Castor oil: benefits and harms, varieties and cultivation, use and care tips
Christ's palm, Turkish hemp, Paradise tree - the names of one unique plant native to Ethiopia, which is healing and poisonous at the same time. It was used by healers and herbalists of Ancient Egypt and Rome. In Rus', the plant has been known since ancient times as castor oil. The name comes from the shape of the seeds - small, variegated, similar to ticks. Unusual shrubs adorn suburban areas. The seeds of the plant are raw materials for medical and cosmetic products.
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Castor oil belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family and is singled out as a separate species. Her native climate is tropical.The plant spread first to South America and Asia, and then came to Russia. Castor oil is an evergreen shrub, but lives in the temperate climate zone for no more than a year.
Characteristics of castor beans:
| Parameter | Description |
| Bush height | 3-10 meters |
| Leaves | 50-80 cm long, split, with jagged edges, dark green with a red tint, on petioles 20-60 cm long. |
| Stems | Straight, rounded, hollow inside, waxy, pink, purple, red. |
| Flowers | White, light cream, collected in inflorescences, male and female on the same plant. |
| Fruits | Rounded boxes, smooth or spiked, 3 cm in diameter, red, brown, pink, green. |
| Seeds | Oval, convex on one side and concave on the other side, separated by a longitudinal seam, with a smooth shiny surface and colorful mosaic coloring. |
Castor bean leaves are shaped like palm or maple leaves. The plant blooms in July and takes on a fantastic appearance when bright fruits appear among the reddish leaves. In different varieties of castor beans, the mosaic color of small seeds varies, giving them a resemblance to insects.
Useful and harmful properties
Castor seeds are 40-60 percent fatty oil. It is found in smaller quantities in the leaves. Castor oil is obtained from castor bean seed oil, which is known for its healing properties for the following diseases and problems:
- arthritis, rheumatism;
- hair loss;
- bronchitis;
- constipation;
- inflammation of the female reproductive system;
- corns;
- warts.
Castor oil compresses help with joint pain. A mixture with turpentine is a useful rub against coughs. Castor oil softens corns and cleanses the skin of warts.
The laxative effect of the product helps to cleanse the body when losing weight. To do this, you need to drink a teaspoon of oil for oral administration in the morning or evening and refrain from food. You can drink after an hour. Depending on the dose, the action occurs within six hours.
Another laxative is made from a mixture of castor oil and the juice of any citrus fruit: 1 milliliter of oil per kilogram of weight and 2 milliliters of juice per kilogram of weight. The maximum dose of castor oil per day is 100 milliliters, regardless of weight.
Overdose causes diarrhea, nausea and stomach pain. It is important to remember that external castor oil should not be consumed internally.
Castor oil has contraindications for external and internal use:
- allergy;
- poisoning with fat-dissolving substances, benzene, alcohol;
- diseases of the stomach and intestinal tract;
- pregnancy;
- breastfeeding.
It is better to start treatment with castor oil with small doses to check the body's reaction.
Top Dangerous Properties
Castor seed kernels are 17 percent protein. One of them, ricin, is a poisonous toxalbumin with a pronounced toxic effect.
Protein is also present in fatty oil extracted from seeds. The second name for castor oil is ricin. But after processing, it loses its toxic properties. The kernel of castor seeds also contains up to 1 percent of the alkaloid ricinin.
Unlike fatty oil, castor bean leaves and stalks are abundantly filled with toxic substances. Eating parts and seeds of a plant is dangerous for human and animal life.
The median lethal dose of ricin and ricinin is 500 micrograms. For humans, substances are deadly in the same way as potassium cyanide and cobra venom. Symptoms of castor bean poisoning:
- vomit;
- colic and intestinal bleeding;
- electrolyte imbalance due to dehydration.
Only 10 castor seeds cause irreparable harm to the body. There is no antidote for ricin and ricinin. Death occurs seven days after poisoning. Even with timely medical care, castor bean toxins quickly penetrate the tissues of the body and destroy proteins in cells, so a person will experience he alth problems for the rest of his life.
