Health Benefits
Stops Nose Bleeds
Bleeding Following Child Birth
Menstrual bleeding
Minor Wounds and Bites
Vitamin C
Anti-cancer
Stimulant
Normalises blood pressure
Anti-inflammatory
Diuretic
Stops Nose Bleeds
According to many pieces of anecdotal evidence, shepherd’s purse can help stem the flow of blood from a nose bleed better than any other single treatment. This is good news for anybody with rough and tumble children that are forever bumping themselves.
The best way to use the herb for a nose bleed is to use the liquid from a shepherd’s purse tea. To make the tea, use between 2 and 3 teaspoons of the dried herb and cover with boiling water. Let it steep for about 10 minutes. Take a cotton ball and dip it into your tea. Squeeze out any excess liquid and insert the ball into the nostril to stem the flow of blood.
Bleeding Following Child Birth
A large percentage of women develop significant bleeding problems after giving birth. Shepherd’s purse is an extremely effective natural remedy to stem the flow of blood and also to help tone up the uterus. Again start by making a large quantity of shepherd’s purse tea.
To make a liter of tea, use 4 heaped teaspoons or so of the herb and add boiled water. Cover your container and allow the tea to steep for a good 30 minutes before straining out the herbs and letting it cool well. Drink your whole liter of tea throughout the course of a day in divided amounts.
You should see fairly dramatic and immediate results. Repeat the treatment the following day and possibly even for a third. It is unlikely that you will need to continue the treatment any longer as the bleeding should have stopped.
Menstrual bleeding
Shepherd’s purse is best known for its antibleeding properties. For centuries, women have used it to reduce heavy or long menstrual cycles, as well as bleeding between cycles and menstrual cramps.
Minor Wounds and Bites
In the same way that shepherd’s purse can stem the flow of a nose bleed, it can also be applied to other parts of the body to help stop bleeding. Of course, if you have a major wound, you should visit the emergency room as soon as possible but for a minor wound, bite, scrape or graze, shepherd’s purse is an excellent remedy.
In fact, many people think that shepherd’s purse should be a part of every person’s emergency kit. This is especially true if you have boisterous children prone to scrapes and cuts.
Again use a tea made with the dried herb and either apply it to the wound with a cotton ball or use it to make a cold compress that you can simply hold against the wound until the bleeding has stopped.
Vitamin C
Shepherd’s Purse is a source of Vitamin C for curing or preventing scurvy. It is quite beneficial for gastrointestinal conditions such as chronic diarrhea, colic, dysentery and promotes bowel movements through intestinal contraction.
Anti-cancer
Shepherd’s purse is a folk remedy for cancer. It consists of fumaric acid which has markedly reduced growth and viability of Ehrlich tumor in mice.
Stimulant
It helps to excites or quickens the functional activity of the tissues by giving more energy and is thus occasionally recommended as a general tonic.
Normalises blood pressure
Shepherd’s Purse is a circulation equalizing herb which helps to normalize circulation, regulate heart action and may help to correct high or low blood pressure.
Anti-inflammatory
Externally Shepherd’s Purse is applied to bruises and limbs suffering from muscular atrophy or external muscular disorders, strains and rheumatic joints.
Diuretic
It increases the volume and flow of urine which help to clean the urinary system. It can be used in the treatment of abscesses and ulcerated conditions of the bladder and ureters, irritation of the urinary tract caused by uric acid or insoluble phosphates or carbonates, urine with white mucous discharge, kidney complaints and bed wetting in children. By helping in processing uric acid from your body, it is beneficial for joint-related problems, such as arthritis and gout.