naturalized in most parts of the world. This is a small herb which grows abundantly in fields, looking like ordinary pepper grass, only the seed pods resemble small pear-shaped purses or pouches of flattened pods at the end of its branching stem with a prominent vein on each face, and contain many orange-brown seeds. The few stem leaves are arrowhead shaped, stalkless and smooth edged or toothed. The usually branched stem may grow 2 ft. tall. The slender stalked flowers have four small white petals and six stamens and are borne in clusters that elongate as the seeds mature. The taste of the herb is like cabbage; odour is unpleasant. Medicinal Part: The whole herb. Solvent: Water. Bodily Influence: Astringent, Diuretic, Antiscorbutic. Uses: To collect the seed pods for a nutritious meal is unheard of today, nevertheless the bodybuilding elements which our fathers of America knew by test and experience still remain. They roasted the seeds and combined with other meal for pinole bread. The leaves were used raw, or for pot herbs like spinach. The medicinal properties of the herb are chiefly manifested by their action upon the kidney and bladder; there they act as a stimulant and moderate tonic for catarrh of the urinary tract indicated by much mucus in the urine. Has been successfully used in cases of haemorrhage after childbirth, excessive menstruation and for internal bleeding of lungs, colon, haemorrhoids, etc. Combined with Agrimony( A. eupatoria) it is of use for bed-wetting( enuresis). Excellent for diarrhoea and intermittent fever.
Culpeper writes:“ The juice being dropped into ears, heals the pains, noise, and mutterings thereof. A good ointment may be made of it for all wounds, especially wounds in the head.” Parkinson states:“ Some do hold that the green herb bruised and bound to the wrists of the hands and soles of the feet will help yellow jaundice.” Dose: Infusion, 1 teaspoonful of the herb to 1 cupful of boiling water, steeped for ½ hr. Take 1 or 2 cupfuls a day as required. Of the tincture, 20 – 40 drops two or three times a day. Externally: Used as a fresh juice, or bruised leaves for external bleeding and bruises. Russian Experience: Pastushya Sumka has the same meaning as Shepherd’ s purse. From one plant 64,000 seeds are shed periodically in one season and can thrive on any soil. So you can see why the continuation of the plant’ s generation is prolific; actually it grows all over the country. Known as a medicine in ancient Roman and Greek times it retained its popularity all over Europe into the Middle Ages. Later it was shamefully forgotten. However during the last world war, when Russia could not import Canadian Golden seal interest was renewed in Shepherd’ s purse. Since this time the herb has again played a prominent role in Folk Medicine and clinical use. Some districts use the leaves for soup and salad and the seeds instead of mustard( Bello-Russ. Academy of Science, Minsk, 1965).
SHEPHERD’ S PURSE Capsella bursa pastoris, Medik.( Ontario Department of Agriculture, Toronto, Canada, 1966)