Bursae pastoris herba

Bursae pastoris herba, also known as shepherd's purse, is a drug that is used in herbal medicinal products for the treatment of superficial skin lesions and menorrhagia, among other things.

The quality is defined in the German Drug Codex (DAC).

HMPC monograph: Traditional-use: heavy menstrual bleeding with normal menstrual cycle
ESCOP: not processed
Commission E-monograph: Internal: lighter menorrhagia (increased and prolonged menstrual bleeding), metrorrhagia (continuous bleeding); External: nosebleeds, superficial, bleeding skin lesions.

Empirical medicine: nosebleeds, dysmenorrhea, support of gastric function. Now obsolete for uterine bleeding.

Bursae pastoris herba contains flavonoids (e.g. diosmin, rutoside), phenylcarboxylic acids, biogenic amines (including tyramine and acetylcholine).

Bursae pastoris herba has hemostyptic, blood pressure-lowering (only when used parenterally in low doses) and blood pressure-increasing (only when used parenterally in higher doses) effects.
In addition, shepherd's purse is said to have positive inotropic and chronotropic, local hemostyptic effects as well as an increase in uterine contraction.

Stimulation of the contraction of the uterine muscles, labor and menstruation-promoting effect.

Bursae pastoris herba is used for mild menorrhagia, mild metrorrhagia, nosebleeds and superficial bleeding skin injuries. It is also used for heavy menstrual bleeding.

No safety studies available. Caution: In early pregnancy risk of miscarriage due to the contraction-promoting effect on the uterus.

The average daily dose is 10 to 15 g of the drug, depending on the preparation. The daily dose of fluid extract (equivalent to EB 6) is between 5 and 8 g, for local applications 3 to 5 g per 150 ml infusion.

Tea preparation: 10 g per 100 ml of hot water, leave to infuse for 15 minutes.

3-5 days before the menstrual cycle and during the entire menstrual period, not suitable for children and adolescents under 18 years of age.

Allergy to one of the ingredients, miscarriage in early pregnancy.

Children and adolescents 18 years, allergies to any of the ingredients. Pregnancy, especially early pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Styptysat Bürger Drgs (ED 200mg)

The tincture should be freshly prepared and the drug should be stored in a dry place.

1. Schilcher H (ed.) in, Leitfaden Phytotherapie, Urban & Fischer Verlag (2016) Munich, p.158 f.
2. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/hirtentaeschel.php
3. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/draft-community-herbal-monograph-capsella-bursa-pastoris-l-medikus-herba-first-version_en.pdf
4. Wenigmann M. (2017) Phytotherapy medicinal drugs, phytopharmaceuticals, application. Urban & Fischer, pp. 124-125
5. https://heilkraeuter.de/lexikon/hirtenta.htm
6. Blaschek W (2015) Wichtl tea drugs and phytopharmaceuticals. A handbook for practitioners. Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft Munich. S 131-132