eranda

Ricinus is a fast growing tree which is evergreen, herbaceous and semi-woody large shrub gain height up to 5mt and width is 4.5m wide. The glossy leaves are green to purplish in color and are palmate, with 5-11 deeply incised lobes and have long petioles. Stems contain hollow nodes and are green to reddish in color.

Male flowers are on the lower spike of the flower with yellow colored anthers and the female flower is egg-shaped capsules, reddish brown and is thickly covered with soft flexible spines. Each capsule contains three seeds that look like fat, swollen and are deadly poisonous with brownish mottling.

Habitat

This plant is originally native to the Middle East and northeastern Africa. Later it becomes distributed as a weed everywhere in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. Mainly it grows in waste farms, rocky hillsides and on the edges of cultivated lands.

Classification

Kingdom
Plantae

Order
Malpighiales

Family
Euphorbiacaeae

Vernacular Names

Latin– Ricinus Communis
Hindi– Erand, Redi, Erend
English– Castor, African Coffee Tree, Arandi
Telugu– Amudamu
Bengali– Bherenda, Rehri, Bhaerand
Tamil– Amanakku, Amanakkam
Marathi– Erandi
Malayalam– Avanakku
Gujarati– Diveligo, Diveli Erandi

Kannada– Haralu, Manda
Farsi– Bed Anjeer
Arabian– Khirva
Assam– Eri
Nepali– Areta, Orer
Punjabi– Aneru, Arand
Chinese– Pee – Ma
Egyptian– Kiki
Sinhala– Endaru
Persian– Ved Anjir

Ayurvedic Properties

Hindi / Sanskrit		English
Rasa	Madhur, Katu, Kashaya	Taste	Sweet, Pungent, Astringent
Guna	Snigdha, Sookashma, Teekshna	Physical Property	Unctuous, Minute, Sharp
Veerya	Ushna	Potency	Hot
Vipaka	Madhura	Metabolic Property (After Digestion)	Sweet

Effects on Doshas

It balances Vata and Kapha doshas.

Charak Samhita	Sushrut Samhita
Behdniya – Herbs used for purgation. Angmarda prashmana – Herbs which are good for relieving body aches. Svedopaga – Herbs which are good for sweating.	Vidarigandhadi, Adhobhaghara, vata sanshamana

Practical uses of Ricinus communis

Castor seeds and seed oil is used from ancient times to cure disorders like rheumatism, worm infestation, severe constipation, and abdominal disorders.
External application of this oil is used to relieve boils, furuncles, and various skin related disorders.
It is used to cure vata dosha related disorders like arthritis and facial paralysis.
This herb act as a diuretic and very effective in dysuria, urine retention and other urinary tract related infections in both males and females.
Castor oil is locally massaged over breast in lactating mothers to increase the flow of milk.
Daily massage of oil from seeds of this herb help in reducing dandruff and promoting hair growth.
The Root bark of this herb is emetic and purgative. A Decoction of leaves is very beneficial for the sufferers of lumbago and sciatica.
Castor seeds are also used for birth control.