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Castor (Erand)
Characteristics
How it looks - It is a bushy, small tree with thin greyish brown bark, typical palmate leaves with conspicuous glands. The green fruits are covered with fresh prickles (when young) enclosing oil-bearing seeds.
What we use - Roots, leaves, flowers, seed oil
What it does -
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Roots - aphrodisiac, purgative, carminative, anthelmintic, galactogogue, expectorant
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Leaves - diuretic, anthelmintic, galactogogue
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Seeds - digestive, aphrodisiac
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Seed oil - antipyretic, thermogenic
Home Remedies for the Cure of General Disorders
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In ascitis and amoebiasis - Milk boiled with the root powder of castor should be taken every night for regularising bowel movements and to stop blood and pus from being passed along 'with stools.
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In gout and hernia - The seeds of castor are crushed in milk and consumed twice a day to relieve from gouty pains. A diet of rice is beneficial while following this remedy. In hernia, this treatment should be followed for a month.
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In eye care - Instilling a few drops of castor oil in the eyes before retiring to bed is an excellent practice for long eyelashes, lustrous eyes and good vision. In night blindness chewing the leaves of castor is helpful in improving eyesight.
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In piles - Boil castor leaves in water and steadily pour the lukewarm water on pile masses to reduce pain and the pile masses themselves. Drink a decoction of triphala (harad, amla and vibheetaki) mixed with 1 tsp of castor oil to relieve constipation and soften pile masses.
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As an aphrodisiac - The roots of castor taken in any form such as decoction, paste or juice, increase libido and enhance sexual performance.
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In sciatica and back pain - Crush the seeds of castor in milk and take twice a day to lubricate joints and relieve pain in any form.
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In colicky pain - Add a little castor oil to a decoction of liquorice and consume every 3 hours to subside pain.
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In jaundice - Mix a tsp of the root powder of castor in some honey and lick this paste twice a day to cleanse the system.
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As a vaginal douche - In pain during intercourse, or any vaginal or uterine diseases, soak a piece of cotton in castor oil and place in the vagina.
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As a cosmetic - Smearing castor oil over the body and head before a bath keeps wrinkling, greying of hair and balding at bay.
