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[Castor Bean] (Pronounced "bei". From *Tang Bencao*)

【Names】Su Song said: The leaves resemble those of hemp, and the seeds are shaped like ticks on cattle, hence the name.
Li Shizhen said: "Bi" is also written as "Kun", where "Kun" refers to a cattle tick. Because its seeds have spots resembling hemp seeds, it is called Castor Bean.

【Collection and Explanation】Gong said: This is the variety cultivated by people; the leaves are like hemp leaves but much larger, and the fruits resemble cattle ticks. The variety now coming from Hu regions has red stems, grows over one zhang high, and the seeds are as large as soapberry kernels, which are also effective for use.
Su Song said: It grows everywhere today. Sprouts in summer, with leaves similar to Humulus scandens (Lupulus) but broader and denser. The stem is red, jointed like sugarcane, and over one zhang high. In autumn, small flowers appear...
Li Shizhen said: Its stems can be red or white and are hollow inside. The leaves are as large as pumpkin leaves, each having five points. Between summer and autumn, flower spikes emerge from the leaf axils, hanging in clusters of yellow flowers. Each branch bears dozens of fruits, covered with spines, clustered together like soft hairs. Usually, three or four seeds form one unit. When dry, they split open, resembling Croton tiglium (Badou), with seeds inside the shell, about the size of a bean. The shell has spots, resembling horseflies. After removing the spotted shell, the kernel inside is tender and white, like that of Siphonostegia chinensis (Xusui Zi), containing oil that can be used for ink and oil paper. Seeds without spines are of good quality; those with spines... [Text incomplete in source].

【Processing】Zhen Quan said: Do not use black, shriveled, or Chi Li seeds, as they grow on Tribulus terrestris (Jili), are pointed at both ends, and are toxic. Castor beans have yellow-black spots along their segments. To process, boil them in salt water for half a day, remove the skin, take the kernels, and grind for use.
Li Shizhen said: Method for extracting castor oil: Take five sheng of castor kernels, pound them into a paste, add one dou of water, and boil. Skim off the foam until it ceases. Remove the water, and simmer the remaining liquid until it does not sizzle when dropped on a lamp wick and does not disperse when dropped in water.

【Flavor and Properties】Sweet, pungent, neutral, slightly toxic.
Li Shizhen said: Anyone taking castor bean must never eat fried beans for life; doing so will cause fatal abdominal distension. Its oil can suppress the properties of Cinnabar (Dansha) and Lead Oxide (Fenshuang).

【Indications】Edema. Grind twenty seeds in water and ingest to induce vomiting of foul froth. Increase to thirty seeds, taken once every three days, stop when cured.
Also indicates wind-deficiency with alternating cold and heat, body sores, itching, swelling, corpse-infection evil qi. Extract oil and apply topically (*Tang Bencao*). Grind and apply to sores, scabies, and leprosy. Apply to palms and soles to facilitate childbirth (Daming). Treats scrofula. Take seeds, roast, remove skin, chew two or three before sleep, gradually increasing to ten or more; effective (Zong Shi). Indicates hemiplegia, facial paralysis, aphasia, lockjaw, cephalalgia, deafness, tongue swelling, throat obstruction, asthma, beriberi, toxic swellings, carbuncles, burns, puncture wounds... [Text incomplete], poison (Li Shizhen).

【Elucidation】Zhu Zhenheng said: Castor bean belongs to Yin; its nature is good at astringing, can draw out pus and toxins, and is an important external medicine.
... [Text missing] stasis, thus used for delivering placenta, retained bones, and coagulated blood.
Li Shizhen said: Castor kernel is sweet, pungent, toxic, and hot in nature. Its flavor resembles Croton tiglium (Badou) and can also promote drainage, thus eliminating water qi. Its nature moves freely, opening various orifices and meridians, thus treating hemiplegia, aphasia, lockjaw, facial paralysis, head wind, and diseases of the seven orifices, not merely expelling有形 (tangible) matter. Generally, Pelican oil guides medicinal qi inward, while castor oil draws pathogenic qi outward; thus, many plasters use it. A person suffered from hemiplegia with immobility of limbs. Li Shizhen used this oil mixed with sheep fat, musk, and Manis pentadactyla scales, decocted into a massage plaster, applied several times daily, recovering gradually after over a month. Combined with internal herbs for dispelling wind, resolving phlegm, and nourishing blood, cured in three months. Another person had a swollen, painful mass on the arm; treated with castor pounded into plaster, cured overnight. Another suffered from qi-stagnation headache; applied with frankincense and rock salt to Taiyang acupoint, pain stopped overnight. A postpartum woman had uterine prolapse; applied kernel paste to Dantian, uterus returned overnight. This herb achieves miraculous results externally, but internal use must not be rash. Some say applying plaster to the tongue root of geese, horses, or livestock prevents eating, or applying to anus causes fatal hemorrhage, indicating its toxicity.

