Castor oil has been used since ancient times due to its immense health benefits on various systems of the body. In fact, its Sanskrit name erandah, describes its properties to dispel diseases. This pale, light yellow oil is yielded from the seeds of castor beans which are cultivated in tropical regions. The land of Gujarat, being extremely suitable for the crop, produces the maximum bulk. Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan follow. It is a great commercial product for India and is extensively exported to the United States, European Union, and China.
Castor oil was first used as a medicine by ancient Egyptians. Since then, it has been known as Palma Christus and is used as a folklore medicine. Castor oil and its derivatives are used in the manufacture of perfumes, soaps, paints, dyes, lubricants, inks, pharmaceuticals, etc. In India, Nepal and Pakistan, food grains are preserved by coating them with castor oil. This prevents pulses, rice and wheat from rotting. Food grade castor oil is also used as food additives, as flavouring agents and in some chocolates and candies.
From farms to groceries
Castor beans are commercially grown on plantations. The oil is first extracted in a way similar to most oilseeds. Post harvesting and dehulling, the seeds are pressed using an expeller. The extracted oil then goes through a filtration process, and the residue is fed back into the stream. Substance discharged from the press is called castor cake and contains 8-10% oil. It is then crushed to extract the desired oil. Once, this process is completed, the extracted oil goes through a filter press in order to purify. Here, particulates, acids, dissolved gases, and water are removed. The final step is the refining of the oil and its sterilization in an oil refinery.
This oil elixir is widely utilized all over the world not only for its health merits but also for industrial purposes.
Some basic facts of castor oil
- Scientific name: Ricinus Communis
- Family: Euphorbiaceae
- Common name: Castor bean or castor oil plant, arandi ka tel
- Sanskrit name: Erandah and the oil is called eranda taila.
- Parts used: Beans and leaves of the castor oil plant
- Native and geographical distribution: Cultivation of castor plant is generally in the drier regions of tropical and subtropical countries. Its growth is native to North-Eastern Africa and is widely grown in the Asian and American continents. India is one of the biggest exporters of castor oil with the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh constituting around 90% of the total domestic production.
- Interesting fact: Owing to its laxative properties, castor oil was used as a measure of torture by Spanish nationalists during the civil war. It was force-fed to the ‘liberals and leftists’ to cause them acute abdominal pain and diarrhoea.