Talk:Eranda

Eranda

Section/Chapter	Herb database/Eranda
Botanical name(s)	Ricinus communis L.
Family	Euphorbiaceae
Availability	Available
Contributors	Team Dravyaguna
Year of publication	2026
Publisher	Charak Samhita Research, Training and Skill Development Centre
DOI	Awaited

Ricinus communis L., popularly known as Eranda or the Castor Oil Plant, is a large, annual or perennial shrub distributed widely throughout tropical and subtropical regions. In Ayurveda, it is highly revered as the prime drug for managing Vata disorders (*Vatavyadhi*), especially rheumatoid arthritis (*Amavata*), abdominal conditions, and as an ideal agent for therapeutic purgation (*Virechana*) and enema therapies.

English Name

Castor oil plant

Therapeutic Uses

Sotha (swelling), Jwara (fever), Udararoga (disease of abdomen), Amavata (rheumatoid arthritis), Bastisula (pain in urinary bladder)

Synonyms in Charak Samhita

• Urubuka
• Vardhamana
• Urubaka
• Panchagula
• Chitra

Synonyms in Bhavaprakasa Nighantu

• Amana – The flowers when blossomed, plant appears very attractive.
• Chitra
• Gandharvahasta – Resembling the palm of Gandharva.
• Panchangula – Leaves of Eranda are palmately lobed.
• Vardhamana
• Dirghadanda – Leaves of Eranda have a long petiole.
• Vyadambaka – When wind blows, the inflorescence of Eranda appears like dancing.
• Vatari – Best drug for Vatavyadhi.
• Taruna
• Rubuka

Varieties

Bhavaprakasa Nighantu

• Sukla eranda
• Rakta eranda

Raja Nighantu

• Rakta eranda
• Sthula eranda

Ayurvedic Pharmacological Properties

According to classical Ayurvedic pharmacodynamics (Rasa Panchaka), Eranda has the following properties:

Sr. No.	Pharmacological Criteria	Properties (Ayurvedic Attributes)
1	Taste (Rasa)	Sweet (Madhura), Pungent (Katu), Astringent (Kashaya)
2	Potency (Veerya)	Hot (Ushna)
3	Post-digestion Effect (Vipaka)	Sweet (Madhura)
4	Qualities (Guna)	Unctuous (Snigdha), Sharp (Tikshna), Subtleness (Sukshma)
5	Dosha Action (Karma)	Pacifies Kapha and Vata

Reference in Charak Samhita and its Actions

Eranda is prominently documented across multiple therapeutic chapters of the Charaka Samhita:

Sr. No.	Reference in Charak Samhita	Activity / Formulation / Therapeutic Use
1	Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 2/12	Asthapana (Therapeutic Enema)
2	Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 4/9(4)	Bhedaniya mahakashaya (group of herbs breaking mass/solid lesions)
3	Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 4/9(22)	Svedopag mahakashaya (helping diaphoresis/sudation)
4	Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 4/9(44)	Angamardaprashamana mahakashaya (relieving body-ache)
5	Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 13/10	Sthavara Sneha Yoni (Vegetable origin of lipids)
6	Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 14/31	Dravya for Nadi Sweda (tubular fomentation)
7	Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 14/42	Dravya for Prastara Sweda (bed-fomentation)
8	Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 13/12	Ideal for Virechana (purgation)
9	Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 25/40	Agrya Sangraha (best food articles, factors, and drugs)
10	Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 26/84	Viruddha ahara (unwholesome diet)
11	Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 27/108, 27/109	Shaka Varga (group of vegetables)
12	Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 27/289	Krutanna Varga (Class on food articles)
13	Cha.Sa.Vimana Sthana 8/139	Madhur skanda (group of sweet drugs)
14	Cha.Sa.Kalpa Sthana 7/50	Pathyadi modaka
15	Cha.Sa.Kalpa Sthana 11/11	Saptala Shankhini Yoga
16	Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 3/235	Used as Ksheerapaka where Jwara is associated with Parikartika (fissure)
17	Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 3/267	As an ingredient of Agurvadi taila
18	Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 7/108	Ingredient in Tiktekshvadi Taila for Abhyanga in Vata-Kaphaj Kushtha
19	Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 7/112	Ingredient in Kanakakshiri Taila
20	Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 13/65	In treatment of Vatodara for Anuvasana basti (unctuous enema)
21	Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 13/69	In treatment of Pittodara for Anuvasana basti
22	Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 13/173	Eranda taila is used in Avarana avastha of Udararoga
23	Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 14/44	Used in Avasechana in Arsha roga (hemorrhoids)
24	Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 15/79	Used for Virechana in treatment of Vataja grahani
25	Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 17/77, 17/80	Used for Shodhanottara dhumpana (post-purification smoking)
26	Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 18/171	As a yoga dravya
27	Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 19/48	Used as medicine with Paya (milk)
28	Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 28/85	Eranda taila with milk is used in Vata vyadhi with other doshas involved
29	Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 28/114	As an ingredient of Utkarikadi lepa
30	Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 28/161	As an ingredient of Amrutadi taila
31	Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 28/197	Eranda taila is used in the treatment of Purishavrita vata
32	Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 29/61	As an ingredient of Jeevaniya Ghrita
33	Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 29/81	Used as Ksheerapaka for pain management
34	Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 29/83	Eranda taila & ksheera used for Virechana in Bahudosha
35	Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 29/103	As an ingredient of Amrutadhya taila
36	Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 29/140	Used in Ksheerapishti form for Shoolanivrutti (pain relief)
37	Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 29/141	Used in formulation of Erandamuladi pralepa
38	Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 30/198	Used in treatment of Klaibya (impotency) for Asthapana basti

