Effects and functions of castor beans

Since Chinese medicine has fewer side effects, more and more people now want to use Chinese medicine to regulate their bodies. Here I would like to introduce to you a medicinal herb, castor beans, hoping it will be helpful to you.

【English name】 SEMEN RICINI

[Source] This product is the dried mature seeds of Ricinus communis L., a plant of the Euphorbiaceae family . Pick the ripe fruits in autumn, dry them, remove the shells and collect the seeds.

[Properties] This product is oval or ovate, slightly flat, 0.9-1.8cm long and 0.5-1cm wide. The surface is smooth, with alternating patterns of grayish white and dark brown or yellowish brown and reddish brown. One side is flatter, the other side is raised, the flatter side has a raised seed ridge; one end has a grayish white or light brown raised seed caruncle. The seed coat is thin and brittle. The endosperm is thick, white, and rich in oil, with 2 thin cotyledons. Odorless, slightly bitter taste.

[Toxicity] 7 mg of ricin or 0.16 g of ricin contained in castor beans can be fatal to adults. Oral intake of 5 to 6 raw castor beans can be fatal to children. The above two poisons can be destroyed by heating. After poisoning, the first feeling is burning throat, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, anuria or hematuria, fever, convulsions, and finally drop in blood pressure, shock, respiratory arrest and death. Livestock can also be poisoned if they accidentally eat it. Solution: Induce vomiting, gastric lavage, catharsis, take 5 to 15 grams of baking soda daily, intravenous drip of glucose saline, subcutaneous injection of anti-ricin serum, blood transfusion, and use analgesics, antispasmodics, cardiotonic drugs and other symptomatic treatments depending on the condition.

【Processing】Remove impurities. Remove the shell and mash when using.

【Nature and flavor】 Sweet, spicy, neutral; toxic.

[return through meridians] return the large intestine and lung meridians.

【Functions and indications】Reduce swelling, remove toxins, and relieve constipation. Used for carbuncle, swelling, throat congestion, scrofula, and dry and hard stool.

[Usage and Dosage] For external use, mash an appropriate amount and apply to the affected area. It can also be made into pills for internal use.

【Storage】Keep in a cool and dry place.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Pharmacopoeia

【Source】 "Tang Materia Medica"

Through the above introduction, I found that castor seeds have so many pharmacological effects, and they also have good effects on some diseases. In fact, there may be many "treasures" around our lives, but most of the time we don’t have a heart that is good at discovering them.