【Attached Prescriptions】Nine old prescriptions, thirty-two new ones.
Hemiplegia, aphasia: Take one sheng of castor oil, one dou of wine. Place oil in copper pot, add wine, leave for one day, cook until ripe. Drink slowly (*Waitai Miyao*).
Facial paralysis: Pound castor kernels into paste. Apply to the healthy side opposite the affected side (left apply right, right apply left) to correct alignment. *Funren Liangfang*: Use forty-nine kernels, grind into cakes. If deviation is to the right, place on left palm; if to the left, on right palm. Sit over a copper basin of hot water, replacing when cool; effective after five applications. Another method: Forty-nine castor kernels, nineteen Badou seeds, five fen musk, make cakes as above.
Wind-pattern severe headache: Equal parts frankincense and castor kernel, pound into cakes, apply to Taiyang acupoint according to side, loosen hair to allow ventilation; very effective. *Desheng Tang Fang*: Cut castor oil paper into flowers, apply to Taiyang; also effective. Another method: Half liang castor kernel, fifteen jujubes, pound and spread on paper, roll into tube, insert into nostril; clear discharge stops immediately.
Eight types of head wind: Forty-nine castor seeds and forty-nine Gangzi seeds (shelled), one large piece of Qunaoxiong. Pound into mud, make pills the size of bullets, hang with thread in ventilated place to dry in shade. For use, mix fine tea powder into paste in a cup, burn charcoal under the medicine to produce smoke, cover with cup. When smoke finishes, add boiling scallion water to dissolve tea medicine and drink. Wrap head with cotton quilt, lie down, induce sweating, avoid wind (*Xiuzhen Fang*).
Nasal obstruction: Three hundred castor kernels (shelled), fifteen jujubes (pitted). Pound evenly, wrap in cotton, insert into nose. Change daily; smell returns after thirty-plus days (*Puji Fang*).
Cervical instability (Tian Zhu Gu Dao), infant malnutrition, and post-illness cervical instability due to deficiency: Apply Shengjin San. Six Mumiezi seeds (shelled), sixty castor seeds (shelled). Grind evenly. Wrap head, rub neck until hot, mix medicine with saliva, apply (*Zhengshi Xia'er Fang*).
Five types of wind-phrenzy, regardless of duration: Two liang castor kernels, one liang Coptis chinensis (Huanglian). Place in silver/copper vessel with one bowl of water, decoct with mild fire. Add water when dry. After three days and two nights, remove Huanglian, air-dry castor kernels away from sun, cut into quarters with bamboo knife. Take twenty pieces after meals with Schizonepeta (Jingjie) decoction, twice daily. Avoid beans for life; violation causes fatal bloating (*Weisheng Baojian*).
Tongue bleeding: Burn castor oil paper, smoke nose; bleeding stops (*Zhai Xuan Fang*).
Tongue swelling obstructing mouth: Forty castor kernels, remove shell, grind oil, spread on paper, burn to smoke. Smoke nose if not resolved; continue until cured. One case of tongue swelling protruding outside mouth cured by village man using this method (*Jingyan Liangfang*).
Acute throat obstruction, locked jaw: Pound castor kernels, roll in paper as tube, burn and inhale smoke to open passage. Using oil as wick is even better. Named Sheng Yantong.
Throat sores/swelling: *Du Ren Fang*: One castor kernel, one qian Puxiao, grind together, take with fresh well water; effective after two or three doses. *Sanyin Fang*: Equal parts castor kernel and Jingjie suishao. Grind to powder, honey pills. Wrap in cotton, hold in mouth to swallow.
Water qi abdominal distension: Grind castor kernels, extract juice to get three he. Take all at once in morning; green-yellow water should pass by noon. Or say strong adults take only five seeds (*Waitai Miyao*).
Beriberi pain: Seven castor seeds, remove shell, pound, apply with Suhexiang Wan to sole; pain stops (*Waitai Miyao*).
Urinary retention: Three castor kernels, grind fine, put in paper twist, insert into urethra to unblock (*Zhai Xuan Fang*).
Asthma/Cough: Shell castor seeds, roast, select sweet ones to eat. Must take multiple doses to see effect. Never eat fried beans for life (*Weisheng Yijian Fang*).
Facilitate childbirth/placenta delivery: Cui Yuanliang *Haishang Jiyan Fang*: Take seven castor seeds, remove shell, pound to paste, apply to sole. If fetus and placenta deliver, wash off immediately. Otherwise, intestines may prolapse; apply paste to vertex to retract. *Zhouhou Fang*: Difficult labor, take fourteen castor seeds, hold seven in each hand; fetus delivers shortly.
Uterine prolapse: Equal parts castor kernel and Mingfan (Alumen), powder, place on paper to support insertion. Also, fourteen castor kernels, pound to paste, apply to vertex to retract (*Zhai Xuan*).
Intestinal prolapse during birth: Same application as vertex paste above.
Facilitate delivery of living/dead fetus: Two castor seeds, one Badou seed, one fen musk, grind and apply to umbilicus and soles. Another method for delivering dead fetus: One pill monthly, swallow with warm wine (*Jijian Fang*). All toxic swellings, unbearable pain: Pound castor kernels and apply; pain stops (*Zhouhou Fang*). Leprosy with nasal collapse, finger contracture, joint pain leading to amputation: One liang castor seeds (shelled), one liang Huanglian (cut bean-sized). Soak in one sheng water in small bottle. Spring/Summer three days, Autumn/Winter five days. Take one split seed, face east, swallow soaking water. Gradually increase to four or five; mild diarrhea is acceptable. Refill water when exhausted. After two months, test with garlic/pork; if no reaction... [Text incomplete].
Infant erysipelas/carbuncle: Five castor seeds, remove shell, grind. Add one spoon flour, mix with water, apply; very effective (*Xiuzhen Mizhi*).
Scrofula/lumps: Roast castor seeds, remove shell, take two or three before sleep for effect. Never eat fried beans for life (*Ruan Shi Jingyan Fang*).
Scrofula, malignant sores, soft boils: One liang Baijiaoxiang, melt in earthenware, filter. Add sixty-four castor seeds (shelled, ground paste) to melted gum, stir well, add half spoon oil, test hardness in water, adjust gum/oil, spread on red silk according to sore size, one plaster treats three to five boils.
Wind-lung facial acne with white scales or slight red sores: Forty-nine castor kernels, three Baiguo, three Jiaozao, three qian Wasong, one soapfruit. Pound into pills. Good for washing face (Wu ... [Text incomplete]).
Facial freckles: One qian each of castor kernel, Miduoseng, sulfur. Grind to powder. Mix with sheep marrow, apply nightly (*Zhai Xuan Fang*).
Yellowing not darkening: Castor kernels, fry in sesame oil until charred, filter. Brush frequently after three days (*Zhai Xuan Fang*).
Sudden deafness/blockage: One hundred castor seeds (shelled), fifteen jujubes, pound with breast milk of nursing infant, make pellets. Wrap one in cotton, insert into ear until warmth felt. Change daily, cured in twenty days (*Qianjin Fang*).
Burns/scalds: Equal parts castor kernel and Ge Fen (Clam Powder). Grind to paste. For scalds, mix with oil; for burns, mix with water, apply (*Gujin Luyan*).
Splinter in flesh: Castor seeds (shelled, ground). Place cloth under wound, apply paste. Check frequently; if splinter emerges, pull it out, lest tight medicine pushes out healthy flesh. Adding white plum meat for grinding is better (*Weisheng Yijian Fang*).
Fish/bamboo bone stuck in throat: One liang castor kernel, two liang Ningshuishi. Grind evenly. Place pinch on tongue root, hold and swallow; bone disappears naturally. Another method: Equal parts castor oil and Hongqu. Grind fine, make pills size of soap pod with sugar, wrap in cotton, hold and swallow; expectoration of phlegm is excellent.
Chicken/fish bone stuck: Pound castor kernel, add Baiyaojian, make bullet-sized pills. Dissolve half pill in well water, swallow; bone passes.
Dog bite: Fifty castor seeds (shelled). Grind paste with well water. Wash wound with salt water, blow on pain site, then apply paste (*Xiuzhen Fang*).

