Earth Smoke, Beggary, Hedge Fumitory, Fumus, Wax Dolls, Vapor, Drug fumitory

Last updated: February 8, 2026Reviewed date: February 8, 2026Reading time: 8 min read
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Fumitory is an annual growing plant that grows as a low and trailing shrub with gray and pointed leaves. The plant beans pink to purple flowers in spring. This plant has got various common names such as Earth Smoke, Beggary, Hedge Fumitory, Fumus, Wax Dolls,...

For severe symptoms, danger signs, pregnancy, child illness, or sudden worsening, seek urgent medical care.

বাংলা রোগী নোট এখনো যোগ করা হয়নি। পোস্ট এডিটরে “RX Bangla Patient Mode” বক্স থেকে সহজ বাংলা সারাংশ যোগ করুন।

এই তথ্য শিক্ষা ও সচেতনতার জন্য। এটি ডাক্তারি পরীক্ষা, রোগ নির্ণয় বা প্রেসক্রিপশনের বিকল্প নয়।

Article Summary

Fumitory is an annual growing plant that grows as a low and trailing shrub with gray and pointed leaves. The plant beans pink to purple flowers in spring. This plant has got various common names such as Earth Smoke, Beggary, Hedge Fumitory, Fumus, Wax Dolls, Vapor, Common fumitory, Drug fumitory, Earth smoke and Earth-smoke. Fumitory is inherent to the Mediterranean region, Northern Africa, Siberia and...

Key Takeaways

  • This article explains Facts of Fumitory in simple medical language.
  • This article explains Fumitory Scientific Classification in simple medical language.
  • This article explains Traditional uses in simple medical language.
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Definition

Fumitory is an annual growing plant that grows as a low and trailing shrub with gray and pointed leaves. The plant beans pink to purple flowers in spring. This plant has got various common names such as Earth Smoke, Beggary, Hedge Fumitory, Fumus, Wax Dolls, Vapor, Common fumitory, Drug fumitory, Earth smoke and Earth-smoke. Fumitory is inherent to the Mediterranean region, Northern Africa, Siberia and Europe. It is also introduced to South and North America. It has got naturalized in China, Canada, South Africa, the United States, Australia and South Africa.

Facts of Fumitory

Name Fumitory
Scientific Name Fumaria officinalis
Native Inherent to Mediterranean region, Northern Africa, Siberia and Europe. It is also introduced to South and North America.
Common/English Name Earth Smoke, Beggary, Hedge Fumitory, Fumus, Wax Dolls, Vapor, Common fumitory, Drug fumitory, Earth smoke, Earth-smoke
Name in Other Languages Dutch: Gewone Duivenkervel, Gewone Duivenkervel Subsp. Wirtgenii;
German: Gewöhnliche Erdrauch, Gewöhnlicher Erdrauch;
Danish: Læge-Jordrøg,
English: Drug Fumitory, Fumitory, Wax-Dolls, Earth-Smoke;
Arabic: guessis, shahtredj;
Dutch: Gewone duivekervel, duivekervel,;
Finnish: Peltoemäkki;
French: Herbe à la veuve, Fumeterre officinale;
Icelandic: reykjurt;
Italian: erba calderugia, erba adetina, Fumaria officinalis;
Portuguese: erva moleirinha, Erva-moleirinha, erva pombinha, Fumária, fel-da-terra ;
Romanian: fumăriţă;
Russian: dymjanka lekarstvennaja (дымянка лекарственная);
Spanish: Fumaria, capa de reina, Palomilla;
Swedish: jordrök
Catalan: Fumària, Gallerets, Fumària oficinal, Julivert bord;
Occitan: Fuma-terra, Terribustèri, Fumoterro
Plant Growth Habit Annual, glaucose, herbaceous
Soil Moist
Plant Size 10 to 50 cm high
Root Small, yellow
Stem Tender, angular, erect, branched, glabrous, hollow
Leaves Bluish green, alternate, double pinnate, petiolate
Flowering Season April to October
Flower Crimson to pink, 7 to 9 mm
Fruit shape & size Globular, green, slightly flattened at side
Taste Bitter and salty
Plant parts used Herb, dried herb, aerial parts
Seed Small, black, crestless

Fumitory Scientific Classification

Scientific Name: Fumaria officinalis

Rank Scientific Name & (Common Name)
Kingdom Plantae (Plantes, Planta, Vegetal, plants)
Subkingdom Viridiplantae
Infrakingdom Streptophyta (Land plants)
Superdivision Embryophyta
Division Tracheophyta  (Vascular plants, tracheophytes)
Class Magnoliopsida
Order Ranunculales
Family Papaveraceae  (Poppies)
Genus Fumaria L. (Fumitory)
Species Fumaria officinalis L. (Drug fumitory)
Synonyms
  • Fumaria angustifolia Gilib.
  • Fumaria cirrhata Rohde
  • Fumaria cirrhata Rohde ex DC.
  • Fumaria diffusa Arn.
  • Fumaria diffusa Arn. ex Parl.
  • Fumaria major V.Ten.
  • Fumaria media Rchb.
  • Fumaria muralis Gren. & Godr.
  • Fumaria officinalis subsp. wirtgenii (W.D.J. Koch) Arcangeli
  • Fumaria petteri V.Ten.

