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    Yemama Apothecary

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    Drastic Cathartic, Anti-Bell's Palsy Facial Drawing & Pus-Extruding Monarch (逐水通便 / 泻下导滞拔毒化腐消肿散结祛风通络治面瘫口眼歪斜第一圣药 — 严格炮制去毒与外用 / 蓖麻毒素剧毒大毒 / 孕妇大忌)

    蓖麻 / 蓖麻子 / 蓖麻油 / 红萆麻 / 勒马 / 肚痛草 — Ricinus communis L. (syn. Ricinus speciosus)

    Pinyin: Bìmá / Bìmázǐ / Bìmáyóu · Malay: Jarak / Jarak Minyak / Jarak Budeg / Palma Christi · Family: Euphorbiaceae (大戟科)

    Botanical Illustration

    Energetics

    Neutral to slightly Warm (平 / 微温), Raw Seeds Extremely Toxic / Lethal (有大毒 / 剧毒 / 致命毒蛋白)

    Flavor

    Sweet, pungent, acrid, oily, nauseating (甘、辛、平、有大毒、极麻舌)

    Meridians

    Large Intestine (大肠), Lung (肺), Liver (肝), Stomach (胃)

    Traditional Edict

    Castor Bean (Jarak / Bi Ma / Palma Christi). Palmately lobed leaves and marbled mosaic seeds. Supreme acupoint plaster for peripheral facial paralysis (Bell's Palsy / Kou Yan Wai Xie) and drastic bowel cathartic. RAW SEEDS LETHALLY TOXIC (Ricin RIP-II).

    Cautions & Contraindications

    • LETHAL RICIN POISONING HAZARD: Ingestion of 2-4 raw crushed seeds can kill a child; 6-10 can kill an adult. Steam-heating (>100C) denatures ricin. ABSOLUTELY CONTRAINDICATED IN PREGNANCY (potent abortifacient) and bowel obstruction.

    Clinical Applications

    • Acute peripheral facial nerve paralysis (Bell's palsy contralateral acupoint plaster), severe acute fecal impaction (short-term purgation), cervical ripening induction, and cutaneous boil pus extrusion.

    Quality Markers

    Ricinoleic Acid >= 85.0%-90.0% in oil, Ricin (RIP-II toxalbumin; denatured >100C) & Ricinine >= 0.50% (HPLC/GC-MS)

    Mechanism & Phytochemistry

    1. Ingested castor oil hydrolyzes into ricinoleic acid, activating EP3 prostanoid receptors on intestinal smooth muscle to drive peristalsis. 2. Pounded seed plaster causes trigeminal reflex vasodilation. 3. Raw ricin inactivates 28S rRNA ribosomes.

    Preparation & Dosage

    THE SOVEREIGN BELL'S PALSY FACIAL DRAWING PLASTER: 7 to 10 hulled seeds pounded into paste, spread on silk patch, applied strictly to CONTRALATERAL (HEALTHY) CHEEK over acupoints Jiache (ST6) and Dicang (ST4) for 4-6h daily until symmetry returns. Oil: 10-30 mL.

    Appended Prescriptions

    • 1. Sovereign Bell's Palsy Facial Drawing Synergy (Contralateral Plaster) with internal Qian Zheng San. 2. Deep Cutaneous Carbuncle Pus-Drawing Paste with Pinellia ternata (Fa Ban Xia).

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    Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only