botanical name(s): Capsella bursa-pastoris
synonyms: shepherd's purse, mother's heart, cocowort, pick-pocket, St. James' weed, shepherd's heart, toywort, hirtentaschel, bourse a pasteur, fleur de S. Jacques, bolsa de pastor, borsa di pastore
part(s) used: herb
qualities: pungent
affinities:
actions: antiscorbutic, stimulant, diuretic, styptic
dosage:
» tincture: 1 - 4 ml. of fresh, undried herb
therapy: kidney complaints, dropsy, chronic diarrhea
AHPA Botanical Safety Rating: 2b, 2d (due to oxalates, caution is advised for those with a history of kidney stones) (McGuffin)
toxicity: 0
» contraindicated in pregnancy due to emmenagogue (Brinker, Farnsworth) and abortifacient effect and the uterine stimulant action (Brinker, Lust, Farnsworth)
constituents: flavonoids, fumaric and bursic acids, choline, acetylcholine, histamine, tyramine
footnotes
Brinker F. 1996. The Toxicology of Botanical Medicines, rev. 2nd ed., Sandy, Oregon: Eclectic Medical Publications.
Farnsworth NR, Bingel AS, Cordell GA, Crane FA, Fong HHS. 1975. Potential Value of Plants as Sources of New Antifertility Agents I. J. Pharm. Sci., 64:535-98.
Lust, J. 1983. The Herb Book. New York: Bantam Books.