Herb Highlight: Shepherd's Purse
Capsella bursa-pastoris
Research spotlight: Shepherd's purse has traditionally been used to control bleeding. One randomized trial found that adding Shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) extract to conventional treatment significantly reduced heavy menstrual bleeding compared with conventional treatment alone (Naafe et al., 2018).
Key information
Traditional uses
Safety & precautions
Research in Women's health:
-
Heavy menstrual bleeding:
- 2018 triple-blind RCT enrolled 84 women with heavy menstrual bleeding. Both groups took mefenamic acid, but one group also received Shepherd's purse. The group receiving both had a significally greater reduction in menstrual blood loss.
-
Postpartum Bleeding:
- 2017 RCT studied 100 women after vaginal delivery. All received oxytocin, while one half also received shepherd's purse. The combo group had significantly greater reduction in postpartum bleeding.
Plant Chemistry + Major Active Compounds:
-
-
Shepherd’s purse contains sulforaphane, a type of isothiocyanate.
-
What are isothiocyanates?
Isothiocyanates are compounds that form when certain plant chemicals called glucosinolates are broken down. -
When the plant is chewed or crushed, an enzyme called myrosinase breaks the compound down.
-
Simple biochemical pathway:
Glucoraphanin (a glucosinolate) → myrosinase (enzyme that breaks it down) → sulforaphane (bioactive isothiocyanate) - In simple terms: glucoraphanin is the starting full compound, and sulforaphane is what forms after glucoraphanin is broken down.
-
-
Used as Functional Food:
-
What is a functional food?
- a food that provides nutritionally value + bioactive compounds that may have additional physiological effects.
- a food that provides nutritionally value + bioactive compounds that may have additional physiological effects.
-
Shepherd’s purse may be used as a functional food since the process of chewing breaks the compounds down into sulforaphane.
-
What other foods contain sulforaphane?
- arugula
- cabbage
- kale
- mustard greens
- broccoli sprouts (highest amount)
- bok choy
-
What is sulforaphane known for?
- activates the body's cellular defense system (Nrf2 pathway → helps cells respond to oxidative stress).
- Brain health
- detoxification
- anti-inflammatory
- anti-bacterial activity (studies show inhibition of vancomycin-resistant enterococci and Bacillus anthracis).
- cardiometabolic health
- antioxidant defense
- anti-cancer properties
Join the conversation
0 commentsSign in to join the conversation.
Sign in Create accountStart the conversation.