HERB PROFILE · EDUCATIONAL REFERENCE

Shepherd’s Purse

Botanical nameCapsella bursa-pastoris

Plant part usedWhole herb including seed pods

Important safety information: Avoid pregnancy and breastfeeding without specialist advice. Do not self-treat heavy, recurrent, postmenopausal, pregnancy-related or unexplained bleeding, blood in urine or vomiting blood. Review with anticoagulants, antiplatelets, blood-pressure medicines and thyroid conditions. Avoid plants gathered from roadsides or polluted urban ground because contamination is possible.

Herbal actions

Antihaemorrhagic traditionally
Urinary antiseptic traditionally
Antipyretic traditionally

Traditional and practitioner uses

These uses are presented for historical and educational context. They are not treatment claims.

Traditional short-term use for heavy menstrual bleeding
Historical use for nosebleeds and other minor bleeding
Traditional urinary use
Human evidence remains limited

Main constituents

Flavonoids including rutin, luteolin and quercetin glycosides; glucosinolates including sinigrin; fumaric and bursic acids, choline-related bases and volatile oil

Preparation overview

Tea: Infusion of dried herb. Fisher records these as traditional pharmacy doses; unexplained or heavy bleeding needs diagnosis.

Liquid extract reference: 25% fluid extract historical Fisher reference

Preparation strengths are not interchangeable. Open the interactive guide for the complete evidence notes and sources available for this herb.

Herbilous provides educational information only. It does not diagnose, prescribe, or replace professional medical advice. Seek urgent care for severe or worsening symptoms.