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From Old World to New World
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Castor oil can clean you out and light
your night.
Castor Bean
Ricinus communis
![castor bean](castor.jpg)
Heritage
Native to tropical Africa,
the castor bean plant has been used in herbal medicine since ancient times.
The seeds are the source of the all-purpose castor oil. Early African Americans
used it internally as a purgative and externally to rid their hair of lice
and insects. Castor oil also fueled lamps.
In later times, castor oil was used as a key component
in a British-made, car-engine oil.
The seeds are toxic.
Present Use
Thankfully, we no longer have
to drink weekly doses of castor oil as a cure-all. Although we still use
it to combat food poisoning, castor oil has other applications. For example,
a commercial anti-fungal medicine includes a derivative of castor oil.
From Old
World to New World Medical Technology
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