepared in the same way as before sowing cabbage or mustard greens.

Feed herbaceous plant necessary once per season, using mineral fertilizers for flowering plants.