Castor Seed Classic Formulas — Natural Herb Library

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Resolves toxicity and reduces swelling - Bi Ma Zi is classically used for boils, abscesses, swollen lymph nodes, and severe throat swelling, usually by external application rather than casual internal dosing because of its toxicity.
Moistens the Intestines and unblocks severe dry constipation - the seed's abundant oil can move stubborn dry stool, but traditional practice strongly prefers the purified oil or very cautious supervised use because the whole seed contains ricin-bearing toxic material.
Opens the channels and penetrates lodged obstruction - topical preparations are used for facial paralysis, numbness, stubborn headache, and localized stagnation because the seed is said to travel deeply through the network vessels.
Historically drives downward movement strongly enough to influence labor and retained placenta - this old use is one reason the herb is absolutely contraindicated in pregnancy.

Bi Ma Zi with Ru Xiang (蓖麻子配乳香) - traditional topical pairing for painful swellings and severe one-sided headache, combining swelling reduction with Blood-moving pain relief.
Bi Ma Zi with Huang Lian (蓖麻子配黄连) - historical soaking or topical preparation for chronic toxic skin disease and severe inflammatory lesions where toxin and channel obstruction coexist.
Historical navel, sole, or lower-abdomen applications of crushed castor seed - folk-classical obstetric methods used to hasten labor or expel retained placenta, now mainly cited as a safety warning rather than a self-care recommendation.

Me and Qi places Bi Ma Zi in the heat-clearing and toxin-relieving category and emphasizes swelling reduction, toxic-lesion use, bowel moistening, and strong external applications.
Traditional comparisons distinguish Bi Ma Zi from Ba Dou and Huo Ma Ren: it is less violently purgative than Ba Dou but far more toxic than Huo Ma Ren, and its main modern relevance is external rather than internal.
PREPARATION NOTE: this raw-seed record should not be confused with Bi Ma You (castor oil), the purified oil preparation in herb #196; the raw seeds retain ricin and related toxic constituents that make them substantially riskier.