Sheepherd's Bag

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Video: Sheepherd's Bag

Video: Sheepherd's Bag
Video: What's In Stephanie Shepherd's Bag | Spill It | Refinery29 2024, December
Sheepherd's Bag
Sheepherd's Bag
Anonim

The shepherd's purse / Capsella Bursa Pastoris / is an annual or biennial plant with single stems up to 60 cm high. At the bases, the rosette leaves of the shepherd's purse are oblong-lanceolate. Stem leaves are consecutive, oblong, sessile, entire or cut.

They are basically arrow-shaped, very often stem-covering. The flowers of the shepherd's purse are white, gathered in clustered inflorescences, which are strongly elongated in the case of fruits. The calyx and corolla are four-leafed. The fruits are pods with many seeds. It blooms in April-August. The shepherd's purse is found in meadows, roads, meadows and fields throughout the country.

History of a shepherd's purse

This herb derives its name from one of the most used attributes of shepherds - the woolen bag, slung over the shoulder, in which they carried their food and in which they put collected herbs during the grazing of the sheep. A legend tells of a shepherd who grazed his flock and meanwhile played the flute.

Once a sick aga passed by him, unable to walk. He listened to the beautiful melody and without realizing it took a few steps. As a reward, the rich man filled the boy's bag with coins. In the evening, robbers attacked the shepherd, tore the bag and took the coins, and killed him.

From his blood sprouted miraculous licorice in this place, which people called sheepherd's bag. Apart from the fact that this herb stopped bleeding, it had many other useful properties, which we take advantage of to this day.

Composition of a shepherd's purse

Herb Shepherd's purse
Herb Shepherd's purse

The stems of the plant sheepherd's bag contain proline, choline, acetylcholine, histamine and tyramine. The plant also contains vitamin C, diosmin, tannins, essential oils, inositol, resins, sugars, citric, malic and tartaric acid, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, vitamin K and others.

Collection and storage of a shepherd's purse

The aerial part of the plant the shepherd's purse is collected during the flowering period. It dries in the shade. Dried stalks are light green stems with small white flowers and unripe fruits. The drug in the shepherd's purse should not contain roots. It has a characteristic odor and a slightly bitter taste. Store in a shady, dry and ventilated place.

Benefits of a shepherd's purse

The shepherd's purse and the preparations that contain it have a very good hemostatic effect in uterine bleeding and in hematuria / excretion of blood in the urine /. The shepherd's purse It is used for bleeding hemorrhoids, for bleeding after an injury, for nosebleeds, bleeding in the stomach and intestines, etc.

Shepherd's purse tea
Shepherd's purse tea

The good hemostatic effect of sheepherd's bag is mainly due to the diosmin contained in the herb. The shepherd's purse has a markedly good effect on tuberculous hemoptysis. Aqueous extracts of the herb increase the contractions of the uterine muscles, constrict blood vessels and have a mild hypotensive effect.

The shepherd's purse is a valuable medicinal plant that is an important helper in all external muscle diseases. Like mistletoe, the shepherd's purse is a plant that regulates blood circulation and is recommended for both too high and too low blood pressure.

Folk medicine with a shepherd's purse

Folk medicine strongly recommends the use of shepherd's purse for hemoptysis, atherosclerosis, difficulty urinating, diseases of the liver, spleen and kidneys, as well as a laxative.

The shepherd's purse is applied in various forms. Internally taken as a decoction prepared from 2 tbsp. chopped stalks of the herb and 400 ml of boiling water. Boil for about 1 minute and leave to soak for 8 hours. After straining the decoction is taken 3 times a day, 120 ml before meals.

The infusion is prepared in the same ratio, but without boiling, and only soured for 2 hours. The herb is applied externally as a decoction for compresses and rubs for injuries and contusions.

Damage from a shepherd's purse

As the shepherd's purse enhances the contractions of the uterine muscles, this herb is completely contraindicated in pregnancy!

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