Shepherd's Purse Herb

I often think it's amazing that what most people think of as a weed, God has actually put there for our good. Plants that most people use chemicals to erase them from their yards ~ Dandelion, Plantain and Shepherd's Purse, to name a few.

Shepherd's Purse is most likely to be found in weedy areas in the UK, Europe and even in the US. It's a pretty little plant with dainty little while flowers and heart-shaped pods that look like a little shepherd's pouch.

Shepherd's Purse is best known for slowing down and/or stopping blood flow. My information tells me that during WWI, Shepherd's Purse was used to stop bleeding of the wounded when the military medics ran out of their usual remedies. 

This little plant can help stop and/or slow bleeding due to menstrual periods, uterine fibroid tumors and post-partum bleeding. Used topically, just as the soldiers learned, it can stop bleeding from lacerations and scratches.

Shepherd's Purse can be used several different ways . . . 

Capsules ~

Using a "0" or "00" size capsule, fill each capsule with approximately 1/8 ts of the dried herb. Take 1 capsule with a meal 2-3 times per day.

Tea ~

Fill a tea ball with 1ts of the dried herb per cup OR 1-1/2 ts per mug, let steep for 5-10 minutes in boiling water. Drink as needed.

Tincture ~

Use 1-2 dropper-fulls of your homemade tincture in a cup of cold water 3-4 times per day. If you have heavy periods, start drinking the tea OR taking the tincture 1 or 2 days before you are scheduled to start and continue during your heaviest days. 

If you don't want to make your own tincture you can find very good ones at your local health food stores. With Herb Pharm tinctures, you can take the same dosage as the homemade, above. 

Topically ~

Bring 1 heaping ts of the dried herb to boil in 1 cup of water. Let steep for 20 minutes. Strain into a container and use a saturated cotton ball to apply it to any laceration, cut or scratch to stop the bleeding and clean the wound with it's astringent properties. Swipe across the wound to apply and clean, and you may also secure a dampened cotton ball on the wound with a band-aid or surgical tape.

All that from a little "weed." God is so good to us.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

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