Castor Oil: An Enchanted Evolution

By J. Jacob of Sorcery Soap

Here at Sorcery Soap we buy our oils in bulk. I break down the large containers of oils and butters into smaller and easier to manage containers. The other day when transferring castor oil into a smaller container, I found myself complaining about how slow it pours. I wondered why this oil is so thick. What do I know about castor oil? It is known to make a great creamy lather and is an important ingredient in our soap dough recipe. I decided to take a deep dive into castor oil, and what I found is an interesting tale that goes back 24,000 years. Castor oil looks like it may be magic from the old world.

The oldest archaeological evidence of castor oil is not castor oil itself but the leftovers after processing castor oil. Archaeological evidence from Border Cave in South Africa reveals traces of wax containing ricin. A poison. A notched wooden stick presumed to be a poison applicator dating back 24,000 years was found during the dig.

After the castor bean is pressed and the oil is extracted, the leftover pulp can turn into a poison called ricin. Ricin is a deadly poison that has no antidote. Ricin disrupts protein synthesis in cells. It is considered one of the most potent natural toxins, with a lethal dose as low as 5-10 micro grams per kilogram of body weight when inhaled, ingested, or injected.

So my question is: what were ancient tribes doing with ricin 24,000 years ago?

Searching the web, I am being told that shooting an animal with a ricin could slow it down for an easier hunt. However, would you eat an animal that you know has been poisoned? I sure wouldn't, and I doubt a hunter-gatherer tribe would either. They were professional hunters and their livelihood depended on bringing in healthy game for the tribe, not poisoned meat, so I am not buying what the internet is selling.

An infamous case was the 1978 assassination of Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markov in London, where he was injected with a ricin-laced pellet via an umbrella tip, leading to his death days later. In modern times, ricin has been linked to bio terrorism attempts, such as letters containing the toxin sent to U.S. politicians in 2003 and 2013. It is classified as a Schedule 1 substance under the Chemical Weapons Convention and a select agent by the CDC due to its potential for misuse.

Yikes.

I sure didn't think I would find out about stuff like this when researching castor oil.

So if this plant is so deadly, why did ancient civilizations treasure it? Let's pivot and look at castor oil and not its poison castoff.

Evidence of castor oil has been found in Egypt dated back to 4000 BCE. There have been historical uses as lamp fuel. A historical medical text called the Papyrus Ebers explains castor oil as a remedy for numerous ailments. Why is it important that an old papyrus talks about the healing properties of castor oil?

As one of the earliest surviving medical texts, the Ebers Papyrus provides invaluable insights into ancient Egyptian medicine, which influenced later Greek and Roman practices. Translations and studies, such as those by Cyril P. Bryan, have made its contents accessible, revealing a sophisticated system that combined observation, experimentation, and superstition. Today, it remains a key artifact for understanding the history of medicine.

Castor oil was important in Egyptian medicine way back in 1550 BCE.

Here is another thing to ponder. Not everyone in ancient Egypt was literate—estimates were as high as 5%, however this can only be speculation as there were no records that support this claim. Based on what we know about ancient history, 5% would be the top end of the literacy rate in Egypt in that time period. Literacy was largely confined to the elite. This includes:

Scribes and officials: Trained in temple or palace schools, they handled bureaucracy, taxes, and records. Scribes were a hereditary profession, often passed from father to son.

Priests and nobility: Some pharaohs and high-ranking individuals were literate, though not all; for instance, evidence suggests pharaohs like Thutmose III (r. 1479-1425 BCE, shortly after 1550 BCE) could read and write, but this was exceptional.

Limited others: A small number of merchants or artisans might have basic literacy for trade, but widespread literacy was not the norm among farmers, laborers, and the general populace.

If only a small population was literate, then the importance of the Papyrus Ebers is evident. People lived different lives back in 1550 BCE, so if someone penned a 110-page document when only 5% of the population could understand it, I think it is safe to say that it's an important document.

