Papaya - a world class meat tenderizer, natural digestive aid, prevents ulcers, and also a soft contact lense cleaner.Shepherd’s Purse The Safety Factor
If this herb does in fact stop bleeding, no one is sure exactly how. It might strengthen blood vessel walls. Or it might stimulate clotting. Internal blood clotting may trigger heart disease, stroke, or thromboembolism. Those with a history of these conditions should not take shepherd’s purse.
To use shepherd’s purse externally on wounds or hemorrhoids, soak a clean cloth in either an infusion or tincture. The medical literature contains no reports of harm from this herb.
Other Cautions
For otherwise healthy non-pregnant, non-nursing adults who have no history of heart attack, stroke, or thromboembolism, shepherd’s purse is considered relatively safe in amounts typically recommended.
Shepherd’s purse should be used in medicinal amounts only in consultation with your doctor. If shepherd’s purse causes minor discomforts, such as stomach upset or diarrhea, use less or stop using it. Let your doctor know if you ex-perience any unpleasant effects or if the symptoms for which the herb is being used do not improve significantly in two weeks.
Don’t Let the Contents Spill
Shepherd’s purse is a foul-smelling annual that reaches 18 inches. Its slender stem rises from a rosette of deeply toothed leaves similar to dandelion. The stem bears a few small leaves and terminates in small white flowers. The fruits are wedgeshaped seed pods, containing literally thousands of yellow seeds, hence the herb’s names.
Shepherd’s purse grows easily from seeds planted in spring under full sun. It prefers well-drained sandy loam but tolerates most North American soils. If unchecked, it can become a garden and lawn pest To avoid this, clip the seed pods before they open. The young leaves have a peppery taste and may be added to soups and stews or eaten like spinach.
Harvest the leaves and flower tops as the flowers open.