What Happens When Castor Beans Are Ingested?

Castor beans contain ricin, which is toxic. Castor beans are not intended as food and shouldn't be ingested. If they are, poisoning can occur. Ricin is made from the mash that is leftover after castor beans or ricinus communis is processed for oil. Castor oil is used primarily for the preparation of leather products or as an industrial lubricant although in the past it was used as a laxative and taken orally.

Outcome

If you have eaten a ricin contaminated material, including castor beans, this can result in internal bleeding, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, circulatory failure, liver and kidney failure and a rapid heartbeat, according to Medicalnewstoday.com.

Swallowing

When castor beans are swallowed whole the toxic effect will not be as severe as it would be if the beans were chewed.

Breathing Ricin

If you breathe ricin dust this results in nausea, problems breathing, cyanosis, weakness, coughing, muscle aches and chest pain.

What to Do

If you have been poisoned by castor beans and the ricin they contain, it is imperative that the ricin is removed from the body as quickly as possible. Do not try to vomit or drink fluids. Go to the hospital immediately, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

References

• Medical News Today: Castor beans
• Illinois Department of Public Health: Bioterrorism