Dose

• Decoction (*Kwatha*): 20 – 30 ml of the drug.

Important Formulations

As per A.P.I.

• Gandharvahastadi kwatha churna
• Vatari guggulu
• Gandharvahastadi taila

Current Availability

Available

• In India: Widely cultivated and found growing wild throughout tropical and subtropical regions.

Major Phytoconstituents

The pharmacological efficacy of *Ricinus communis* seeds, oil, and roots is attributed to several secondary metabolites:

• Fatty Acids (Castor Oil): High concentration of ricinoleic acid (accounting for nearly 85-90% of the fatty acid profile), alongside oleic, linoleic, and stearic acid triglycerides.
• Toxic Proteins & Alkaloids: Ricin (a toxic lectin) and ricinine (an alkaloid), which are detoxified during traditional processing.
• Flavonoids & Terpenoids: Quercetin, gallic acid, and various glycosides present in root and leaf extracts.

Therapeutic Efficacy & Modern Scientific Research

Modern pharmacological investigations validate several traditional claims associated with *Ricinus communis*:

1. Purgative and Gastrointestinal Action (*Virechana*)

• Traditional Use: Widely utilized as a safe and effective purgative and in managing abdominal conditions (*Udararoga*).
• Mechanism & Scientific Evidence: Ricinoleic acid released from castor oil hydrolysis in the small intestine stimulates intestinal smooth muscle contraction and inhibits fluid absorption, promoting rapid and smooth evacuation.

2. Anti-inflammatory and Anti-arthritic Activity (*Amavata*)

• Traditional Use: Indicated in *Amavata* (rheumatoid arthritis), swelling (*Sotha*), and localized pain.
• Mechanism & Scientific Evidence: Root and oil extracts demonstrate significant anti-inflammatory activity in acute and chronic models by inhibiting cyclooxygenase pathways, reducing edema, and alleviating joint discomfort.

3. Wound Healing and Antimicrobial Efficacy

• Traditional Use: Applied topically for skin ulcers and localized infections.
• Mechanism & Scientific Evidence: Seed and leaf extracts exhibit potent antimicrobial activity against common pathogens while enhancing dermal collagen synthesis and wound contraction metrics.

Summary of Therapeutic Profile

Therapeutic Applications of *Ricinus communis*

Indication	Active Biomolecules	Primary Pharmacological Action
Constipation & Bowel Cleansing (*Virechana*)	Ricinoleic acid triglycerides	Intestinal smooth muscle stimulant, Laxative
Rheumatoid Arthritis (*Amavata* / *Sotha*)	Ricinoleic acid, Flavonoids	Anti-inflammatory, Analgesic
Wounds & Skin Irritation	Phenolic principles, Tannins	Antimicrobial, Dermal wound contraction

Safety, Toxicity, and Dosage

• Precautions: Raw seeds contain toxic proteins (ricin) and must not be consumed unprocessed; standard therapeutic use relies on processed castor oil or purified root decoctions under professional guidance.
• Standard Therapeutic Dosage:
  • Root Decoction (*Kwatha*): 20–30 ml.
  • Castor Oil (*Taila*): 5–15 ml as directed for purgation.

References

Herbs

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