Castor oil is common in ancient Egypt. It's the preferred lamp oil. A revitalizing skin ointment, castor oil is also a constituent in embalming the dead, and as medicinal treatment for constipation. The oil is cold-pressed from deadly toxic castor beans.
READ: Cult of the Fire God - Bronze Age Quest Adventure
See also:
Castor oil is a colorless or pale yellow, with distinct taste and odor. Its boiling point is 313 °C (595 °F). It contains a mix of triglycerides (oils stored in fat cells). About 90% of the fatty acids are ricinoleates, which can be transformed or adapted for various industrial uses.
READ: Cult of the Fire God - Bronze Age Quest Adventure
Oleic acid and linoleic acid are the other significant components. Castor oil is a valuable constituent in feedstocks and sells for a higher price than other seed oils. In India, Pakistan, and Nepal, castor oil is used to preserve food grains such as rice and wheat from rot.
See also:
Castor oil is extracted by cold-pressing, or crushing the seeds at room temperature. Evidence of castor oil processing and use by the Egyptians comes from the first millennium BCE, fairly recent in the span of Egyptian history.
Egyptians are great lovers of oils, perfumes and incense. From the time of the Chalcolithic or Copper Age, throughout changing styles and tastes, many Egyptians of the ancient world wear wigs.
See also:
Wigs are expensive, preferred head coverings for the elite classes. Quality wigs are made from human hair, including that of the wig wearer. They're worn as status symbols as well as protection from the burning sun. In art a perfume oil cone may be shown on top.
The cone dispenses scent and conditioning oils into the wigs. Some ancient Egyptians are fastidious about full-body shaving, including the head. Reasons for this include personal hygiene as hair catches unpleasant body odors, sweat and airborne sand or grit.
See also:
Shaving prevents such infestations as fleas and lice. Also, evil spirits are considered to travel through hair into the body, causing infection or blockage of energy channels, and subsequent disease.
READ: Cult of the Fire God - Bronze Age Quest Adventure
After a close shave and bath, Egyptians emolliate with various oils such as olive oil, sesame seed and castor oils. The body is Khet, part of the soul. As they might bathe several times a day, Egyptians use oils to moisturize, scent and protect skin in the hot dry climate.
See also:
Besides castor, ancient Egypt has access to locally sourced flax seed (linseed), grapeseed and hemp seed oil. Rosemary and almond oils are popular as well.
Castor oil is also used for embalming the dead. One recipe requires the maker to mix exotic tree resins such as myrrh with cedar or juniper oil, add castor oil, animal fats or beeswax, and apply to the head.
See also:
As medicine, castor oil appears in the medical writings of the Ebers Papyrus. It's used to relieve constipation. The patient is warned against using it for mild constipation, as it could cause explosive diarrhea.
The castor plant Ricinus communis is indigenous to the southeast Mediterranean, East Africa and India. In Greece it's hardy enough to grow as a small tree. The toxic ingredient is ricin.
See also:
Raw castor beans are packets of deadly poison due to the presence of ricin. The lethal dose in adults is four to eight seeds. Ricin is lethal to animals. According to the Guinness World Records, castor is the world's most poisonous common plant.
Symptoms of ricin poisoning start within two to 36 hours after ingestion. Ricin poisoning symptoms include burning in mouth and throat, abdominal pain, vomiting and bloody diarrhea.
See also:
Within a few days the patient experiences severe dehydration, a drop in blood pressure and decrease in urine. In untreated ricin poisoning, death occurs within 3–5 days. Under treatment the patient is expected to make a full recovery.
Ricin is released if the seed breaks. If not broken the bean passes harmlessly through the body. The castor oil plant secretes the deadly toxin as protection from insect pests such as aphids.
See also:
Ricin has been suggested for use as an insecticide. Castor oil does not contain ricin as the toxin doesn't bond with it. However, castor oil should never be used in or around eyes. For beauty use almond oil.
In modern medicine, alcoholic extract of the castor leaf acts to protect the liver (of lab rats) from damage by some poisons. R. communis pericarp, the part enclosing the seeds, shows central nervous system benefits in mice, at low doses. At high doses mice quickly die.
See also:
Water extract of the root bark has possible analgesic effects. Antihistamine and anti-inflammatory properties occur in ethanolic extracts of Ricinus communis root bark.
READ: Cult of the Fire God - Bronze Age Quest Adventure
Castor oil and the plant's roots and leaves are used in the ancient Indian medicinal system of Ayurveda. Ayurveda suggests castor oil as Keshya, a hair health herb which helps prevent premature gray, hair loss and dandruff. It's considered to enrich the hair follicles.
See also:
Active ingredients in castor oil include Vitamin E, ricinoleic acid (not toxic) and other Omega-9 and Omega-6 fatty acids. Among other benefits these improve blood circulation and follicle health, and may treat hair breakage.
In Ayurveda, a natural medicine system of India, Nepal and other Hindu-influenced regions, castor oil is also used for detoxification, massage and digestive health. It's believed to balance the doshas Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, and promote well-being.
See also:
Castor oil and derivatives are used in the manufacturing of soaps, lubricants, hydraulic and brake fluids, paints, dyes, coatings and inks. It's also processed for cold-resistant plastics, waxes and polishes, nylon, and perfumes.
See also: