Seeds

• The jatropha plant's seeds can be used to produce insecticides and also as a medicine to fight constipation, and the production of jatropha oil.
  
  

Oil

• The oil of the jatropha plant is used in torches and lanterns as it burns with cleanly and with a smoke-free flame. It is also used to soften leather, lubricate machines and, in some countries, for making soap. Jatropha oil cake can be used as organic manure because of its strong combination of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium.
  
  

Plant

• The jatropha plant itself can be used to fight skin diseases, rheumatism and to remedy sores on domestic livestock. The roots of the jatropha have been used as a remedy for snake bites, and the bark produces a dark blue dye used for coloring cloth.
  
  

Leaves and Twigs

• The leaves of the jatropha can be used to massage strained muscles and also brewed as a tea to combat malaria. The twigs of the plant are used for cleaning teeth.
  
  

Potential

• Inedible jatropha vegetable oil is being studied as an alternative to diesel oil since it has many of the same characteristics. Cars could be run with jatropha oil with no major additives.
  
  

Availability

• While most health and nutrition stores do not carry jatropha products, they can be purchased through some retail suppliers and seed shops and at affordable prices (see Resources).