Usage of this plant as medicine began in Europe in the late Middle Ages, although it was known since antiquity. The most common traditional uses were as a digestive aid and a
diuretic, but various folk traditions throughout Europe ascribed to it a multitude of uses: constipation,
cystitis,
arteriosclerosis,
rheumatism,
arthritis, as a blood purifier, for
hypoglycaemia, infections, Since 1963, it has been marketed as a herbal medicine in
France. As of 2011, herbal products made from this plant are legally sold in various forms in
Austria,
Germany, France and
Spain. Products may be legally sold in the British market (it is on the British
General Sales List), although no products were sold there as of 2011. In the European Union as a whole, marketing of the plant is not necessarily legal: it has been rejected from the Community List by the
Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products due to the lack of toxicology studies. Products in France and Spain are marketed as a digestive (said to work by increasing bile flow), in Austria it is sold for treatment of
dyskinesia of the
biliary duct, in Germany it is simply sold as an herbal tea. There is some evidence from animal models that it modifies abnormal bile flow, although it has no effect on normal
choleresis. An
antispasmodic effect on the upper digestive tract
in vitro and in animal studies is considered sufficiently documented. The efficacy of the herbal products in humans is considered plausible but yet unproven in clinical studies. Numerous clinical studies in its amphocholeretic uses in humans have demonstrated the tolerability and safety of dosages used, but there has only been one small double-blind trial with placebos which was inconclusive regarding efficacy. A larger double-blind trial with
placebos investigating and comparing its use in the treatment of pain and distension due to
irritable bowel syndrome with
Curcuma demonstrated no statistically significant differences between treatment groups (although use of either herb appeared to slightly worsen either distension or pain respectively, compared to placebo use). A number of other potential effects or uses for the plant and its major alkaloid
protopine have been researched in vitro or in animal models. Howard (1987) warns that fumitory is
poisonous and should only be used "under the direction of a medical herbalist", but in Europe, no safety problems with its use have been recorded as of 2011. Large doses of protopine in animal models causes excitation and convulsions. Thorough toxicological research on this plant has not been conducted as of 2011. There have been no studies on its safety or effect on pregnant woman, children or elderly. ==Chemical constituents==