Another thing to ponder. Papyrus was the first paper made from a plant called "Cyperus papyrus". There was an extensive processing procedure to create papyrus. On top of that, in 1550 BCE:

"The Egyptians kept the exact techniques secret to maintain a monopoly on production."

The entire process for a single sheet could take about a week, including soaking and drying, but production was scaled for efficiency in workshops. On a scale of difficulty, I'd say moderately hard for trained individuals—comparable to weaving or pottery in ancient crafts. (This is my speculation)

The materials were free and plentiful, tools were basic (no need for advanced metallurgy), and the chemistry relied on natural processes like the Nile's muddy water for adhesion. However, achieving high-quality papyrus (free of spots, strong enough for long-term use) demanded experience, as poor execution resulted in brittle or ink-bleeding sheets. The secrecy around the process suggests it wasn't trivial to master, possibly requiring apprenticeships.

In 1550 BCE only a small population of people could read. The creation of papyrus is extensive and proprietary. Creation of a 110-page tome written in that time I think would be a big deal. I would ponder that everything written in that papyrus was important. Inside that tome were remedies that used castor oil. So castor oil is kind of a big deal. Every major country since the ancient Egyptians have used castor oil as a medicine. Ancient India called castor oil "King of medicinals." Ancient China introduced castor oil into traditional Chinese medicine around 600 CE.

Palma Christi - "Palm of Christ"

Castor oil is kind of a big deal. In ancient history the plant is called Palma Christi - "Palm of Christ."

But the story doesn't end with ancient civilizations. In the 1900s, an American named Edgar Cayce, a clairvoyant, became famous for his free or low-cost readings to help others with their ailments. Despite skepticism, people credit him with accurate medical insight, diagnosis, and remedies. How did he do this? He had the ability to enter a trance during which he could provide readings on personal health. He had over 14,000 documented readings covering health diagnoses, past lives, reincarnation, prophecies, Atlantis, and even future events, earning him nicknames like the "Sleeping Prophet" and the "father of holistic medicine." He claimed to access information from the "Akashic Records," a metaphysical repository of all human knowledge and experiences.

What did Edgar commonly recommend? You guessed it—castor oil. Edgar's castor oil packs are one of his top recommendations for nearly everyone. Castor oil packs are still relevant today. If you search YouTube for castor oil packs, you will see a ton of videos where creators claim health benefits from this remedy.

What do I think of all this? Well, castor oil comes from a poison plant. The ancient nations called this plant "Palma Christi" or Palm of Christ. When you extract the oil from the castor bean, you get a wonderful oil that can assist with a wide range of ailments. Ancient Egyptians, Indians, Chinese, Greeks, and Romans all had medical books with reference to castor oil as a remedy. I have not used it as a remedy, so I don't have an opinion on that. However, after reading all this information to create this article, I am a believer. The ancients must have done something correct because we are all here living. If they sucked at medical remedies, then we would probably all be dead by now. So I am going to go with the old wisdom.

What I do know about castor oil is this: when the ancients called it Palma Christi—the Palm of Christ—they weren't being poetic. They were recognizing something profound about a plant that could both kill and heal, depending on human knowledge and intention. That same oil, passed down through 24,000 years of human wisdom, now creates the creamy, luxurious lather in our cold process soap that everyone loves. Every bar we make carries that ancient legacy—minus the poison, plus all the magic.

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Sources:

Border Cave Archaeological Evidence, South Africa (24,000 BCE) Link

Papyrus Ebers (c. 1550 BCE) Link

Bryan, Cyril P. The Papyrus Ebers (Translation and Commentary) Link

Markov Assassination Case (1978, London) Link

CDC Classification of Ricin as Select Agent Link

Edgar Cayce Readings Archive (Association for Research and Enlightenment) Link

Ancient Indian Ayurvedic texts referencing castor oil. Link

Traditional Chinese Medicine historical records (c. 600 CE) Link