[Leaf]
【Flavor and Properties】Toxic.
【Indications】Beriberi with wind-swelling and numbness. Steam and pound, wrap around area; change two to three times daily, swelling subsides. Also, heat oil, apply to fontanelle to stop epistaxis; very effective (Su Gong). Treats phlegm-asthma cough (Li Shizhen).
【Attached Prescriptions】Two new ones.
Phlegm-asthma cough: *Rumen Shiqin* prescription: Three qian nine-point castor leaves, two qian refined Bai Fan. Slice four liang pork thinly, sprinkle medicine inside, wrap in lotus leaf, simmer with mild fire. Chew finely, swallow with plain water. Named Jiuxian San. *Puji Fang*: Treat cough with phlegm-wheezing, regardless of duration. Use frost-bitten castor leaves, frost-bitten mulberry leaves, Mi Ke (honey-roasted) each one liang. Grind to powder, honey pills size of bullets. Take one pill dissolved in plain water, once daily. Named Wuyou Wan.

【Appendix】Boluo Hui (*Shiyi*) Zang Qi said: Highly toxic. Indicated for malignant sores, goiter roots, tumors, polyps, vitiligo, gu-toxins, spirits/demons, stream-toxin sores. Mix with Baizhangqing and Ji Sang ash in equal parts, grind to powder and apply. Gu-toxins/spirits require other methods. Grows in southern Jiangnan valleys. Stems and leaves resemble castor bean. Stem is hollow, sounds like Boluo Hui when blown. Broken stem exudes yellow juice; poisonous to humans causing immediate death. Do not lightly use internally.