|
CASTOR BEAN - Ricinus communus. Bulgarian: K:relezh, Ritsin. Russian: Kleshchevina. Cav*pus.*e, Castor Oil
Plant, Castorbean, Carrapateiro, Catapucia Mayor, Csodafa, Degha, Higuera Infernal, Higuerilla, Huile de Ricin,
Mamona, Mbarika, Mërtik, Oil Nut Tree, Oleum Ricini, Otomí, Palma Cristi, Palmacristi, Rac*cznik, Recin, Ricin,
Ricín, Ricino, Rícino, Ricinus, Ricinusz, Risiini, Skocv*ec Obecny'*, Tlapatl, Wonderolieplant, Wunderbaum.
Akimel: Maamsh. Mayan: Koch. Seri: Hehe caacoj "large plant". Takic: Navish "Poisonous" (applied to any relevant
plant). Aceite de Castor, Aceite de Higuerilla, Aceite de Palma Christi, Aceite de Ricino, Castor Oil, Oleum
Ricini. The oil from the seed. Castor, Castoreum. A concrete substance from the fiber. Exotic. Has pharmacological
properties. It is an ornamental which is used to provide shade for fowl. I would discourage its use for this
purpose.
The entire plant, but especially the seeds, is toxic. It contains a phytotoxin: ricin. Eating just a few seeds
(one to three in a child, two to eight in an adult) will cause circulatory failure and death. It can produce
severe allergic reactions. Symptoms include dermatitis, asthma, burning of the mucous membranes, stomach pains,
nausea, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, excessive thirst, dullness of vision, kidney failure, prostration, circulatory
collapse, and death in one to twelve days. Even handling the seeds can produce a reaction, and the flowers can
cause respiratory problems.
For medicine, use the seeds. They contain aleurone, ricinine (which is either an alkaloid or a salt of
magnesia), ricin, which is an albuminoid material of the group of atypical ferments: also called phytalbumin,
emulsin, greasy oil 50 to 60%, latex, sugar, malic and gallic acids, woody material, etc. Purgative in doses of 3
to 4 grams, the leaves are believed to be galactophores. The principal application is for extracting the oil which
has many uses in medicine. The oil is prepared by compression or extraction with a solvent. The medicinal oil is
extracted from the hulled seed by a cold process. In order to refine the product, you treat it by coagulation and
eliminating the albuminous materials and the enzymes, heating the oil and then filtering. It is a viscous oil with
a nauseating odor. It can be heated and mixed with mineral oil. It contains tristearin and glycerides of
dioxystearic and ricinoleic acids and their isomers; choloesterin and other nonsaponifiable materials. It is a
cheap oil, so other oils are rarely sold under its name. Purgative in doses of 30 to 60 grams. In children under
one year, a teaspoonful; 10 grams at two years. You can prescribe it emulsified with latex, sweetened and flavored
with mint, lemon or orange flavor, manzanilla, etc. In enemas you prescribe a dose from 60 to 80 grams emulsified.
The seed oil is used in a compress or poultice for drawing out infective growths such as cysts, warts, ganglions,
on bruises and sprains, and on the abdomen, or as a rub to draw out liver and gallbladder toxins. Laxative,
purgative, and for detoxifying the liver. The seeds are purgative, emetic, and used for upset stomach. A decoction
of the root was drunk for colic and swelling of the abdomen and legs. A decoction of the leaves, mixed with wild
ginger and ground ivy and fermented with a little sugar or molasses, is purgative. It is used for dropsy, yaws,
and venereal disease. Use a poultice of the same for gangrene, spread on one of the leaves, and for worms attached
to the skin. The oil was used for dry bellyache, cold aches and pains, cramps, and contractions. It will keep
without becoming rancid. For ulcers and dropsy, mash eight ounces of the nuts and green skins, and infuse them in
twenty ounces of warm water overnight, and add four ounces of rum. Use four spoonsful in the morning. Use it twice
or three times for yaws. For sores on the head, apply the mashed seeds. Black slaves pulverized two to four seeds
in a glass of water and used it as a super purgative for fever. This could be deadly, however! The ground leaves
are used as an emollient for ophthalmia, abscesses, and inflammation. Young leaves provoke or increase lactation.
The leaves were used for rheumatism. The leaves and young shoots were used for sore throat. The dry beans, ground
into a powder, or the ripe beans crushed, are applied to sores, and for lice. The seeds are used as an ointment
for boils and skin irritations. It is said that a woman who uses this plant becomes sterile. The mashed seeds
mixed with salt were rubbed into deer hides to tan them, and left on the stretched skin for two days. The seed oil
is called Castor Oil. It is laxative and purgative. It is not wise to it use frequently, because it upsets the
digestive system and can provoke intoxication. It should be taken in cases where it is desirable to clean the
intestines quickly. Externally, it is used to calm rheumatic pain, rubbed into the affected part.
The oil which is destined for industrial uses is prepared without removing the epicarp. Castor oil is used as a
lubricant for heavy machinery and airplane engines because it does not congeal at low temperatures. Chemically
altered Castor Oil is used as a drying oil in paints, and Turkey red oil, a dye. A mixture of Castor Oil and
tallow can be used to vermin-proof leather. The oil can be used to make soap. It is the main ingredient in nearly
all lipsticks. The cake, when treated to remove the ricin and phytotoxin, is used as livestock feed.
|
