Omnia SanaCommon names in 30 European languages →
The complete database record: 2 documented constituents, 3 pharmacological actions, 6 traditional / indicated uses, with 14 cited sources.
Botanical Description
Small, variable annual or biennial herb with a basal rosette of deeply toothed, dandelion-like leaves and a slender, upright, sparsely branched flowering stem bearing tiny stalked white flowers. As the flowers fade, they give way to distinctive small, flattened, heart- or purse-shaped seed pods, the origin of the common name.[10]
Habitat & Distribution
A common weed of cultivated ground, gardens, roadsides, waste places and lawns worldwide; native to Europe and Asia and now naturalised on every inhabited continent.[10]
Harvesting
The whole flowering plant is cut just as it comes into flower and while the seed pods are still forming, then dried quickly, since the fresh or freshly dried herb is considered most active for its haemostatic effect.[10]
Key Constituents
Pharmacological Actions
Tones the uterus and eases menstrual flow and cramps (traditional)
Astringent / styptic for minor wounds (helps stop bleeding, topical); Haemostatic / styptic - reduces heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia); also used for nosebleeds and postpartum bleeding. In a randomized clinical trial, Capsella bursa-pastoris added to mefenamic acid reduced menstrual blood loss significantly more than mefenamic acid alone
Traditional & Indicated Uses
Haemostatic / styptic - reduces heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia); also used for nosebleeds and postpartum bleeding. In a randomized clinical trial, Capsella bursa-pastoris added to mefenamic acid reduced menstrual blood loss significantly more than mefenamic acid alone
more plants for heavy menstrual bleeding →detailed sources →
Tones the uterus and eases menstrual flow and cramps (traditional)
inferred from emmenagogue action
more plants for pms / premenstrual syndrome →detailed sources →
inferred from astringent action
Astringent / styptic for minor wounds (helps stop bleeding, topical)
Traditional Use & History
Shepherd's purse has a long folk reputation as a styptic and haemostatic herb, traditionally used to stop bleeding - from minor wounds, nosebleeds, heavy menstrual bleeding and postpartum bleeding - and as a uterine tonic to ease menstrual flow and cramps.[10]
Preparations
Dried flowering herb infused in hot water as a traditional styptic and menstrual-support tea.
Dosage
The EU herbal monograph gives 1-5 g of the comminuted herb as a single dose for tea preparation, 2-4 times daily (daily dose 3-20 g), in adults. For heavy menstrual bleeding the monograph directs that use be started 3-5 days before menstruation and continued during the bleeding. Not recommended under 18 years. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
The EU herbal monograph gives 1-4 mL as a single dose, three times daily (daily dose 3-12 mL), in adults, on the same pre-menstrual timing as the tea. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Avoid during pregnancy (it stimulates the uterus). Any heavy or abnormal bleeding needs medical evaluation to identify the cause - do not self-treat without assessment.
May affect blood pressure and heart rhythm, so use caution with cardiac, blood-pressure, anticoagulant, thyroid and sedative medicines.
