The Efficacy and Function of Castor Root

Generally speaking, castor root has various effects and functions including relieving wind and spasms, promoting diuresis and reducing edema, activating blood circulation to relieve pain, inducing purgation to relieve constipation, and cooling blood to stop bleeding. The specific details are as follows:

1. Relieve Wind and Spasms: Castor root can effectively treat rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatism, alleviating symptoms like joint redness, swelling, pain, and stiffness. It can also improve limb stiffness and impaired flexion and extension caused by neurological and muscular nerve disorders, such as both major and minor epileptic seizures and sequelae after cerebrovascular accidents.

2. Promote Diuresis and Reduce Edema: Castor root has diuretic and anti-edema properties and can effectively treat bodily edema caused by various factors. For example, it can help alleviate lower limb edema caused by nephritis or kidney disease, and ascites or generalized edema caused by abnormal liver function or cirrhosis.

3. Activate Blood Circulation and Relieve Pain: Castor root can promote blood circulation and resolve blood stasis, thus treating conditions such as menstrual irregularities in women, including amenorrhea, prolonged menstrual cycles, and reduced menstrual flow. Additionally, it can relieve localized swelling and pain caused by traumatic injuries, providing effects of reducing swelling and alleviating pain.

4. Induce Purgation and Relieve Constipation: Castor root contains certain oily components that can stimulate the small intestine, promote bowel movements, and thereby improve symptoms of constipation. For individuals suffering from constipation, castor root is a natural and effective option.

5. Cool Blood and Stop Bleeding: In traditional Chinese medicine, castor root is sweet and cold in nature and enters the heart and liver meridians, possessing the effect of cooling blood to stop bleeding. It is effective in treating bleeding disorders caused by blood heat, such as epistaxis, bleeding from the mouth, hematuria, and other similar conditions.

Attention should be paid to the dosage and method of administration to avoid adverse reactions caused by excessive or improper use. Castor root should be used cautiously or avoided in specific populations such as pregnant women and lactating mothers.