Fumitory is occurred as a weed in waste places and arable land of Western Siberia, Europe and Western Asia. It is also found in Finland, Sakhalin Island, Tasmania and New Zealand. It is regarded as serious weed in Tunisia; whereas common weed in England, Bulgaria, Turkey and Russia; and as a cereal weed in France, Chile, Italy, Greece, Germany, Portugal, Yugoslavia and South Africa. Fumitory is considered as weed in other 45 countries.

The plant of Fumitory has thin stems and assorted branches which supports gray to green hued leaves. Leaves are split into triangular shaped jagged leaflets. At the terminal of branches, flowers appear in tube shaped, purplish to pink with crimson tips. Flowers blooms from May to September. Flowers are 7-9 mm in diameter having two lips. Flowers then turn to a fruit as achene which possess single seeds. Fruits are comprised of high content of compounds such as alkaloids, tannins and salts of potassium which are beneficial for human health. It is also rich in fumaric acid. The plant could be easily recognized with the presence of angled stems, pink flowers and delicately split leaves.

Flower

Flowers are short pedicled and is in dense, erect and terminal racemes opposite leaves measuring 5-8 mm long. The inner petals are dark to red and outer petals are crimson to pink in color. In the front, the outer petals are rounded.

Fruit

Fruit is slightly flattened at side, globular and green in color. It has dent in top. Fruits measure about 0.08-0.1 in (2-2.5 mm) long.

Leaves and stem

This plant measures 10 to 50 cm in height having erect, tender, branched, angular, glabrous, and hollow stems. The alternate leaves are bluish-green which is divided into three pinnate sections.

History

Fumitory is found in the cultivated soils of America and Europe. In the early 13th century, this plant was known as fūmus terrae which means smoke of earth. Dioscorides wrote in De Materia Medica and Pliny the Elder in Naturalis Historica, two thousand years ago that the sap or late of the plant if rubbed to the eyes causes tears like a cloud of acrid smoke. It is known as kapnos in Greek.

Traditional uses

  • The herb is useful for conjunctivitis, cutaneous eruptions and chronic eczema.
  • Fumitory is effective for gallbladder and liver complaints.
  • It is used for treating the gallbladder, bile ducts and gastrointestinal tract.
  • The herb is used in Folk medicine to cure skin problems, cystitis, constipation, rheumatism, infections, pain, swelling, stiffness, or reduced movement. সহজ বাংলা: জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।" data-rx-term="arthritis" data-rx-definition="Arthritis means joint inflammation causing pain, swelling, stiffness, or reduced movement. সহজ বাংলা: জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।">arthritis and arteriosclerosis.
  • Also useful for the chronic and itching eczema resulted from liver disease.
  • Prepare an infusion by pouring boiling water to 2-3 gm drug and tendon. সহজ বাংলা: মাংসপেশি/টেনডনে টান।" data-rx-term="strain" data-rx-definition="A strain is injury to a muscle or tendon. সহজ বাংলা: মাংসপেশি/টেনডনে টান।">strain it after 20 minutes.
  • Before 30 minutes of meals, drink one cup of warm infusion to treat gallbladder complaints.
  • It has valuable action on liver and effective for liver problems such as costiveness, jaundice, debility of stomach and scurvy.
  • Fumitory is used for cleansing kidneys and conjunctivitis.
  • It is used in Roman times for its blood cleansing activity.
  • Being a diaphoretic, it is used to induce sweat.
  • It stimulates muscles of intestines and also strengthens peristalsis.
  • As a tea, it is an aid for eliminating intestinal parasites.
  • This herb also promotes the function of gallbladder and liver.
  • As it possesses antispasmodic effect, it helps to normalize bile flow.
  • In Germany, this herb is used to treat biliary colic.
  • Fumitory is used as a cure for psoriasis, eczema, rash, acne and scabies.
  • Apply the mixture of fumitory and walnut leaves for cuts, wounds and scrapes.
  • It is used as eyewash for treating conjunctivitis.

Precautions    

  • Avoid its use during pregnant and also by lactating mothers.
  • The epilepsy and fit patients should not use it.
  • It increases the effect of allopathic medication used for high blood pressure.
  • Use this herb under the supervision of a health practitioner.

 


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Questions to ask
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Safe pathway to proper treatment

Care roadmap for: Earth Smoke, Beggary, Hedge Fumitory, Fumus, Wax Dolls, Vapor, Drug fumitory

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Go to emergency care if you notice:
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  • Breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting, confusion, severe weakness, major injury, or severe dehydration
Doctor / service to discuss: Qualified healthcare provider; specialist depends on symptoms and examination.
  1. Step 1

    Check danger signs first

    If danger signs are present, seek emergency care and do not wait for online information.

  2. Step 2

    Record the symptom story

    Write when symptoms started, severity, medicines already taken, allergies, pregnancy status, and test results.

  3. Step 3

    Visit a qualified clinician

    A doctor, nurse, or qualified healthcare provider can examine you and decide which tests or treatment are needed.

  4. Step 4

    Do only useful tests

    Do tests after clinical assessment. Avoid unnecessary tests, random antibiotics, or repeated medicines without diagnosis.

  5. Step 5

    Follow up and return early if worse

    If symptoms worsen, new warning signs appear, or treatment is not helping, return for review quickly.

Rural patient practical tips
  • Take a written symptom diary and all previous prescriptions/test reports.
  • Do not hide medicines already taken, even herbal or over-the-counter medicines.
  • Ask which warning signs mean urgent referral to hospital.

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