Botanical Index No. 218

Castor

ricinus communis

Medicinal Actions

Elephantiasis, Analgesic, Antiabsorptive, Antibacterial, Anticholestatic, Antidiabetic, Antidote, Anti-HIV, Antilactagogue, Antileukemic, Antiseptic, Antitumor, Antitussive, Antiviral, Candidicide, Contraceptive, Cyanogenic, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Emetic, Emmenagogue, Expectorant, Fungicide, Hepatoprotective, Hypotensive, Immunostimulant, Insecticide, Lactagogue, Larvicide, Laxative, Lymphocytogenic, Peristaltic, Piscicide, Pyrogenic, Secretagogue, Spermicide, Tonic, Colic

Primary Conditions Treated

Convulsion Corn Cramp Craw-Craw Cyst Dandruff Deafness Delirium Dermatosis Diabetes Diarrhea Dropsy Dyslactea Dyspepsia Dystonia Edema Enterosis Epilepsy Erysipelas Escherichia Fever Flu Fungus Furuncle Gas Gingivosis Gonorrhea Gout Guinea Worm Headache Heatstroke Hemorrhoid High Blood Pressure HIV Immunodepression Induration Infection Inflammation Ischiosis Itch Leprosy Leukemia Lichen Lumbago Measles Migraine Mole Myalgia Mycosis Neurosis Ophthalmia Osteomyelosis Otosis Pain Palsy Paralysis Pleurodynia Pneumonia Proctosis Prolapse Prostatosis Rash Rheumatism Ringworm C Salmonella Scald Sciatica Scrofula Seborrhea Schistosomiasis Shigella Sinusosis Sore Sore Throat Staphylococcus Sting Stomachache Strabismus Swelling Tapeworm Toothache Tuberculosis Tumor Typhus Ulcer Urethrosis Uterosis Vaginosis VD Virus Wart Water Retention Whitlow Worm Wound Yeast Aperient Discutient Emollient Parturient Poison Secretomotor Abscess Adenopathy Amenorrhea Anasarca Arthrosis Asthma Bacteria Bite Bleeding Boil Burn Cancer breast colon stomach Candida Carbuncle Caries Catarrh Chancre Childbirth Cholera Cold Congestion Constipation

General Dosage

5–20 ml oil; 15–60 ml oil; 5–28 ml castor oil; 9–15 g leaf paste; 3–6 g root paste; 5 or 10 capsules.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 2b, 2d. Contraindicated in intestinal obstruction and abdominal pain of unknown origin, appendicitis, inflammatory bowel disease; do not use more than 8–10 days. “Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages of the oil”. Overdoses can cause colic, drastic diarrhea, gastralgia and gastrosis, queasiness, and vomiting. The seeds contain 2.8–3% toxic substances, requiring 2.5–20 seed to kill a man, 4 to kill a rabbit, 5 a sheep, 6 an ox, 6 a horse, 7 a pig, 11 a dog, but 80 for a cock or duck. The principal toxin is the albumin, ricin. Though some recommend in pregnancy, others do not. Midwives sometimes use the oil to induce labor. Refined oil contraindications: intestinal obstruction, unexplained stomachache; adverse effects: frequent use produces electrolyte losses, also gastric irritation, and allergic skin reactions. Should not be used for prolonged periods. Not for children under 12 years old. May induce dermatosis as well as cure it.

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