Shepherd's purse (Capsella), or as it is popularly called the herb handbag, belongs to the Cabbage family. Translated from the Latin language, it means "casket, box", which echoes the shape of the fruits of this plant. Shepherd's handbag is considered one of the most common representatives of its kind. Due to its medicinal properties, it is widely used in folk medicine.
The plant mostly grows in tropical and temperate regions. Scientists studying the terrestrial flora have not yet been able to figure out where this species of annual comes from. In the wild, an ordinary shepherd's bag is mistaken for an ordinary weed that fills vegetable gardens, ditches, fields or grows near roads. The healing properties of shepherd's purse are recognized not only by traditional medicine. Preparations based on this herb have also found application in official medicine.
Description of the plant
Shepherd's purse is an annual herb, the shoots of which grow in length in the range of 20-60 cm. The main root is narrow, fusiform. Stems are straight and solitary. The surface of the shoots may be slightly pubescent near the roots. The leaves are sharp, triangular in shape, have a petiole base and form a rosette. The leaf blades of the upper tier are arrow-shaped, almost linear. The flowers are painted white, gather in a long brush like an umbrella. At the end of flowering, a pod is formed, filled with small seeds and growing up to 8 mm in length. The flowering period lasts approximately 3-4 months. The first flowers begin to appear in April. Fruit ripening occurs in May-September.
Planting a shepherd's purse
The handbag, like many other weeds, is not picky about growing conditions, therefore it is able to develop normally in almost any place. The plant is an annual. To always have planting material at hand, you will have to stock up on seeds during the season. Planting a shepherd's purse is best done at the beginning of spring. Due to the long growing season, the rosettes will not have time to form if the seeds are planted in summer. Seeds sent to the ground in the fall will only germinate the next year.
After thawing the soil in the garden, they choose a sunny site and dig it up well. The soil must be fertile and moist. The seeds of a shepherd's purse, mixed with sand, are sown in rows, keeping a distance between them of at least 20 cm. Then they are sprinkled with a small layer of earth. As a rule, the first green shoots, under favorable conditions, germinate after 5-10 days.
Growing a shepherd's purse
Growing a shepherd's purse is not difficult. The grass requires watering in cases where there is stable dry weather for a long time. Shoots do not need to be loosened between rows. Top dressing is applied only once a summer. They use complex mineral compositions intended for flowering plants. If large and shadowy weeds appear in the area where the shepherd's purse grows, they are removed.
The handbag demonstrates resistance to pests and diseases. However, from time to time, the annual is sick with powdery mildew, and the leaves are eaten by cruciferous fleas. Ordinary ash and soda ash solution helps to cope with the scourge. If traditional methods do not bring results, then in advanced cases you will have to use biofungicidal drugs, for example, Fitosporin-M, Gamair or Planriz.
Storage and collection of herbs
The collection of the shepherd's purse is performed during the flowering period several times during the season. First in the spring, waiting for the first shoots to bloom, and then in the fall. It is recommended to collect only dry grass. Shoots with leaves are carefully dug up and the roots are cut off. Then it is dried in a dark, well-ventilated room with normal humidity. The raw materials are spread in a thin layer on parchment or paper sheets. It is necessary to maintain the room temperature in the room. It is better to throw away diseased or damaged by pests. Such copies will not be suitable for further use.
The dried herb breaks down well, has a green tint, a barely perceptible aroma and taste with bitterness. It is recommended to store the shepherd's bag in cardboard boxes or paper bags. Cloth bags are also useful. The plant retains its medicinal properties for two to three years.
Healing properties of shepherd's purse
All vegetative parts of the shepherd's purse can be used as medicinal raw materials. We are talking about fruits, stems and flowers. Plant tissues contain tannins, proteins, carbohydrates, saponins, choline and acetylcholine. The herb is rich in organic acids and allyl mustard oil. The substances in the shepherd's bag are able to stop the blood, therefore drugs made on its basis are prescribed in cases of pulmonary hemorrhage or other similar organ damage.
The plant is used for serious gynecological injuries, for example, postpartum hemorrhage, uterine fibroids, delayed ovulation. The handbag is considered an excellent contraceptive. The dried herb is part of many blood-purifying medicinal preparations that doctors prescribe for cystitis, urolithiasis, and pyelonephritis. The components of the shepherd's purse have a neutralizing effect and are able to remove toxins from the body. The plant effectively heals wounds, dilates blood vessels, increases the rate of blood filtration by the kidneys, stops inflammatory processes and lowers temperature. Teas and decoctions made from dried raw materials regulate the level of pressure, which is especially important in old age.
This herbal decoction helps to cope with problems related to digestion, and has a healing effect in liver diseases, gastritis, stomach and duodenal ulcers. The handbag is used as a choleretic and diuretic.
The juice squeezed from the leaves of a shepherd's purse is advised to drink for diarrhea and rheumatism in the amount of 40-50 drops. If bleeding occurs, the juice is instilled into the nose. Various bruises, swellings and cuts are treated with lotions and herbal compresses, which are placed on the affected area. Among folk methods, an infusion of the plant is often used to stop internal bleeding and a prolonged menstrual cycle.
There are many vitamins in the herb shepherd's purse. Fresh leaves can be added to salads, borscht, soups and pies.
Infusion recipe
10 g of dried raw materials are poured into 1 tbsp. boiling water, incubated for 30 minutes, and then filtered. 1 tbsp infusion must be taken before each meal for 2-3 weeks with bleeding of internal organs.
Tea recipe
2 tbsp dry crushed leaves are poured with 50 g of boiling water and insisted for 10 minutes, then filtered through cheesecloth and drunk 2 tbsp. daily. The water must be settled.
Decoction recipe
2 tbsp dry raw materials are poured into 1 tbsp. boiling water and leave on fire for no more than a minute so that the mixture is thoroughly boiled.After half an hour, the broth is filtered and used in the form of lotions or compresses.
Contraindications
Despite the large list of useful medicinal properties, shepherd's purse has a number of contraindications. Medicines that include the components of a shepherd's purse should not be used by pregnant women, patients with hemorrhoids, varicose veins and thrombophlebitis.
