Benefits of Shepherds Purse

Benefits of shepherds purse include not only a tasty addition to your salads or stews, but also a medicinal herb that may increase fertility, stop internal hemorrhages, and make childbirth easier.  Here's some good information on this great little wild plant.

What Does it Look Like?

Shepherds purse is a delicate little plant that seldom gets bigger than two feet tall.  It has a rosette of leaves at its base with leaves that are rounded initially and then develop a teeth pattern similar to dandelion as the plant matures. 

The way to distinguish shepherds purse from a dandelion plant (also an edible wild plant) is by looking at the direction the “teeth” are facing.  The teeth of the dandelion leaves point downwards, while the teeth of shepherds purse point upwards.

Shepherds purse will eventually produce a long stem and a delicate 4-petaled white flower.  It also produces a triangular-shaped 2-parted seed pod.

Where Can You Find It?

Look for Shepherds purse anywhere there is disturbed soil, such as roadsides, lawns, and meadows. It will be one of the earliest wild greens to come up in the springtime.  In warmer climates, such as the South, it also pops up again in the fall.

Or Consider Growing It

The botanical name for this delicate plant is Capsella bursa-pastoris. Its other names include hen pepper, case weed, and lady’s purse. You can find Shepherds purse seeds here.

The good news is bees love it, so think about planting it if you plan on keeping bees. The bad news is it grows easily and spreads rapidly. A single plant can produce up to 60,000 seeds, making it easy to spread and take over your garden, so you don't have to worry about saving the seeds for the following spring, although you could collect the seeds to share with others. Because this plant is so easy to grow and so good at spreading, you will need to keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn’t take over your garden. The plant is self-fertile, meaning once you get it started, there’s likely no stopping it.

When you do thin out the plants, be sure to pull out the entire plant by its taproot. Otherwise, it will just keep on spreading.

Plant the seeds in the early spring. You will need soil that is rich in humus and nitrogen. Scatter the seeds over your soil and then lightly press them in. The seeds should germinate within a week. 

How Do You Eat Shepherds Purse?

You can eat the entire plant, including the flowers and seed pods, but if you are harvesting it for food, shepherds purse is best in the early spring, when it has more leaves and a milder flavor.  Like most greens, its flavor grows stronger the older it gets.  Also, once shepherds purse starts to flower, it will lose most of its leaves, so there will be less to harvest.

Shepherds purse is a member of the mustard family, so the older it gets, the more of a peppery flavor it develops.  If harvested young, it will have a very mild flavor.  You can eat the plants raw in salads, steam or saute them or add them to soups and stews.

What Are Benefits of Shepherds Purse?

The benefits of shepherds purse include plenty of vitamin C, A and K, along with some protein and minerals.  Because this little plant does have vitamin K, you should not eat this if you are on blood thinners.

Shepherds purse has been known to help with a prolapsed bladder or uterus and may also be able to fight cancer.

You can also harvest the root, dehydrate it, and then ground it up to use as a ginger substitute.

Medicinal Benefits

Shepherds purse is a great remedy for women, especially if made and used as a tincture.  It can help increase fertility and strengthen uterine contractions during childbirth.  It will also help ease heavy menses.

Traditionally, this amazing herb was used to lessen internal hemorrhaging.  Put a few drops of the tincture in your ear to ease an earache.

Warning

Because it can stimulate uterine contractions, don't eat this plant if you are pregnant.  Also the seeds can give some people dermatitis.  So wear gloves if you plan on harvesting the seed pods.

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About the Author

My name is Sue Merriam, and I began the journey of self-reliant living more than three decades ago, which enabled me to stay home with my children. Fifteen years ago, I founded Joyful Homesteading to help others save money and face the future without fear. My goal is to give you practical, honest advice so you can save money and experience the joy of simple living. I hope you join me.

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