The efficacy and function of shepherd's purse

Shepherd's purse is something that many people are very familiar with. The benefits that shepherd's purse brings to us are not available in other foods. So what are the effects of shepherd's purse? Let's learn about it together.

[Other names] Aconite, Aconite (Erya), Apricot ginseng (Bencao Tujing), Apricot leaf adenophora, White flour root (Jiuhuang Bencao), Sweet Platycodon (Compendium of Materia Medica), Wild Platycodon (Bencao Yuanshi), Empty Platycodon (Bencao Congxin), Plum ginseng, Long leaf adenophora (Commonly used herbal medicines in Zhejiang folks).

[Source] It is the root of Capsella tataricus, a plant of the Campanulaceae family.

[Original form] Perennial herb. The stem is about 1 meter high, contains white latex, and is glabrous or has rare protruding long hairs. Leaves are alternate; leaf blades are ovate to oblong-ovate, 5-20 cm long, 3-8 cm wide, with pointed tips, sharp serrations on the edges, bases nearly truncated to cordate, and petiolate; upper leaves are small and sessile. The inflorescence is paniculate; the branches are quite long and the pedicels are short; the bracts are small; the flowers are drooping; the calyx is 5-lobed, the lobes are green, lanceolate, with sharp tips, and are 5-8 mm long; the corolla is expanded into a bell shape above, is light blue-purple, and is 2-3 cm long; the apex is 5-lobed, the lobes are pointed, and drooping; there are 5 stamens, the lower half of the filaments are lanceolate, and gradually become narrower above; there is 1 pistil, the style is slightly shorter than the corolla, the upper part is swollen, the stigma is 3-lobed, and the ovary is inferior. Capsule round; contains many seeds. Flowering period is from August to September. Fruiting period is October.

[Habitat distribution] Distributed in mountains and plains throughout my country.

【Chemical composition】 Contains β-sitosterol and carotene sterol, etc.

【Nature and flavor】 Sweet, cold.

【Meridian】 ① "Depei Materia Medica": "Enters the Taiyin meridian of the hand."

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat, detoxifies and resolves phlegm. Treat dry cough, sore throat, diabetes, carbuncle and swelling.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral administration: decoct in water, 1 to 3 qian; grind into powder or make into pills. For external use: grind into powder and apply or mash it for application.

[Additional prescription] ① For the treatment of acute and chronic bronchitis: one liang (three qian) of fresh shepherd's purse root (scrape off the rough skin on the surface), add five qian of loquat leaf (remove the hair). Decoction in water. (Commonly used herbal medicines among Zhejiang folks)

[Clinical application] Treatment of carbuncle: Wash and chop fresh shepherd's purse roots, add 10% rapeseed oil to grind into paste, then mix with 30% vaseline, apply to the local area, about 0.5 cm thick, and fix with a bandage or adhesive tape. Change the dressing once a day until the symptoms disappear. In the treatment of 9 cases of acute and chronic suppurative inflammation in the early stage (2 cases of furuncle, 2 cases of carbuncle, and 5 cases of abscess), except for 1 case with severe systemic symptoms who was treated with penicillin injection and oral Chinese medicine, the rest were treated with shepherd's purse external application alone. After 1 to 5 times, the purpose of dissipation was achieved in all cases, and there was no case of suppuration.

[Remarks] Shepherd's purse is similar to this species and is also used for medicinal purposes.

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

[Source] From "Ming Yi Bie Lu".

Above we introduced what shepherd's purse is. We know that shepherd's purse has very comprehensive effects and functions, so we can use shepherd's purse as a means of regulating the body in daily life.