Castor oil/Erandi

Castor oil has long been used commercially as a highly renewable resource for the chemical industry. It is a vegetable oil obtained by pressing the seeds of the castor oil plant (Ricinus communis L.) that is mainly cultivated in Africa, South America, and India. Major castor oil-producing countries include Brazil, China, and India. This oil is known to have been domesticated in Eastern Africa and was introduced to China from India approximately 1,400 years ago. Castor beans are cultivated for their seeds, yielding a viscous, pale yellow nonvolatile and nondrying castor oil. The Castor Oil plant is a native of India, where it bears several ancient Sanskrit names, the most ancient and most usual being Eranda, which has passed into several other Indian languages.

It shows antimicrobial, antifungal, anti- cancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antimalarial, antioxidant, central analgesic, anticonvulsant, antinociceptive, anthelminthic, antifertility, laxative, uterine contracting, anti-implantation, anti- asthmatic, bone regeneration, molluscicidal, antiulcer, antihistamine,wound-healing, cytotoxic, insecticidal, anti-arthritic, antidandruff and hepatoprotective properties.

Click here for more information about Antioxidants and Free radicals

Red & white are the two Varieties of Castor and both red and white varieties are identified as Ricinus communis.

It has different names in different languages such as Hindi Name(Erand, Redi, Andi, Arand, Arend, Erend, Rendi, Erandah, Andih, Renda Erandih), Marathi Name(Erandi), English Name(Castor, African Coffee Tree, Arandi, Bi Ma Zi, Bofareira, Castorbean, Castor Bean, Castor Bean Plant), Telugu Name(Ama....................read more

Chemical constituents

Castor (Ricinus communis) beans contain triglycerides, mostly consisting of ricinoleic acid esters, and small amounts of the toxic ricin and ricine. Pressing of the beans produces castor oil and purification of the oil eliminates the ricin and ricine.Castor oil is known to consist of up to 90% ricinoleic, 4% linoleic, 3% oleic, 1% stearic, and less than 1% linolenic fatty acids.

Castor oil is known to consist of up to 90% ricinoleic, 4% linoleic, 3% oleic, 1% stearic, and less than 1% linolenic fatty acids.

The main chemical that exerts castor oil's laxative property is ric....................read more

Properties and Benefits

Rasa (taste) – Madhura (sweet), Katu (pungent), Kashaya (Astringent)
Guna (qualities) – Snigdha (oily, unctuous), Teekshna (strong, piercing), Sookshma (minute, enters minute body channels)
Taste conversation after digestion – Madhura(Sweet
Veerya(potency) – Ushna(Hot)
Effect on Tridosha – Balances Kapha and Vata Dosha.
Click here for more information about Tridosha(vata-Kapha-Pitta)

Root

Udavartahara – relieves bloating, gas distension in abdomen
Pleehaghna – useful in spleen disorders, splenomegaly
Gulmahara – useful in abdominal tumors
Bastishoolahara – relieves bladder pain
Antravruddhinut – useful in hernia
Shonita Vikara – relieves blood imbalance disorders
Shoshahara – relieves emaciation, dehydration....................read more

Uses, Remedies, Benefits and Application

1) Since all parts of castor useful to balance Vata dosha, they are used in treating paralysis, sciatica, neuropathies, neurological pains etc.

2) Tender leaves which are coppery red in color are collected and fine paste is made. This is administered early in the morning in empty stomach. This helps to decrease the bile in case of jaundice.

3) Castor oil is also rich in other fatty acids. These can enhance smoothness and softness when applied to facial skin.

4) Mature leaves are collected and fine paste is made. To this little salt is added and warmed. This paste is applied over the muscular swelling. This pacifies the swelling and reduces the pain.

5) Panchakarma : The castor leaves are used in sweating treatment, called Prastara swedana therapy. Here, the hot boiled herbs are spread over a stone bed, covered with leaves of castor and the patient is made to lie on it for a few minutes time.

6) 20-25 gram of dried roots is taken and its decoction is made. Or else medicated milk can also be prepared. This is administered twice daily in the dose of 40 ml of decoction. This helps to relieve the pain caused in the conditions like back ache, sciatica etc. Also it pacifies constipation too.

7) Castor leaf is dipped sesame oil and heated till it becomes hot. This is applied over blunt injuries, arthritis, painful joints to relieve pain.

8) For ama vata, Ginger tea with a teaspoon of castor oil taken nightly before bed is recommended due to its lightly heating, circulatory, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and gentle laxative properties.

Click here for more information about Ginger

9) The persons suffering from habitual constipation or those not responding with above measures may take Harad (Haritaki). 50 gm of Chhoti Harad (Terminalia chebula) may be roasted in a frying pan with one to two tea spoonful (5-10ml.) of Erand tail (Castor oil) which usually swells to its double after roasting. Saindha namak and black pepper may be added as per the choice. One to two pieces of this harad if taken after dinner may help the severe form of constipation.

Click here for more information about Black pepper

10) Whole leaf of castor is smeared with sesame oil and warmed slightly. This is applied over the joints affected by gouty arthritis. This pacifies pain and swelling, if the procedure is carried regularly for a week.

Click here for more information about Sesame Oil

11) Castor oil leaf and root is made paste with sesame oil or castor oil, slightly heated and applied externally to relieve migraine, low back ache, sciatica pa....................read more

RESEARCH :

Production of castor oil generates two main byproducts: husks and meal. For each ton of castor oil, 1.31 tons of husks and 1.1 tons of meal are generated. A study showed that blends of castor meal and castor husks used as fertilizer promo....................read more

Side effects

As the seed skin is poisonous hence, should be avoided
It is best to avoid castor during pregnancy. It can be used during lactation and in children, under medical supervision.
Since it can....................read more

Reference :

1) Dhanvantari Nighantu

2) Lipid Insights. 2016; 9: 1–12. Published online 2016 Sep 7. PMCID: PMC5015816

3) Int. J. of Res. in Pharmacology & Pharmacotherapeutics Vol-3(2) 2014 [136-144]

4) Kaiyadeva Nighantu

5) Bhava Prakasa Nighantu

6) PNAS | June 5, 2012 | vol. 109 | no. 23 | 9179–9184

7) Raja Nighantu

8) Charaka Samhita

9) Sushruta samhita

10) JETIR August 2020, Volume 7, Issue 8

11) J. res. tradit. med. | VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 | MAR - APR 2017

12) Int J Trichology. 2017 Jul-Sep; 9(3): 116–118. PMCID: PMC5596646

13) International Journal of Ayurvedic medicine. Vol. 2 No. 2 (2011): April - June 2011

14) Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic

15) J Tradit Complement Med. 2017 Jan; 7(1): 50–53. PMCID: PMC519882

16) Ayush Division , Head Quarters, Employeesʼ State insurance Corporation, New Delhi

17) Journal of Ayurveda Case Reports Volume 2 Issue 2 April-June 2019

18) AYU | Oct‑Dec 2015 | Vol 36 | Issue 4

19) RPMP Vol. 33: Food Oils

20) Food Sci. Technol, Campinas, 41(Suppl. 2): 399-413, December 2021

Search This Blog

Health In General