Content
- 1 Shepherd's purse: poisonous plant or not
- 2 What does a shepherd's purse look like?
- 3 Chemical composition of shepherd's purse
- 4 Medicinal properties of shepherd's purse
- 5 Indications for use of shepherd's purse
- 6 The use of shepherd's purse in folk medicine
- 7 Contraindications and harm
- 8 Preparing a shepherd's purse
- 9 Conclusion
- 10 Reviews on the use of shepherd's purse
Shepherd's purse is used for a wide range of diseases. Before using a medicinal herb, you need to study its composition and properties.
Shepherd's purse: poisonous plant or not
Shepherd's purse is a completely safe plant that does not contain toxic substances. But at the same time, only whole and healthy leaf plates can be used for medicinal purposes.
Parts of the plant with traces of disease are not suitable for preparing decoctions and infusions. The fungi that infect the shepherd's purse can indeed be poisonous.
What does a shepherd's purse look like?
Shepherd's purse, or shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) is an annual herbaceous plant of the Brassica family with a thin spindle-shaped root and a single erect stem.It has pinnately divided lower leaves, collected in a rosette at the base of the shoot, and oblong upper plates of a sessile type.
The shepherd's purse rises to 20-60 cm above the ground
From April to August, the annual blooms with small white flowers collected in umbrella-shaped brushes. From May to September, the fruits of the plant ripen - pods up to 8 mm long, slightly compressed from the sides. Inside are flattened oval seeds.
Where does the shepherd's purse grow?
The shepherd's purse is widespread in Russia and European countries. It is found everywhere in temperate and subtropical climates, growing along roads, in fields, in ditches and vegetable gardens. It actively reproduces by self-seeding and produces up to four generations of new flowers in one season.
Chemical composition of shepherd's purse
The medicinal properties and contraindications of shepherd's purse are due to its rich composition. The green parts of the plant contain:
- ascorbic acid;
- carotenoids;
- tannins;
- vitamin K;
- essential oil;
- lemon acid;
- phylloquinone and thiamine;
- riboflavin;
- fumaric acid;
- fixed oils;
- saponins;
- Apple acid;
- choline;
- wine acid.
The leaves contain many phytoncides. When used correctly, the medicinal annual has a strengthening effect on the body.
Medicinal properties of shepherd's purse
Shepherd's purse herb is used to treat a variety of ailments. Decoctions and infusions of the plant:
- stop bleeding and promote healing of injuries;
- have diuretic properties and help get rid of edema;
- have a beneficial effect on the condition of the kidneys and help with inflammation;
- reduce blood pressure;
- improve the condition of pulmonary tuberculosis;
- have a therapeutic effect for uterine atony in women;
- help with cholecystitis, gastritis and dysentery;
- stop diarrhea due to astringent properties;
- strengthen blood vessels and improve heart health;
- promote healing of wounds and cuts.
The plant is used for diseases of the genitourinary system in women and men. The medicinal herb is beneficial for malaria and typhoid fever.
Indications for use of shepherd's purse
Shepherd's purse treats a wide range of ailments. Traditional medicine recommends using herbal preparations:
- for hypertension and weak blood vessels;
- with internal bleeding;
- for cycle disorders in women;
- in case of poisoning and liver failure;
- after bites of poisonous insects;
- with diarrhea;
- with purulent ulcers and poorly healing wounds;
- for diseases of the liver and gall bladder;
- for eczema;
- for nosebleeds.
Medications can be used to cleanse the blood and improve its composition. The use of decoctions and infusions helps prevent the development of cancer.
The use of shepherd's purse in folk medicine
The healing properties of the shepherd's purse are actively used by traditional medicine. Alcohol and water infusions are made based on medicinal herbs.
Shepherd's purse for vessels
The medicinal herb strengthens blood vessels, protects against the development of atherosclerosis and other dangerous diseases. Traditional medicine recommends the following remedy for use:
- The leaves of the plant are crushed in a volume of 10 g.
- Pour the raw material with 250 ml of cold clean water.
- Leave covered at room temperature for eight hours.
- After time, filter.
You need to take the infusion 30 ml three times a day. The drug is beneficial when used for hypertension.
The infusion of shepherd's purse should be consumed on an empty stomach about half an hour before meals.
Shepherd's purse with heavy menstruation
The use of shepherd's purse for women has a beneficial effect during heavy menstruation. The plant reduces the volume of secretions and improves general condition. It is recommended to use the following tool:
- About 15 g of dry raw materials are crushed.
- Pour 300 ml of boiling water into an enamel pan.
- The raw materials are simmered in a water bath for about 15 minutes.
- Remove from heat and strain.
The medication is taken 150 ml three times a day on an empty stomach. It is necessary to continue using the drug until the condition improves.
For kidneys and liver
The shepherd's purse plant is useful in fresh form for liver and kidney diseases. Raw materials are used according to the following scheme:
- Thoroughly rinse the fresh grass to remove any contaminants.
- Grind the raw materials with a blender.
- The resulting pulp is squeezed through folded gauze.
- Dilute the plant juice with water in equal volumes.
