The Magi's Garden : Castor

Castor (Ricinus communis)

Description: Castor is a member of the Euphorbiaceae family and a native of India. It is an herbaceous annual of temperate and tropical regions. It will grow up to ten feet in average conditions, but in favorable conditions, it will become a tree of some forty feet. It is grown in the US mostly as an ornamental. The stout stem supports alternate, star-shaped peltate and broad palmately lobed leaves four to eight inches across with seven to eleven lanceolate leaflets. The leaves are purple-bronze when young, maturing to a gray-green or dark maroon color. The terminal raceme sport petalless, female flower clusters above males. The male flowers have only a green calyx, deeply cut into three to five segments. The female flower has three reddish segments with a central ovary crowned with carmine-red threads. In late summer, the castor plant produces softly prickly, oval, green or red fruit, which explode when dry into three one-seeded parts. The seeds are smooth and glossy and are black, mottled gray, or brown.

Effects: strong
Planet: Mars
Element: fire
Associated Deities:

Traditions:
Castor seeds have been found in ancient Egyptian tombs. The oil was used in lamps and as an ointment. The Egyptians also used the oil to purge their systems three times a year by drinking it mixed with beer.

Magic:
Castor beans absorb evil and negativity. They may be made into a necklace (but may leak toxic substances through hole).
Pliny thought the oil could help with hair growth.

Known Combinations:
none noted

Medical Indications:
(Caution: Though oil from the seeds is safe, the entire plant contains an irritating substance, ricin, one of the most deadly poisons in the world. It poisons the blood and should not be used internally. Symptoms of poisoning include a burning feeling in the mouth, throat, and stomach hours after ingestion, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. The second through the tenth day of poisoning, there may be bleeding and low blood pressure, possibly leading to shock. Complications may result in convulsions and death. Even nonfatal poisoning may permanently damage the intestines, liver, and kidneys. Induce vomiting immediately and seek medical help. Three large seeds have been known to kill an adult.)
Parts Used: Oil
Caster oil is cathartic. It is one of most common purgatives and is safe so long as the seeds are pressed and the oil is extracted below one hundred degrees Fahrenheit.

Nutrition:
not edible

Mercantile Uses:
In addition to its use as an ancient lamp oil, the cold extracted oil is typically found in scented soaps.
Heat extracted oil has a low freezing point, and so it is put to use lubricating airplane engines and as hydraulic brake fluid. As “turkey-red” oil, castor oil is used in the dying of cotton. It is also used in biodegradable laundry detergents, paints, and varnishes but is highly poisonous.