Background on the Castor Plant
Castor oil is made from the Ricinus communis shrub native to tropical and subtropical climates. The plant has large, star-shaped leaves and red, pink, or green spiny seed pods that split open and turn brown when ripe, releasing a beautiful, mottled seed. The seeds contain ricin, which is one of the deadliest natural poisons. It is estimated to be 12,000 times more poisonous than rattlesnake venom and 6,000 times more toxic than cyanide! Inside the castor seed, sometimes referred to as a ‘bean’, is a thick, pale, yellow-colored oil. Because ricin is water soluble, it is not released during the production of castor oil and remains in the ‘seed cake’ as a residue. The leaves, flowers, and roots of this marvelous plant are all beneficial according to Ayurveda.
Castor oil as a purgative
Castor oil has been used since ancient times in various applications, including as fuel for lamps, in paints, varnishes, and for medicinal purposes. It is widely known as a purgative and is FDA-approved as a stimulant laxative, with a recommended dosage of 15 to 60 mL taken orally per day. My 87-year-old father told me his mother would make a lehyam, or medicinal ball for licking and eating, made of freshly ground castor leaves and various other herbs. Once a month, this lehyam was given to all the children to eat. After eating it, they were instructed to jump to help move the lehyam downwards and wait for the purgative effect to take action. My father credits his mother for keeping their digestive tracts free of worms, parasites, and sickness by doing this. Indeed, castor oil is the best purgative used for cleansing purposes, or virechana panchakarma in Ayurveda. The cathartic action of castor oil not only acts on the colon but can also cause induction of labor. Therefore, it is not advised to be given to pregnant women. Like all laxatives, chronic use is not recommended.
Multifaceted use of castor oil per Ayurveda
Castor oil has the properties of being heavy to digest, smooth, hot in nature, and piercing, making it capable of entering the minutest channels in the body and taking out toxins. It is bitter, sweet, and slightly astringent in taste. It also has natural antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic properties. All these qualities make it a worthy and wonderful herb for both internal and external use therapeutically.
The ancient texts provide several mantras mentioning the myriad medicinal uses of castor oil when combined with other herbs or when used alone. These are shown in the table below.
Uses Castor Oil per Ayurveda
– Cleanses bodily channels
– Improves skin complexion and glow
– Anti-aging, rejuvenation
– Cleanses vagina and semen – improves motility
– Improves intelligence and memory
– Improves immunity
– Expels toxins from the lower portion of the body
– Improves digestive strength
– Removes gas, bloating, constipation
– Useful in lower back pain
– Useful in rheumatoid arthritis
– Useful in heart diseases
– Useful in hemorrhoids and constipation
External Uses of Castor Oil
Applied externally, castor oil helps to improve blood circulation and insulate the body by providing warmth. It can also be applied to scaly skin to soothe redness, dryness, and burning sensation. It is given as an enema after processing with other herbs to treat conditions such as ascites, sciatica, and lower back pain, especially when there is a dominance of vata dosha (air + space elements). Castor oil can be applied to hair on the head and eyebrow hair to promote hair growth. A drop of castor oil in the eyes is not only useful as a lubricant for treating dry eye syndrome, but also a natural antimicrobial agent that can improve vision.
Topical warm, castor oil packs have been used for many years in holistic practices for relieving pain, swellings, cysts, endometriosis, gout, and other disorders. New methods avoid some of the messiness of castor oil spilling onto the skin. Similarly, applying a drop of castor oil in the belly button can be helpful for removing bloating, gas, and even for treating constipation.
Some Ayurvedic Home Remedies using Castor Leaves*
– Muscle Swelling: Grind mature leaves into a fine paste, add a little salt, and warm the paste. Apply over the swollen muscles to reduce pain and inflammation.
– Gout: smear castor leaves with sesame oil and warm slightly. Apply over the affected joints daily for a week.
– Panchakarma: Medicinal herbs are boiled and spread over a stone bed covered with castor leaves. The patient is asked to lie down on top of the bed for a few minutes to remove toxins and cleanse the body. This ancient practice is sometime still used today.
*It is best to consult an ayurvedic expert to safely use this herb and reap its benefits.
Side Effects of Castor Oil
If you’ve ever taken castor oil, then you’re familiar with the unpleasant taste, which can cause nausea and vomiting. It is also thick and goopy. It is best to take 2 hours after food. Because it is a purgative, it should not be taken when diarrhea is already present, due to the risks of electrolyte disturbances, acid-base imbalance, and dehydration. Castor oil is generally not recommended for long term use for more than 1 or 2 weeks, unless under the guidance of an experienced practitioner.
When used appropriately, castor can be a miracle oil used for beautification, rejuvenation, and purification of the body and spirit.
Uma Hingorani
Advanced Ayurvedic Practitioner
References:
1. https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/castor-bean-ricinus-communis/
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551626/
3. https://www.easyayurveda.com/2014/12/12/castor-benefits-use-research-side-effects/