The resulting medicinal drug is consumed 40 drops three times a day. External use of the product is indicated for nosebleeds - in this case, the diluted juice is instilled into the nostrils a few drops.
For tuberculosis
The medicinal properties of shepherd's purse can improve the condition of pulmonary tuberculosis. The following collection is recommended for use:
- Approximately 20 g of dry shepherd's purse grass is mixed with 10 g of oak bark.
- Pour the raw material with 100 ml of port wine and 500 ml of clean water.
- Boil in a closed container over low heat for ten minutes.
- After the period has passed, filter.
The finished drug is taken several sips throughout the day.The use of home remedies should be combined with the use of medications prescribed by a doctor.
For the treatment of wounds
The use of annuals externally is recommended for wounds and cuts. The medicinal herb has healing properties, prevents the development of infections and prevents the appearance of scars.
It is recommended to use infusions and decoctions of the plant. Clean gauze or cloth is soaked in them, and then a compress is applied to the damaged areas. The use of the herb does not cause harm, so procedures are allowed up to five times a day.
For bone pain
The analgesic properties of the medicinal annual are beneficial for rheumatism and gout. For bone pain, it is recommended to use the following infusion:
- About 10 g of shepherd's purse is combined with a similar amount of horsetail.
- Pour a glass of boiling water over the dried raw material.
- The herbal mixture is kept in a thermos for three hours.
- Strain the sediment through cheesecloth.
The finished infusion is consumed 30 ml on an empty stomach three times a day.
The use of shepherd's purse for rheumatism is continued for 7-10 days
Contraindications and harm
The benefits and harms of shepherd's purse are combined with each other. In some cases, the use of medicinal herbs must be abandoned. In particular, you cannot use it:
- with a tendency to hypotension;
- with increased blood clotting;
- for varicose veins and thromboembolism;
- for individual allergies;
- with severe hemorrhoids;
- for serious cardiovascular diseases.
The medicinal herb is used with caution for chronic diseases of the kidneys and gall bladder.The plant contains a lot of oxalic acid, which, when combined with calcium, crystallizes and turns into hard stones in the body.
The annual plant must be consumed in strict accordance with recipe recommendations. If used excessively, the medicinal herb leads to the development of side effects. In particular, while taking it, nausea and diarrhea, migraines and dizziness may appear, and allergic rashes often occur on the skin.
Shepherd's purse during pregnancy
It is not advisable to drink shepherd's purse while pregnant. Herbal remedies increase contractions of the uterine muscles and can cause early miscarriage. It is not recommended to drink decoctions and infusions during the period of planning a child. The herb is used in gynecology to delay ovulation and, accordingly, can prevent conception.
During breastfeeding, medicinal annual consumption is not prohibited. But they use it only when really necessary and in minimal dosages. You need to make sure that the newborn does not have an individual allergy to the plant. If rashes and intestinal colic appear in an infant, the use of the herb should be discontinued.
Use in children
The healing shepherd's purse contains many B vitamins and ascorbic acid. Theoretically, the plant can benefit the child's body. Decoctions and infusions improve brain function and increase concentration, strengthen the immune system and normalize the functioning of the stomach and intestines.
At the same time, the plant often provokes allergic reactions and digestive disorders in children. Therefore, it is recommended to offer shepherd’s purse to children no earlier than 12 years old.It is necessary to start using it with minimal dosages, carefully monitoring the reaction of the teenager’s body.
Preparing a shepherd's purse
The plant is harvested for subsequent medicinal use twice a year - in early spring immediately after the snow melts and in autumn at the beginning of September. The bushes are dug out of the ground entirely, the stems with leaves and flowers are cut off with a sharp tool, and then the raw materials are washed to remove any contaminants.
You need to dry the shepherd's purse in the fresh air under a canopy or in a warm room with good ventilation. The grass is laid out on a flat surface in a thin layer and turned over from time to time. Direct sunlight should not fall on the raw material - this leads to the destruction of beneficial substances in the leaves and flowers and a decrease in the therapeutic effect when used.
You can store the grass after it becomes brittle and begins to crumble in your hands. The leaves should retain their greenish color, faint odor and bitter taste. The shepherd's purse should be kept in paper bags or fabric bags in a dry, dark place at a temperature of no more than 25 °C. The herb retains its medicinal properties for three years.
If desired, the shepherd's purse can be dried in the oven at a temperature not exceeding 45 ° C
Only healthy plants without signs of damage by fungi and pests can be collected for medicinal use. Harvesting is carried out on a dry, cloudy day. In hot weather, bright sun or rain, it is not recommended to collect grass.
For the procurement of raw materials, it is necessary to choose an ecologically clean area.The plant is not collected near cities, roads and industrial facilities.
Conclusion
Shepherd's purse is used for joint diseases, liver and kidney diseases, as well as bleeding. The herb has strong medicinal properties, but must be used with caution.
Reviews on the use of shepherd's purse
Every year I collect a shepherd’s purse, and then prepare decoctions and infusions for joints from it. The herb is good for rheumatism, reduces pain and relieves swelling. Mobility returns to the joints, and exacerbations of the disease can be quickly dealt with.
