Castor oil plant - poisonous beauty

One of the most toxic plants on the planet is castor bean. In everyday life, it is also called "castor". The castor plant is poisonous and very dangerous. Recently, this representative of the flora from natural conditions moves to the gardens. Poisonous castor oil is a native of the tropical belt of Africa. It is cultivated as an annual plant. That is, this representative of the flora is not grown for more than one year. However, even in this short time, he manages to reach three meters in height. In natural conditions, poisonous castor oil is perennial. Often it reaches a height of 12 meters. Her life is about 10 years.

Description

This representative of the flora has branches ending in dissected large leaves that resemble hemp in shape. The color of the shoots of the plant is maroon, purple, bluish-red or green. Poisonous castor oil is completely covered with a thin layer of natural transparent blue wax. As a rule, the height of the average adult specimens is about 2.5 meters. The flowers of the plant have a red-pink color and are collected in a brush. Seeds are shiny, rounded, with many gray-black spots. Compared to the rest of the plant, they contain the largest percentage of toxins. This representative of the flora prefers sandy loamy fertile soils and needs timely plentiful watering.

Application

Poisonous castor oil is cultivated not only for decorative purposes. Castor oil is obtained from this plant, which is a very good laxative. Castor oil contains very toxic compounds - ricin and ricinin. They are able to decompose tissue proteins. Since castor seeds are more toxic than all other parts of the plant, respectively, the content of ricin and ricinin in them is the highest. Therefore, they are the most suitable raw material for the industrial production of castor oil, which is used for medical purposes to treat constipation and other ailments of the gastrointestinal tract.

Precautionary measures

Poisonous castor oil, of course, has a laxative effect. But in no case should you try to chew or take any part of this plant if the necessary drug from the pharmacy is not available. The toxins of this representative of the flora can stop the work of such internal organs as the liver, kidneys and lungs. For a fatal outcome, it is enough to eat 4-8 seeds of the plant. One is enough for a child to cause death. Therefore, it is not recommended to cultivate this beautiful, but dangerous plant, if there are small children in the house.

In case of poisoning, the first signs appear several hours after ingestion of seeds or other parts of castor oil. A person has nausea, yellowing of the skin, severe pain and burning in the abdomen, weakness, excruciating headache, cramps, decreased pressure, bloody diarrhea. The pulse may accelerate or slow down. Possible respiratory arrest and loss of consciousness. At the first symptoms of poisoning, you must immediately call an ambulance. It should be understood that no antidotes for castor toxins exist. Therefore, a significant portion of the poisoned will die in the next five days. Before the arrival of doctors, the patient should be given first aid. He needs to rinse his stomach several times with clean water and give enveloping agents (whey, jelly, milk, a decoction of flax seeds , etc.).