Official name: Shepherd’s Purse

Latin name: Capsella bursa pastoris L.

Other names: Shepherd's Pouch, Mother's Heart, St. James Weed

Description: Shepherd’s purse is an annual or biennial herbaceous plant of the Cruciferous (Crucifarae) family. In Bulgaria, it can be found as a weed in grassy places, meadows, crops, and weeds. The stem of the plant is simple and branched, thin and high up to 40 cm glabrous or soft and fibrous in its lower part. The basal leaves form a rosette, which is sometimes missing. The stem leaves are smaller, and oblong, often developing the stem. The flowers are small, white or pink petals, collected in racemose inflorescences. The fruit is a triangular pod up to 1 cm in size. The seeds are pale brown and numerous. It blooms in the warmer weather of all seasons.

Part of the herb used: stalks of shepherd’s purse (Herba bursae pastoris.)

Harvest time: The stalks are harvested during flowering, cutting the flower stems 25 cm from the top. Dry in the shade.

Chemical composition/ Content and properties: The Shepherd’s Purse contains tannins, organic acids, and vit. C, vit. K, vit. A, potassium, hysopine, acetylcholine, flavonoids, fruit and phenolic acids, choline derivatives, camphor.

Medical action and application: The herb is known for its hemostatic effect. It helps with bleeding and hard-to-heal wounds, varicose veins and hemorrhoids, heavy menstruation, and uterine bleeding. Because of the high potassium content, Shepherd’s Purse is recommended for cystitis and pyelonephritis to quickly replenish potassium in the body. Thanks to acetylcholine, the herb has a good effect on intestinal peristalsis. The medicinal plant is recommended as a concomitant treatment for irregular stomach, diarrhea, etc. The use of the plant during pregnancy is not recommended because the substances it contains contribute to increased muscle mobility and uterine tome.

Opportunities for offering at the request of the client:

“Vesselino” LTD offers its customers the plant in the following varieties:

• Herbs (Herba Bursae pastors) – dried whole, crushed, cut to a certain size at the customer’s request, ground into powder/flour