Fumitory, herb, cut, organic - 50g

Fumaria officinalis L., herb cut, controlled organic cultivation

Indication

appetite and digestion stimulant

Use

Pour 1/4 l water over 2 teaspoons of fumitory, heat to boiling point, allow to steep for 10 minutes, then strain. If necessary, drink up to 3 cups of tea per day.

Medicinal herb description

History:

Even in ancient times, fumitory was considered an important and honoured medicinal plant for liver diseases. Ancient Greek, Roman and Arabic physicians used fumitory as a blood purifier for clear skin, as well as for melancholy, liver and spleen disorders, ulcers and skin rashes. Nowadays, however, fumitory is rarely used because the main active ingredient, the alkaloid fumarin, has a reputation for being slightly toxic. However, fumarin shares this reputation with numerous other active plant substances, because everything that is supposed to be effective is naturally poisonous in higher doses, as Paracelsus already knew. The name fumitory (fumus, lat. = smoke) is said to be due to the fact that the grey-green leaves, which appear smoked, look like smoke from a distance.

Occurrence:

The common fumitory is native to Europe and Asia and is now widespread throughout the world. It prefers to grow in nutrient-rich, cultivated areas. Therefore, it is mainly found at the edges of fields, in gardens and vineyards.

Plant family:

Fumaria = Fumaceae

Colloquial names:

Fumitory (Engl.), field fumitory, brood fumitory, butter fumitory, true -, common -, common fumitory, earth fumitory, field rue, fennel fumitory, dark fumitory, ful gret, grind fumitory, cat's claw, scabious, barbary fumitory, pigeon fumitory, willow fumitory.

Botanical description:

Common fumitory (Fumaria officinalis) is a 30- 50 cm tall glabrous annual, blue-green maturing, single or multi-stemmed medicinal plant. The somewhat grooved stem is erect, but weak and almost climbing. The leaf blade of the alternate, stalked leaves is double-pinnate and has 2 - 3 mm wide tips. The flowers are arranged in several 10 - 50-flowered, leaf-axillary, erect racemes facing the leaves. The individual flowers are asymmetrical and resemble labiate flowers. The sepals are 2-3 mm long, lanceolate-ovate and toothed. The 4 petals are in two circles. One of the two outer, purple-red petals, dark red to black at the tip, has a short, blunt spur. The inner petals are fused at the tip and are the same colour as the outer ones. One of the two three-part stamens protrudes to the spur, where it secretes nectar to attract insects for pollination. However, self-pollination often occurs. The ovary, which develops from two carpels, becomes a spherical, 2 - 3 mm wide nutlet. These small fruits appear already during the flowering period in summer, approximately between April and October, when the earth shrub blossoms with red flowers.

Applied plant part:

The above-ground parts of the plant collected during the flowering season are used medicinally.

Active substance/gathering time:

Flowering and collecting time is between April and October.

Ingredients:

Fumarin, protopin, fumaric acid, tannic acid, mucilage, various benzylisoquinol alkaloids with the main alkaloid protopin, besides amino acids, bitter substances and flavanoids.

The alkaloids are said to have a mild spasmolytic effect on the bile ducts and upper digestive tract.

Medicinal properties:

Blood purifying, diuretic, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, appetite and digestive stimulant.

Slight spasmolytic (antispasmodic) effects in the upper digestive tract, especially in the area of the bile ducts, have been proven for fumitory herb. The drug also has a diuretic effect. However, these weak diuretic (diuretic) or laxative (laxative) effects are not sufficiently proven. The effect is based on seven different alkaloids, of which protopine is particularly important. Fumaric acid, which is contained in large quantities in the plant, also plays a special role. The total extract is also used as a spasmolytic. The drug has antispasmodic properties and stimulates bile production. Anticholinergic, antiarrhythmic, antibacterial and GABA-stimulating effects have also been described. Synthetic fumaric acid is a component of modern medicines for psoriasis and eczema.

Use and dosage:

Bile weakness, constipation, worms, haemorrhoids, liver weakness, biliary colic, migraine, depression, hypochondria, skin problems, skin inflammation, eczema.

Earth smoke has a pronounced effect on the function of the gallbladder. The effect is regulating, i.e., too strong bile secretion by the liver is alleviated, too weak bile function is strengthened. The drainage of bile into the intestine is also facilitated by fumitory. The fumitory herb is generally said to purify the blood. It is mainly good for acute and chronic bile duct diseases. Therefore, it is also known to be good for biliary (gallbladder-related) migraine and right-sided supraorbital (above the eye) headache. In addition, fumitory helps with constipation and other problems of the digestive system. It is also used for depressive moods.

Fumitory can be used internally, as a tea or tincture. As the substances contained in fumitory are not completely unproblematic, it is best to use fumitory in mixed teas so that one does not consume too large quantities of fumitory.

You can also use fumitory tea externally in the form of compresses, baths or washes. This type of application can relieve eczema and other skin inflammations.

For a fumitory tea, pour 1 - 2 teaspoons (2 - 4 g) of fumitory over a cup of boiling water and let it steep for 10 minutes, then strain. Drink the still warm tea in small sips half an hour before meals. Drink 1 - 3 cups of this tea daily.

As with all strongly effective medicinal herbs, one should take a break after 6 weeks of continuous use and temporarily drink another tea with a similar effect. Afterwards, you can drink fumitory tea again for 6 weeks. The break prevents any undesirable long-term effects and the desired effectiveness of the herbal tea is maintained and does not diminish through habituation.

Average daily dose: 6g

Special advice:

Ingestion of larger quantities of alkaloids may lead to symptoms of poisoning.

Do not use in higher doses or over a longer period of time!

Do not use during pregnancy and lactation, as there is insufficient information on safety!