Thlaspi bursa pastoris
Capsella bursa-pastoris · Shepherd’s purse. · Plant · Brassicaceae
Predominantly a remedy given for problems of the female reproductive system, Thlaspi is especially associated with fibroids and with hemorrhaging, particularly during pregnancy. The hemorrhaging is characteristically accompanied by great pain and violent cramping in the uterus. It may occur between menstrual periods, during pregnancy, following labor, or after a miscarriage or abortion. Menstrual flow tends to be excessively profuse and frequent, causing great exhaustion. Frequent nosebleeds are also a possible symptom during pregnancy.
Key symptoms
- Hemorrhage from uterine fibroid with aching in back or bruised soreness
- Uterine hemorrhage with cramps and expulsion of clots
- Metrorrhagia; every alternate period very profuse
- Leucorrhea bloody, dark, offensive, stains indelibly
- Renal colic; brick-dust sediment; accumulation of gravel
- Frequent desire to urinate; urine heavy and phosphatic
- Albuminuria during gestation; craves buttermilk
Worse (aggravation)
Better (amelioration)
Shepherd's Purse (CAPSELLA)
Is an anti-hæmorrhagic and anti-uric-acid remedy. Albuminuria during gestation. Chronic neuralgia. Renal and vesical irritation. Hæmorrhage from uterine fibroid with aching in back or general bruised soreness. Aching between scapulæ. Uterine hæmorrhage, with cramps and expulsion of clots. Craves buttermilk. Effects of suppressed uterine disease (Burnett).
Head
Eyes and face puffy. Frequent epistaxis. Vertigo; worse, rising. Frontal pain; worse toward evening. Scaly eruption behind ears. Tongue white, coated. Mouth and lips cracked. Sharp pain over right eye drawing eye upwards.
Nose
Bleeding in nasal operations. Especially passive hæmorrhage.
Male
Spermatic cord sensitive to concussion of walking or riding.
Female
Metrorrhagia; too frequent and copious menses. Hæmorrhage, with violent uterine colic. Every alternate period very profuse. Leucorrhœa before and after menses; bloody, dark, offensive; stains indelibly. Sore pain in womb on rising. Scarcely recovers from one period before another begins.
Urinary
Frequent desire; urine heavy, phosphatic. Chronic cystitis. Dysuria and spasmodic retention. Hæmaturia. Accumulation of gravel. Renal colic. Brick-dust sediment. Urethritis; urine runs away in little jets. Often replaces the use of the catheter.
Relationship
Compare: Urtica; Croc; Trill; Millefol.
Dose
Tincture, to sixth potency.
Capsella bursa pastoris. Shepherd's Purse. N. O. Cruciferæ. Tincture of fresh flowering plant.
Clinical
Abortion, hæmorrhage after. Dropsy. Dysentery. Dysuria. Fibroma. Gall-stones. Gonorrhœa. Hæmaturia. Hæmorrhages. Leucorrhœa. Liver, affections of. Metrorrhagia. Ranula. Renal calculi. Strangury. Uric acid diathesis. Uterus, hæmorrhages from; affections of; cancer of. Whitlow.
Characteristics
"Shepherd's purse," says Gerarde, "stayeth bleeding in any part of the body, whether the juice or the decoction thereof be drunk, or whether it be used poultice-wise, or in both, or any way else. In a clyster it cureth the bloody flux; it healeth green and bleeding wounds; it is marvellous good for inflammations new beginning and for all diseases which must be checked back and cooled." Gerarde adds that the decoction will stop diarrhœa, blood-spitting, hæmaturia, and all other fluxes of blood. Thlasp. is the white-man's faithful friend. "A native of Europe, it has accompanied Europeans in all their migrations, and …
Shepherds Purse. (Cruciferae)
Profuse passive haemorrhage from every outlet of the body; blood dark and clotted. Metrorrhagia: with violent cramps and uterine colic; in chlorosis; after abortion, labor, miscarriage; at climacteric; with cancer uteri (Phos., Ust.). Menses: too early; too profuse; protracted (eight, ten, even fifteen days); tardy in starting, first day merely a show; second day colic, vomiting, a haemorrhage with large clots; each alternate period more profuse. Haemorrhage or delaying menses from uterine inertia; exhausting, scarcely recovers from one period before another begins. Leucorrhoea: bloody, dark, offensive; some days before and after menses.
Phatak's chapter on Thlaspi bursa pastoris is available in the app.
Read Phatak in the appClassical texts are in the public domain. Educational reference only — not medical advice.
