Every part of the plant, including the seeds, leaves, and bark, is used in traditional medicine and for veterinary purposes. The oil has a strong purgative action, and is also widely used for skin diseases and to soothe pain caused by rheumatism. At the University of Sichuan in Chengdu, in the Institute of Life Sciences under the supervision of Professor Cheng Fang, scientists are experimenting with jatrophin — the toxic substance in the Jatropha fruit — as a medicine against lung cancer. Jatrophin is also used as an antiaging medicine and the Chinese army uses a spray based on Jatropha against skin burns. Thus, all in all, new applications are dis­covered nearly daily, and Mother Nature provides us more and more with homeopathic medicine that works very well.

The Indian Scientist Ashwani Kumar (www. science20.com) lists Jatropha as a “folk medicine” against many diseases: “In South Sudan, the seed as well as the fruit is used as a contraceptive (no guarantees), Colombians drink the leaf decoction for venereal disease, Cameroon natives apply the leaf decoction in arthritis, Cubans apply the latex to toothache, Colombians and Costa Ricans apply the latex to burns, hemorrhoids, ringworm, and ulcers.”

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