Castor Oil Plant is a small perennial shrub native to Africa, it grows all over India. There are red and white varieties, the white is used for its medicinal qualities. It is considered a very effective herb for arthritis.
Benefits of Castor Oil Plant: Swellings, abdominal disorders, enlarged liver and spleen, headache, nervous disorders, arthritis, fevers, painful joints, inflammation of intestines, diarrhea, jaundice, dysentery, piles, dysuria, constipation, liver and spleen diseases, skin diseases.
Action: Cathartic, demulcent, analgesic, nervine, purgative; root bark—purgative.
Scientific name: Ricinus communis.
Useful part: Leaves, roots, seeds, fruit, oil.
Dosage: Fresh juice-5–30ml per day.
Energetics
Rasa (taste): Sweet, pungent, astringent
Virya(energy): Heating
Vipaka (post-digestive effect): Sweet
Guna (quality): Unctuous, heavy, penetrating and subtle
Dosa effect: VKP−, P+ in excess
Dhatu (tissue): Plasma, blood, muscle, fat
Srotas (channel): Digestive, excretory, circulatory
Classical and common names
Ayurvedic: Eranda, Chitrabija, Triputi; Tribija, Vaataari, Chanchu, Manda, Uruvaka, Gandharva-hastaa, Panchaangula, Vardhamaana, Uttaanpatraka, Vyaaghrapuchha, Chitraa.
English: Castor Oil Plant.