ALCHERVA (ricino ricinus communis)

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	ALCHERVA
	*ricino ricinus communis*

Name
ALCHERVA

Scientific Name
ricino ricinus communis

ALCHERVA

Other Names:

Alcherva, Beaver, Greater Catapucia, Cherva, Crotón, Fig tree of the Devil, Higuereta, Higuerillo, Palm of Christ, Louse of the Devil, Querva, Tártago of Venezuela

Diosgórides, in century I d.C., already knew the properties laxative the ricino oil, but until century XVIII it did not begin to use in Europe.

Habitat: original of Africa tropical, and extended by tempered regions worldwide. Cultivated with medicinal aims.

Description: it plants herbaceous in tempered regions, shrub, and even tree in tropical regions. It belongs to the family of the Euforbiáceas. It is characterized by his slapped great leaves. Their fruits are surrounded by thorns and contain 3 seeds in their interior.

Used parts: the oil of the seeds and the leaves.

Properties and indications: the seeds of the ricino contain around 50% of oil, ricinina (an alkaloid) and ricina, one glucoproteína very toxic (it agglutinates red globules of the blood) that is in the pulp of the seed after extracting the oil.

To the recommended dose, the ricino oil produces, two hours after ingested, a smooth laxative effect, nonirritating, without cólicos nor retortijones. It solves the cases of constipation effectively, even in the children. Nevertheless, when one is habitual constipation, he is preferable to adopt dietetic measures and other smoother laxatives. Asi turns out same useful to expel intestinal parasites.

Externally, as much the oil as the leaves of the plant is emollient and healing. Eccemas, herpes, hurt eruptions, burns are applied in case of, and against the baldness, as much in lotions as in cataplasms.

Use: like laxative, from 5 to 10 grs. of oil in the children, and 15 to 30 in the adults, taken in the morning in uninformed.

Externally, in lotions with the oil on the zone of the affected skin. Also in cataplasms with the crushed fresh leaves.

Precautions: the ingestion of 3 seeds can be mortal for a boy, and of 10 or 15, for an adult.

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