Harvest Readiness
[11]
External Identifiers
References & Sources
- Wei, Z.Z., Zhou, T.Q., Xia, Z.M., Liu, S.F. et al (2022) 'Four organosulfur compounds from the seeds of Capsella bursa-pastoris and their anti-inflammatory activities', Natural Product Research, 37(16), pp. 2688-2696. doi:10.1080/14786419.2022.2130307 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2022.2130307 - Jeong, Y., Lee, S.H., Lee, J., Kim, M.S. et al (2023) 'Water Extract of Capsella bursa-pastoris Mitigates Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity by Upregulating Antioxidant Enzymes', International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(21), pp. 15912. doi:10.3390/ijms242115912 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242115912 - Zhou, T.Q., Wei, Z.Z., Zhang, J.R., Dong, J.H. et al (2023) 'Phytochemical Constituents from the Seeds of Capsella bursa-pastoris and Their Antioxidant Activities', Plant Foods for Human Nutrition, 78(4), pp. 776-782. doi:10.1007/s11130-023-01097-z Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-023-01097-z - Lukaszyk, A., Kwiecien, I. and Szopa, A (2024) 'Traditional Uses, Bioactive Compounds, and New Findings on Pharmacological, Nutritional, Cosmetic and Biotechnology Utility of Capsella bursa-pastoris', Nutrients, 16(24), pp. 4390. doi:10.3390/nu16244390 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16244390 - Apaydin Yildirim, B., Aydin, T., Kordali, S., Yildirim, S., Cakir, A. and Yildirim, F (2020) 'Antihemorrhoidal activity of organic acids of Capsella bursa-pastoris on croton oil-induced hemorrhoid in rats', Journal of Food Biochemistry, 44(9), pp. e13343. doi:10.1111/jfbc.13343 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1111/jfbc.13343 - Cha, J.M., Suh, W.S., Lee, T.H., Subedi, L., Kim, S.Y. and Lee, K.R (2017) 'Phenolic Glycosides from Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik and Their Anti-Inflammatory Activity', Molecules, 22(6), pp. 1023. doi:10.3390/molecules22061023 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules22061023 - Xie, L., Xu, X., Wu, X., Wang, M., Gao, C., Wang, D., Ren, S., Pan, Y. and Liu, X (2021) 'Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medic. extract alleviate cataract development by regulating the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway of the lens epithelial cells', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 284, pp. 114783. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2021.114783 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2021.114783 - Hwang, J., Choi, E., Choi, H., Park, J. and Chung, M (2021) 'The Cholesterol-Lowering Effect of Capsella Bursa-Pastoris Is Mediated via SREBP2 and HNF-1alpha-Regulated PCSK9 Inhibition in Obese Mice and HepG2 Cells', Foods, 10(2), pp. 408. doi:10.3390/foods10020408 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10020408 - Gumusok, S., Kirci, D., Demirci, B. and Kilic, C.S (2023) 'Essential Oil Composition of Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. Aerial Parts', Turkish Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 20(5), pp. 341-344. doi:10.4274/tjps.galenos.2022.15098 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.4274/tjps.galenos.2022.15098 - Herbal Reality (n.d.) 'Shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris): Benefits, Uses, Safety'. Available at: https://www.herbalreality.com/herb/shepherds-purse/ Traditional / reference
https://www.herbalreality.com/herb/shepherds-purse/ - Fern, Ken 'Capsella bursa-pastoris (Shepherd's Purse) — Useful Temperate Plants'. Available at: https://temperate.theferns.info/plant/Capsella+bursa-pastoris Traditional / reference
https://temperate.theferns.info/plant/Capsella+bursa-pastoris - European Medicines Agency (HMPC) (2010) 'Community herbal monograph on Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medikus, herba'. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-community-herbal-monograph-capsella-bursa-pastoris-l-medikus-herba-first-version_en.pdf Traditional / reference
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-community-herbal-monograph-capsella-bursa-pastoris-l-medikus-herba-first-version_en.pdf - ESCOP (European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy) (n.d.) 'Capsella bursa-pastoris (shepherd's purse) reduces heavy menstrual bleeding', pp. com. Available at: https://www.escop.com/capsella-bursa-pastoris-shepherds-purse-reduces-heavy-menstrual-bleeding/ Traditional / reference
https://www.escop.com/capsella-bursa-pastoris-shepherds-purse-reduces-heavy-menstrual-bleeding/ - Naafe, M., Kariman, N., Keshavarz, Z., Khademi, N., Mojab, F. and Mohammadbeigi, A (2018) 'Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extracts of Capsella Bursa-Pastoris on Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: A Randomized Clinical Trial', Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 24(7), pp. 694--700. doi:10.1089/acm.2017.0267 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2017.0267
Selected studies & references
All 12 studies in the Knowledge Finder →
This profile is assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database, which we curate by hand. How this site is built.