Castor seeds have been a main component of many different types of medications for millennia. Castor seed has several uses, and while it is most generally associated with treating rheumatism and arthritis, it also has cosmetic applications and is used for a variety of other conditions.
Known in Hindi as Eranda, castor is botanically identified as Ricinus communis Linn, and has been used by Ayurvedic physicians for the management of different disease conditions.
Eranda is mentioned as ‘Tajadabhanga’ in Sayan Bhashya, Sankhayan Aranyaka, and Keshav Padhati from the Vedic era. The word ‘Tajadbhanga’ refers to something that shatters audibly. This distinctive quality relates to the audible granular fracture of Eranda mool (root), which connects its usage for Mani Dharana purpose during the Vedic period. Because of Eranda’s qualities, which Brihatrayi illustrates, its use grew over time.
When botanical classification became a scientific endeavour, Charaka categorized Eranda under the categories of bhedaniya, swedopaga, angamarda, prashmana mahakshaya, and madhur skanda. Additionally, Sushruta classified it under the adhobhag hara and vatahara varga of medications.
The herbs are described by paryaya (synonyms) in the Ayurvedic language. Eranda is seen to be of two varieties: Sweta (white) and Rakta (red), based on recorded synonyms. Its morphological and pharmacological characteristics were described by 49 and 40 synonyms respectively for Sweta Eranda and Rakta Eranda in different texts.
For example, Sweta Eranda is a Vardhamana plant that grows quickly and beautifies the place in which it is planted. It has large, palmately digitate leaves (Gandharvahasta, Panchangula) that resemble an elephant’s ears (Hastikarni) and a long petiole (Deergadanda). The upward-facing leaves support Uttanapatraka. The long inflorescence is likened to a leopard’s tail (Vyaghrapuccha). Seeds have coloured patterns and are variegated (Chitrabeeja). They also produce oil (Snehaprada). Its pharmacological activities are excellent in relieving pain and combating vata and vataj disorders (Shoolshatru). Vyadambara denotes its characteristic that facilitates easy excretion.
Large palmate leaves resembling elephant ears (Hastiparni, Hastikarni, Karparni) with long petioles (Dinda) facing upwards are characteristic of the red Eranda variety (Rakta Eranda) (Uttana Patraka). Flowers are like a leopard’s tail (Vyagrapuccha). It produces fruits that have three sections (Triputri) and produce oil (Snigdha). Because of its swift and potent effects on vataj diseases, it is compared to a tiger (Urubuka, Vyagrakara, Vyaghra). It is a well-known (Chanchu) and fortunate plant (Yachanaka).
Eranda is said to possess the gunas of guru, snigdha, tikshana, sukshma, and madhura-katu-kashaya rasa, madhura vipaka, and ushna virya. It balances vata and kapha doshas. Interestingly, its different parts possess different therapeutic properties:
- Eranda mool (root) is vrishya (spermatogenic), vata alleviating.
- Eranda patra (Sweta Eranda leaves) are katu, tikta and amla rasa and are vatakaraka and adhomarga pravartaka (alleviate vata from lower torso).
- Urubuka (Rakta Eranda leaves) are madhur, tikta rasa, laghu guna, ushna virya and are malabhedaka (breaking the metabolic byproducts) and vataprashmana (vata alleviating).
- Eranda naal (leaf petiole) was used as an abortifacient and for kshar karma (treatment procedures involving plant-based alkali).
- Eranda pallava (young foliage) is kapha, vata and krimi hara (anti-microbial).
- Eranda pushpa (flowers) is vatahara (vata alleviating), mootradosha hara (alleviating urinary system disorders), rakta pitta prakopaka (vitiates rakta and pitta).
- Eranda phala (fruit) is madhur and kshara rasa, laghu guna, bhedi (piercing), ati ushna (too hot in potency), gulma (tissue growth), shool (pain), vata-hara (alleviating), yakrita, pliha roga-hara (liver & spleen disorders alleviating) and katu along with being best deepana (promoting digestive fire).
- Eranda beej majja (seed pulp) is vidha bhedi (breaking down stool), vata-kapha (alleviating vata & kapha) udara roga hara (management of abdominal issues).
