Latin name: Fumaria officinalisGenus: Poppy plant: Field Cabbage, Blausporn, Smoky CabbagePlant description: Annual, dainty in flower and leaf. The stem is strongly branched, the leaves are gray-green and delicately pinnate. The flowers spurred, arranged in loose clusters, pink to dark red in color, with a dark red spot at the tip. Flowering time: June to JulyOrigin: Commonly found as a weed in rubble and fields.
Medicinally used plant parts
The herb without the roots.
Ingredients
Several alkaloids (protopine, cryptocavine), bitter substances, resins, flavonoids, mucilages.
Healing effects and use of fumitory
Similar to the celandine, fumitory has an antispasmodic and regulating effect on biliary tract diseases. Fumitory also has a slightly laxative and diuretic effect and is therefore often a component of so-called blood cleansing teas as used in spring cures.
Preparation of fumitory
Pour over 1 teaspoonful of the earth smoky herb with 1⁄4 l of water, heat to boiling point, leave to stand for 10 minutes, strain. Drink three cups a day.
Combination with other medicinal plants
Fumitory is mainly used as an ingredient in tea blends. It is mixed with celandine, peppermint, chamomile, centaury, mugwort. Tea blend (as a blood purifying tea, for example, as a spring cure): fumitory, birch leaves, nettle leaves, pansies, lemon balm leaves are mixed in equal parts.
Pour 1⁄4 l boiling water over 2 teaspoons of this mixture and let it steep for 10 minutes. Strain and drink 2 cups daily. Used as a cure, this tea has a slightly laxative, draining effect, stimulates the metabolism and improves the appearance of the skin.
Side effect
Only in case of severe overdose abdominal pain can occur. No side effects are expected at normal dosage.
