Erand: Herb Properties and Uses

ERAND (gandharvahasta, ricinus communis), a tall shrub that sometimes grows to the height a small tree is a common medicinal plant of the Indian subcontinent. It has large, broad and rounded leaves that are further divided into seven or nine toothed margins. The fruit, like a prickly capsule, contains some hard-shelled seeds. The giri of the seed contains castor oil. The plant is largely cultivated on the borders of agricultural fields and gardens, but is also found near habitations and wastelands at times. The oil of erand is used as a medicine, but the leaves, the root and the seed of the plant are also useful.

Ancient texts of ayurveda describe erand as sweet, but pungent shrub and hot and heavy in effect. It is a destroyer of vata and kapha, but due to its hot nature, it aggravates pitta. The erand seed, which is the source of castor oil, contains an inert alkaloid. Though the oil is non-irritant, in the duodenum, it is decomposed by the pancreatic juice into recinoleic acid that irritates the bowels and causes purgation. This acid is absorbed into the tissues and is excreted with the human milk. The milk, when sucked, imparts to the child its purgative action.

Castor oil has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, carminative and abdominal worm-removing properties. However, in the Indian medical system, it is best known for its anti-rheumatic action. The plant has a variety of applications. It can cure rheumatoid arthritis and sciatica lumbago syndrome, besides a number of disorders of the nervous system like paralysis and parkinson’s disease. Used orally and externally, erand also helps us fight constipation, enlargements of the liver and the spleen and skin and soft-tissue injuries. Some of its common uses are as under.

In the early stage of rheumatism, 10 ml of castor oil taken with two grams of powder of dry ginger (sonth) daily for a fortnight at bedtime reduces the inflammation of the joints. It also relieves the early-morning stiffness of the joints, a characteristic feature of rheumatoid arthritis. Patients can also take this mixture with a cup of warm milk. Varying in dose from patient to patient, castor oil helps in clearing bowels and is given to a person to remove constipation and hard stool in case of piles.

For chronic backache and sciatica, kheer of erand giri is prepared after boiling it in milk for the patient. It also helps a person fight many other diseases of the nervous system. Leaves of castor oil are used for fomentation and as a poultice in the treatment of inflammatory and painful conditions.

There are various ayurvedic mixtures like sinhanaad guggal and rasna saptak qwath that contain castor oil and the erand root. Both are drugs that are used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

It is suggested that only refined castor oil should be used for medicinal purposes. The dose of castor oil usually varies from 5 ml to 15 ml, whereas its seeds are given to a patient in a dose of two to six pieces only. Patients suffering from constipation are advised against the habitual use of castor oil. It should be given sparingly to pregnant and menstruating women. Overdose of castor oil can cause pain in abdomen, besides nausea and vomiting.

By Dr. R. Vatsyayan
Erand is present in Arthcare Oil and Arthcare Capsules - Herbal Joint Pain and Arthritis Relief

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