Common name: shepherd’s purse, witches pouches
Botanical name: Capsella bursa-pastoris
Botanical family: Brassicaceae
Cultivation
Although native to Europe, this plant has made its home in many other places. It self sows very easily and grows well in most conditions. It disappears in summer and reappear in autumn. It’s frost resistant.
It is biennial, meaning that it will die off on its second year of growth. It’s easy to propagate from seeds and it transplants well too.
How does it do here in Central Otago? It grows very well! It’s very hardy, tolerates cold temperature and frost. It often grows on dry gravely patches but can also do very well in rich soil.
Traditional medicinal uses
Its main action is to stop the blood, it’s antihemorrhagic.
It’s also high in vitamins and minerals.
How to use it?
Part used: aerial parts (leaves, stems, flowers and seeds).
It can be added fresh to salads and pesto (use the seed head and young leaves), tinctured in alcohol or glycerine.
Mythology/Folklore
The name comes from the fact that seed pods looked like the poaches carries by shepherds.
It is said that during World War I, an extract from Shepherd’s purse plants was used by doctors to control bleeding when the drugs that controlled bleeding were not available.
References
Materia Medica of Western Herbs by Carole Fisher
A Modern Herbal by Mrs M. Grieve
55 plantes medicinales dans mon jardin by Virginie Peytavi
Magic and Medicine of Plants
