Can shepherd's purse be eaten raw?
May 10, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yu Yongchao
Introduction
Shepherd's purse is a common wild vegetable with tender green leaves that have serrated or lobed edges and grow close to the ground. It produces small white flowers in spring, and its fruit is small and heart-shaped, making it easily identifiable. It commonly grows in fields and along roadsides. Rich in vitamins and minerals, especially calcium, it helps to supplement nutrition. However, shepherd's purse generally contains high levels of oxalic acid, so it is not recommended to eat it raw.
In general, shepherd's purse is not recommended to be eaten raw. Details are as follows:
Shepherd's purse is a common edible and medicinal wild vegetable, often found in fields and along roadsides. It is rich in nutrients and contains various vitamins and minerals. It can enhance immunity, provide antioxidant protection for the eyes, and promote digestion. Its high calcium content contributes to strong bones, while iron helps improve anemia. In traditional Chinese medicine, shepherd's purse is considered to have a neutral property and sweet taste, which can clear heat and detoxify, promote diuresis and reduce edema, and relieve excessive liver fire in spring. Generally, it is not recommended to eat shepherd's purse raw, as doing so may increase oxalate levels in the body, potentially leading to diseases such as stones.
When consuming shepherd's purse, it is recommended to blanch it first to remove excess oxalate before consumption. It is also important to thoroughly wash the shepherd's purse, as wild varieties may be contaminated with dirt, pesticide residues, or parasite eggs. Washing under running water or soaking in a weak saltwater solution before washing can more effectively remove pesticide residues and parasite eggs. Additionally, special populations should use caution—for example, pregnant women, children, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems should avoid collecting shepherd's purse from wild or polluted areas, and should choose shepherd's purse grown in clean, cultivated areas instead.
When consuming shepherd's purse, it is important to strictly control the food preparation process to ensure thorough cleaning, control the amount consumed to avoid overeating and placing excessive strain on the body, and ensure special populations exercise caution. Practicing scientific dietary habits can help avoid harm to health.
