The castor seed, which is indigenous to India, yields castor oil (ricinus communis). It has a very high concentration of ricinoleic acid, which is regarded to be the reason for its potential health benefits. Its leaves were originally known as palma Christe because they resembled Christ's hands. The castor seed alone can be fatal, despite the fact that castor oil is considered to have health benefits. Castor oil use internally is generally safe but should be handled with care.Castor oil has a long and illustrious history of use in the healing arts of ancient societies like the Japanese and other ancient cultures. The Ebers Papyrus, one of the earliest medical texts in existence, states that the ancient Egyptians used castor oil topically as early as 1550 B.C.Castor oil massages for the scalp can increase blood flow, which promotes hair development. Infections of the scalp that result in hair loss can also be treated with castor oil. Its germicidal qualities make it beneficial for treating a variety of conditions relating to hair, including dandruff, etc.