Expert opinionZarechny Maxim ValerievichAgronomist with 12 years of experience. Our best gardening expert.Ask a QuestionCastor oil causes serious harm to cattle. A cow or a bull dies from eating 350 grams of ricin. A horse is enough for a fatal poisoning of 36 grams. Sheep should not be pastured near castor beans. After eating the leaves, the animals die.Application
In castor beans, the main source of raw materials for various industries is seeds. Castor oil is used in medicine, cosmetology and industry. To be added to the composition of preparations, it is obtained by cold pressing and treated with hot steam. This technology neutralizes the toxic effects of ricin and ricinin. Protein and alkaloid are destroyed by high temperature and hydrolysis.
Castor oil dissolves only in alcohol, thickens when interacting with oxygen. At temperatures below 15 degrees below zero, it does not harden, but hardens to a jelly consistency.
In medicine
Castor bean seed oil is used in the production of ointments. It is part of the Vishnevsky liniment, which is prescribed for the healing of wounds and burns. Pure castor oil is a lingering yellowish liquid with a specific but not repulsive odor. It is taken orally to treat constipation.
Castor oil is used in gynecology: to stimulate uterine contractions during delayed labor and to treat inflammation with compresses. It also has a diuretic and anthelmintic effect. The remaining ricin paralyzes the parasites, which, combined with the laxative effect, helps to cleanse the intestines.
In cosmetology
Castor oil is used externally to improve the condition of skin, nails and hair. It is one of the main ingredients of homemade masks and creams. In folk cosmetology, medicinal oil is used, which is sold in pharmacies. A special hydrogenated product is intended for the professional beauty industry.
Castor oil is a part of cosmetic products for the skin for various purposes:
- moisturizing;
- softening, exfoliating;
- lightening;
- nutritious;
- anti-aging;
- anti-aging;
- anti acne and inflammation.
A castor bean seed product is added to ready-made creams, lotions and other products for the skin of the face, hands and body to enhance their effect. Castor oil softens the effect of nail polish removers. The condition of the nails improves if they are rubbed with castor oil. The oil also has a healing effect on the hair:
- repairs damage;
- reduces dandruff;
- stops falling out;
- accelerates growth;
- returns shine;
- prevents split ends.
Castor oil is found in shampoos and balms that eliminate dryness and irritation of the scalp. It is also added to products for anti-cellulite massage and body wraps that promote weight loss.
In industry
Castor bean seed oil contains ricinoic acid with hydroxy group molecules. Thanks to this substance, it does not freeze and does not dry out. Therefore, castor oil is used in industrial sectors:
- aviation;
- automobile;
- leather;
- paint and varnish;
- soap.
Castor bean seed oil is a component of drying oil, paints and varnishes, dielectric and brake fluids, polyamide yarn and lubricants. Castor oil is not affected by temperature changes and oil products, does not destroy plastic, so it can often be found in the list of engine oil components.
Care instructions
Castor beans are grown from seeds only. Sprouts have to wait a long time because of the hard shell. Therefore, the seeds must be prepared for germination - rub lightly with emery and hold for a day in warm water. Then they are planted in plastic or clay pots to a depth of 2 centimeters. Seedlings are covered with plastic wrap and placed in a warm, sunny place.
Sprouts appear after three weeks. After a month, they can be planted in the garden. A favorable time for planting seedlings or seeds in open ground is May.
The selected area is fertilized with humus and compost. An interval of about a meter is left between the holes for seeds or seedlings. 2-3 seeds are placed in one hole. Castor bean will do well in a well-lit and wind-sheltered area.
Tropical plant does not like shade and cold. Young shoots do not survive spring frosts, so castor beans are best planted in late spring or early summer. How to take care of the plant:
- pour 10 liters of water under each bush every week;
- apply fertilizers with potassium and phosphorus when buds appear;
- tie young bushes to pegs;
- in the first months, carefully remove weeds, the grown castor bean plant itself will force out unwanted neighbors;
- loosen the soil regularly as the roots need oxygen.
Castor beans rarely get sick with proper care. Sometimes wireworms, caterpillars or a cotton scoop start up in the bushes. Any insecticides or spraying with wormwood infusion will help to cope with pests.
With high humidity and lack of light, a fungus appears on castor beans - powdery mildew, brown spot or late blight. In this case, the plant is treated with Bordeaux solution or fungicides.
