Pastor’s purse: use, properties, and tradition

Pastor’s purse is an annual herbaceous plant that is very common in Italy and is quite ubiquitous.

The etymology of its name refers to the shape of the fruit, a silicle, which resembles a small flattened heart or the typical bags of shepherds. It is also commonly called by many other names, including borsacchina, erba borsa, scarsellina, cimino, or raperina.

The size of its stem can vary from a few centimeters to 50 cm in height, with basal leaves being toothed or pinnately divided, 8-12 cm long, 2-4 cm wide, and narrowed at the base with a very short petiole; stem leaves are sessile, amplexicaul, and arrow-shaped.

The flowers are small, with green sepals, sometimes burgundy, and white petals.

The fruit is a heart or triangle-shaped silicle, about 5 mm in size, obcordate; each chamber contains numerous seeds.

The medicinal part is the aerial part, and the recommended harvesting time is from May to August, preferably using it fresh.

The drug contains the alkaloid burserine, sulfur essential oil, tannins, tyramine, flavonoids (diosmin), choline, acetylcholine and glucosides (bursic acid).

The medicinal properties of Pastor’s purse are mainly hemostatic, so it is indicated for use in bleeding, particularly as a regulator of heavy and irregular menstrual flow, as well as for nosebleeds, wounds, and hemorrhoids.

The herbalist recommends its use in decoction (5 g in 100 ml of water, brought to a boil and steeped for 10 minutes), one cup 3 times a day between meals, while for heavy menstruation, it is advisable to take the decoction 10 days before the onset of bleeding. It can also be taken as a mother tincture (15-30 drops 3 times a day) or as a fluid extract (from 1 to 5 teaspoons per day, 3-4 times a day, away from meals).

The herbalist recommends its use as a decoction (5 grams in 100 ml of water, bring to a boil and let it steep for 10 minutes), one cup three times a day between meals. In case of heavy menstruation, it is advisable to take the decoction 10 days before the onset of bleeding. It can also be taken in the form of mother tincture (15-30 drops three times a day) or as a fluid extract (from 1 to 5 teaspoons per day, 3-4 times a day, away from meals).

In case of nosebleeds, tablets with a decoction of the drug on the affected area are recommended.

It should not be used in combination with anticoagulants or during pregnancy.

The leaves of the basal rosette were used in cooking, either cooked in soups, risottos, or omelets, or raw in salads.

ANJA LATINI

Registered Herbalist RNEP no. GLT0018S