Eranda

Eranda (Ricinus communis), the Castor plant, is one of the most important Vatahara (Vata-alleviating) drugs in Ayurveda. It is a soft-wooded small tree or large shrub found throughout India. The plant has large palmate leaves and prickly fruit capsules containing seeds. Castor oil (Eranda Taila), extracted from the seeds, is the most widely used preparation. It is the drug of choice for Amavata (rheumatoid arthritis) and all Vata disorders. Castor oil is a famous purgative (Virechana) used both for therapeutic purification and as a regular remedy for constipation. The root decoction is used for inflammatory conditions and fever. Two varieties are described -- red (Rakta) and white (Shveta) Eranda, with the red variety considered more potent. The oil has remarkable lubricating properties and is used both internally and externally. The seeds contain the toxic protein Ricin, which is neutralized during oil processing. The text extensively describes its applications in managing pain, swelling, and joint disorders.

• Vatahara (alleviates Vata -- the prime action)
• Virechana (purgative)
• Vedanasthapana (analgesic/pain-relieving)
• Shothahara (anti-inflammatory)
• Vrishya (aphrodisiac)
• Deepani (kindles digestive fire)
• Grahi (absorbent in small doses)

• Amavata (rheumatoid arthritis)
• Vatarakta (gout)
• Shotha (swelling/edema)
• Gulma (abdominal tumors)
• Udavarta (upward movement of Vata)
• Vibandha (constipation)
• Pleeha Roga (splenic disorders)
• Yoni Dosha (uterine disorders)
• Jwara (fever)
• Kati Shoola (low back pain)

Oil of Eranda – (Castor oil benefits) :स त तो णमैर डं तैलं वाद ु सरं ग ु व मगु मा नलकफानुदरं वषम वरम ् ५७ शोफौ च कट गु यको ठप ृ ठा यौ जयेत ् ती णो णं पि छलं व ं , र तैर डो वं व व त ५८ Castor oil is bitter, pungent and sweet in taste, Sara – promotes natural movement of body fluids (laxative), Guru – hard to digest, Useful in Vardhma - enlargement of the scrotum (hernia), Gulma – abdominal tumors, Anila kaphahara – diseases caused by Vata and Kapha, Udara – ascites Vishama jwara – intermitt

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 5: Drava Vigyaniya Drinkables

Oil of Eranda – (Castor oil benefits) :स त तो णमैर डं तैलं वाद ु सरं ग ु व मगु मा नलकफानुदरं वषम वरम ् ५७ शोफौ च कट गु यको ठप ृ ठा यौ जयेत ् ती णो णं पि छलं व ं , र तैर डो वं व व त ५८ Castor oil is bitter, pungent and sweet in taste, Sara – promotes natural movement of body fluids (laxative), Guru – hard to digest, Useful in Vardhma - enlargement of the scrotum (hernia), Gulma – abdominal tumors, Anila kaphahara – diseases caused by Vata and Kapha, Udara – ascites Vishama jwara – intermitt

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 5: Drava Vigyaniya Drinkables

Oil of red variety of castor seeds is still more penetrating, hot in potency and sticky and has a bad smell.

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 5: Drava Vigyaniya Drinkables

Notes :- Castor oil is used for medicinal purpose to produce purgation to relieve pains and reduce swelling etc.

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 5: Drava Vigyaniya Drinkables

The above two – laghu and mahat panchamoola constitute Dashamoola बलापन ु नवैर डशप ू पण वयेन तु म यमं कफवात नं ना त प तकरं सरम ् Bala, punarnava, eranda, surpaparni dvaya (masaparni and mundgaparni) together from the madhyama pancamula.

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 6: Annaswaroopa Food

त वि ति तरप ा यगोधालवक प जलाः एर डेनाि नना स ा त तैलेन वमूि छताः Meat of Tittiri, peacock, Godha (Iguana lziard), Lava (common quail), Kapinjala, cooked by the fire of wood ofcastor and processed with, fried in castor oil is lethal.

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 7: Anna Raksha Vidhi

any kind of grains, all substances having pleasant smell, roots of Rasna (Pluchea lanceolata) and Castor (Eranda); or meat; उ तलवणैः नेहचु त पयः लुतैः केवले पवने , ले मसं ु टे सरु सा द भः प तेन प का यै तु सा वणा यैः पुनः पुनः each one added with more of salt, fats-oil ghee etc.

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 17: Swedana Vidhi Sudatuin Therapy /

6-7 a Drava Sweda – श व ु ारणकैर डकर जसरु साजकात ् शर षवासांवशाक मालती द घव ृ ततः प ंम गैवचा यै च मांसै चानूपवा रजैः दशमूलेन च प ृथक् स हतेवा यथामलम ् नेहव ः सुराशु तवा र ीरा दसा धतैः कु भीगल तीनाडीवा पूर य वा जा दतंम ् वाससा अ छा दतं गा ं ि न धं स चे यथासुखम ् Warm liquid is prepared by boiling bits of leaves of drumstick, Varanaka ,Eranda – (Castor – Ricinus communis), Karanja, Surasa, Arjaka, Shireesa, Vasa , Vamsha, Arka, Malati (Jasmine) or Dirghvrinta, with drugs of vachadigana – v

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 17: Swedana Vidhi Sudatuin Therapy /

any kind of grains, all substances having pleasant smell, roots of Rasna (Pluchea lanceolata) and Castor (Eranda); or meat; उ तलवणैः नेहचु त पयः लुतैः केवले पवने , ले मसं ु टे सरु सा द भः प तेन प का यै तु सा वणा यैः पुनः पुनः each one added with more of salt, fats-oil ghee etc.

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 17: Swedana Vidhi Sudatuin Therapy /

6-7 a Drava Sweda – श व ु ारणकैर डकर जसरु साजकात ् शर षवासांवशाक मालती द घव ृ ततः प ंम गैवचा यै च मांसै चानूपवा रजैः दशमूलेन च प ृथक् स हतेवा यथामलम ् नेहव ः सुराशु तवा र ीरा दसा धतैः कु भीगल तीनाडीवा पूर य वा जा दतंम ् वाससा अ छा दतं गा ं ि न धं स चे यथासुखम ् Warm liquid is prepared by boiling bits of leaves of drumstick, Varanaka ,Eranda – (Castor – Ricinus communis), Karanja, Surasa, Arjaka, Shireesa, Vasa , Vamsha, Arka, Malati (Jasmine) or Dirghvrinta, with drugs of vachadigana – v

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 17: Swedana Vidhi Sudatuin Therapy /

Snigdha Virechana- done by fatty purgative, such as a castor oil.

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 18: Vamana Virechana Vidhi

Such as Castor oil mixed with Haritaki.

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 18: Vamana Virechana Vidhi