This plant has an amazing beauty. It is a tall, evergreen shrub that can reach 5 feet in height with leaves growing in star-shaped patterns. They are colored a dark green with some growing in rich red and deep purple. From mid summer to early autumn, small red flowers add to the colorful array. The attractiveness of the plant belies its true nature, though, as every part of it is highly poisonous. The poison is water soluble, making the oil the only safe part of the plant to use.

Castor oil comes from the seed of the plant and is extracted by either pressing it or using a solution. This oil can be used to cure many ailments by either being applied to the skin, brewed in a concoction or taken orally as medicine. Specifically, it is a well-known laxative that is safe for someone of any age and has been in use for that purpose for millenia.