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Ricinus commun is is a very valuable medicinal plant that is widely used in local medicine remedies. Its leaves, flowers, bark, seed and roots are used in medicines. It’s commonly known as castor oil plant.

There are several varieties found in indigenous medicine such as sulu edaru (සුලු එඬරු), maha edaru (මහ එඬරු), rath edaru (රත් එඬරු) and heen edaru (හීං එඬරු). All parts of the plant MahA edaru and rath edaru are used for medicinal purposes.

Caster oil plant used in medicine is known as Beheth edaru (බෙහෙත් එඬරු = medicine Castor oil plant) and the tree is an annual or perennial tree that grows up to 3.5 m tall. It often grows in a branching fashion. Leaves simple, with long stems, parallel. The flowers are light yellow. The fruit cover has a shell-like structure. Three shiny seeds form in the fruit.

The plant is known to display antimicrobial activity and has been used to treat so many ailments. Also, care should be taken regarding the toxic compounds present in the plant when used.

Traditional Uses

When the breast of the mothers is swollen, Castor oil plant leaves are grinded with sesame oil and coated on the swelling area after low-temperature heating.

Boiled water of Castor oil plant leaves is used to improve breast-milk supplying by massaging breast.

The boiled leaves are placed on the abdomen to reduce the uncomfortable feeling of woman month menstruation

When the chalk powder is in the eye, a drop of Castor oil is applied to the eye to relieve inflammation

In cases of pain in the intestines, Castor oil is consumed with ginger juice

For obesity, the young roots of the castor oil plant are washed well, kept Immersing with honey at night, and can drink in the morning

The oil of making by leaves, leaf, roots, bark, nuts and seed are used to treat the following diseases.

01. Swelling

02. Cough

03. Asthma

04. Intestinal worms

05. Haemorrhoids

06. Dizziness

07. The appetite

08. Rash

09. Liver and spleen diseases

10. Female uterine and menstrual diseases

Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Subfamily: Acalyphoideae
Tribe: Acalypheae
Subtribe: Ricininae
Genus: Ricinus
Species: R. communis
Binomial name: Ricinus communis

තෙල් එඬරු/ Ricinus communis / Castor oil Plant

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