Shepherd’s Purse

VARIANT NAMES  Hushengcao, Jingchangcao, Dimicai, Xiangcai.

ORIGIN  The whole grass of Capsella bursa-pastoris [Cruciferae].

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION  Containing organic acid(oxalic acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, pyruvic acid, p-ami nobenzene sulfonic acid and fumaric acid), amino acid (arginine, aspartic acid, proline, methionine, leucine, glutamic acid, glycine, alanine, cystine, cysteine), sugar (sucrose, sorbose,lactose, aminoglucose, sorbitol, mannitol, adonttol), inorganic substance (potassium, calcium, iron, chlorine, phosphorus,manganese) and choline, acetylcholine, brucine, saponin, flavonoids. Every 500g of shepherd’s purse contains 21.2g of protein, 1.6g of fat, 24g of sugar, 1680mg of calcium, 292mg of phosphorus, 25.2mg of iron, 12.8mg of carotene, 0.56mg of thiamine, 0.76mg of ovoflavin, 2.8mg of nicotinic acid, and 220mg of vitamin C.

NATURE, FLAVOR AND CHANNEL TROPISM  Sweet in flavor and neutral in nature, acting on the channels of the liver, heart and spleen.

EFFICIENCIES AND INDICATIONS  Regulating the spleen, inducing diuresis, arresting bleeding and improving eyesight. It is used to treat dysentery, hydrops, stranguria, chylous urine, hematemesis due to Asthma, Nasal Bleeding, Painful Menstruation, menorrhagia, Intermenstrual Bleeding, pain and swelling due to conjunctival congestion.

DIRECTIONS  To be decocted, sauteed, or made into dumplings for eating. It is to be used as an ingredient of pills, powder, or to be mashed for external application.