Castor oil (Ricinus communis) is a member of the Euphorbiaceae family. The plant is cultivated in many tropic and subtropic areas. The oil obtained from cold pressing the ripe seeds is the only applicable part of Ricinus communis. Castor oil is made up of fatty oil, proteic substances, lectins, ricinine, ricinoleic acid, and tocopherols (vitamin E). Castor oil is a glyceride that can be absored from the intestine and metabolized into a fatty acid.
Castory oil has been a part of Chinese and Indian medicine as well as homeopathic remedies. Castor oil has been used for intestinal complaints. It has also been used for inflammation and as a stimulant.