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Castor Bean | | Name : | Castor Bean | | Synonyms : | Bofareira
Castorbean plant
Castoroil plant
Mexicoseed
Oilplant
PalmaChristi
Pei-ma
| | Parts Used : | Seed oil | | Habitat : | Native to tropical Africa and India, where it may grow to a 40-foottree.
Castor bean plant is often cultivated for ornamental effect in thesouthern United States. Cultivated in China. | | Description : | Large, rank, annual or perennial (in the south), 5-12 feet tall.Leaves large, palmate, with 5-11 lobes up to 3-5 feet across. Flowersin clusters; female ones above, male ones below; July to September.Seed capsule has soft spines. The flowers have no petals and growin upright panicles covered with dark brown spines. The fruit whichfollows is a capsule containing 3 large seeds. The dark shiny seedsare extremely poisonous if swallowed, but can be easily removed fromthe plant when they first begin to form.
Because castor bean is extremely sensitive to frost, seed must bestarted indoors in early spring in cooler climates, or outdoors onlyin warm ground. Space plants 3-4 feet apart in full sun. Adaptableto most soils; adding fertilizer will give brightest color and fastergrowth. Plants like lots of water, which mulching will help conserve.Do not pinch or tip-prune castor bean; this may kill the plant. Whilespider mites may be a problem on indoor seedlings, they usually disappearwhen the plants are set outdoors. Prefer good drainage, lots of water,will grow in clay or sandy loam.
Varieties Carmencita and Dwarf Red Spire have attractive red foliage.
Ricinus africanus has very large green leaves; R. macrocarpus haspurple-red foliage: R. cambodgensis has blackish-purple stems andleaves; R. sanguinea is red-leaved; and R. gibsonii, a lovely dwarf,has dark red leaves with a metallic luster. | | Constituents : | Contains the poison ricin, toxalbumin, chelidonine, chelerythrine,coptisine, protopine, chelidonic and other acids, saponin, carotenoidpigments, enzymes and traces of an essential oil.
Laxative, purgative, cathartic, demulcent (soothes mucous membranes).
Only the oil is non-toxic. | | Uses : | Taken internally, it treats constipation.Externally, a castor oil fermentation is rubbed over the liver andother areas of the abdomen. A thick towel that has been wrung outin ginger tea is then applied over the entire abdomen and a heatingpad or hot water bottle is placed over the liver. This will draw toxinsinto and through the liver. This treatment is excellent for liverdisorders, cysts, growths, warts,and other excrescenses. Applied to sties around the eyes, or on pimples,etc., results are seen in just a couple of days.
In Ayurveda, castor oil is used in the treatment of epilepsy, paralysis,insanity and many other nervous system disorders. Although the leavesare poisonous, they may be steamed and directly applied externallyto relieve pains from bruises, injuries and stiffness, aches and pains,rheumatism, arthritis,lumbago, bursitis.
Seed oil famous since ancient Egyptian time as a purgative or laxative;folk remedy used to induce labor. Nauseous taste may induce vomiting.Oil is used as a laxative in foodpoisoning or before X-ray diagnosis of the bowels. Used externallyfor ringworm, itch, tapeworms,piles, sores,abscesses, hairwashfor dandruff. Oil even suggestedas a renewable energy source. When the patient cannot strain the stoolas in colitis, prolapsus, weakenedstructural tissue, the oil is given in very small doses. Can be usedas an enema with soap suds and water. Poulticed boiled leaves is afolk remedy to produce milk flow.
Combined with baking soda and applied to skin cancers, the treatmenttakes a long time but is very effective, with no scars after healing.
Oil is used in industrial lubricants, varnishes, plastics, etc. Usedin the manufacture of soap, furniture polish, flypaper, artificialleather and artificial rubber, some types of cellulose, and candles. | | Dosage : | Laxative: 1 or 2 tbsp. before sleep. | | Safety : | The prickly reddish seed pods of castor bean contain beautiful gold,silver, and black seeds. These temptingly attractive seeds are quitepoisonous, so you must be sure to keep them away from children andunknowing adults. Three seeds are sufficient to kill an adult.
Seeds are a deadly poison. One seed may be fatal to a child. Afteroil is squeezed from the seeds, the deadly toxic protein, ricin, remainsin the seed cake. May induce dermatitis. | | Myths : | The castor oil plant has long enjoyed the reputation as a fly andmosquito repelling plant and will also rid the garden of moles andgophers.
The plant has a very long history. It is cultivated as a quick growingornamental; as a barrier and as a sand-binder on dunes. South Americansgrow the plant as a mosquito repellent. In West Africa, natives believethe plants protect them from lightning and they are referred to as'thunder trees.'
The book 'Old Ways Rediscovered' tells a story; 'For several yearsI have been told that a castor bean plant in the garden would to someextent control grasshoppers. Last spring I put a seed at the edgeof my compost pile. Result--a plant 16 feet 4 inches tall and 14 feet2 inches in diameter. Result--no grasshoppers.' | | Sold : | Castor Oil |
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