(Ricinus communis)

When castor oil is mentioned, the first association for many people may be a scene from the cartoons that we used to watch in our childhood, where the biggest punishment for mischief is a spoonful of castor oil. The deceived heroes cannot escape punishment, and a second later, with their eyes wide open, they run to the toilet. This strong purgative often makes us laugh in comedies.

Castor oil is really a great laxative, about which the famous ancient Greek doctor Pedanius Dioscorides wrote a long time ago. In the 1st century AD, the “father of pharmacognosy” described in detail the complex and very important process of extracting oil from seeds. In addition to knowing about the very laxative effect of castor oil, Dioscorides was also aware that this plant was even more useful when applied to the skin.