DOSE
Root bark paste – 3g to 6g
Root decoction – 50ml to 100ml
Juice – 10ml to 20ml
Leave juice – 10ml to 20ml
Leave powder – 1g to 6g
Seed – 2 to 6 in numbers
Oil – 20ml to 40ml
It is suggested to relieve a number of medical conditions, including shula (pain), shoth (inflammation), gulma (abdominal lump), arsha (piles), jwara (fever), vatakaphaodara (distention of abdomen due to vata and kapha doshas), yakritpleehavruddhi (hepato-spleenomegaly), krimi (worms/microbes), amavata (rheumatoid arthritis), katishula (lower backache), sirashula (headache), bastishula (pain in urinary bladder), kasa (cough), swasa (dysuria), vriddhi (enlargement of scrotum), kustha (skin diseases), vatavyadhis (diseases of joints), sukravikara (disorders of semen), etc.
During the Samhita period, Eranda was a common element in numerous compositions. The Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, Ashtangahrudaya, Sharngadhara Samhita, and Bhavaprakasha list several formulae that use it as a medication.
Ayurvedic Samgraha Granthas, or various pharmacopoeia, list almost 357 formulations that contain Eranda. It is used in different dosage forms like svarasa (expressed juice), kwatha (decoction), kshira (milk preparation), churna (powder), taila (oil), ghruta (ghee), avaleha (confectionaries), dhupa (fumigation), lepa (paste), varti (suppositories), rasa, vati (tablet), kshara (alkali), modaka (solid dosage forms), rasakriya (water extract), and nasya (nasal drops). It has been noted that Eranda has been a constituent in 357 formulations, of which 279 are internal and 78 are external. The following conditions are indicated for external application: arsha (piles), bhagandara (fistula), netraroga (eye diseases), jwara (various fevers), karnapurana (pouring liquid in ear), palitya (early graying of hair), gandamala (lymphadenitis), vatavyadhi (diseases of joints), shlipada (filariasis), vruddhi (enlargement of scrotum), visphotaka (blisterious eruption), vishroga (disease due to poison), balaroga (disease of children), striroga (gynecological disorders), visarpa (erysepales), and vrana (wound). Formulations indicated for internal administration in disease conditions like sannipata (vitiation of all doshas), arsha (piles), grahani (intestinal disorders), hikka (hiccough), kasa (cough), jwara (fever), kshaya (pulmonary tuberculosis), kushtha (skin diseases), mukharoga (oral diseases), shula (pain), sarpavisha (snake bite), striroga (gynecological disorders), vatarakta (gout), rasayana (rejuvenating agent), ashmari (kidney stone), aamvata (rheumatoid arthritis), amlapitta (acidity), gulma (abdominal tumor), karnaroga (disease of ear), mutrakruchcha (dysuria), kamla (jaundice), shlipada (filariasis), vrana (wound), unmad (insanity), malavrodha (constipation), vidradhi (abscess), udararoga (disease of stomach), hrudroga (heart disease), apasmar (epilepsy), krumi (worms), swarbheda (change of voice), atisara (diarrhoea), rajyakshama (tuberculosis), agnimadhya (loss of appetite), raktapitta (bleeding disorder), raktsrava (haemmorhage), visarpa (erysepales), vruddhi (enlargement of scrotum) and vatavyadhi (diseases of joints).
Amongst various therapeutic applications, vatavyadhi had the most number of formulations (64), followed by shula (42), aamavata (28), gulma (15), jwara (14) and vatarakta (11).
It is also noted that the most common ingredient in formulations is Eranda root (212), followed by oil (90), leaves (26), seeds (25), panchanga (02), and fruits (01).
Along with all therapeutic applications, it is very well used in personal care as well as cosmetic products. The oil is commonly used as a solution for constipation in kids as well as the elderly (in different doses). Oil itself is used formulating various hair care/ hair growth and skin care products.
*The writer is an Ayurveda physician, DST Woman Scientist A, AIIMS New Delhi, and founder of Pratha Ayurveda.
