REMEMBER: These Are 8+ Great Health Benefits of Castor Oil! Pay SPECIAL Attention to Benefit #8! Contraindications & Dangers INCLUDED!
Castor oil is extracted from the seeds of the castor plant. Pale yellow in color, this substance is rich in antioxidants and acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.
For centuries, people have been using it for both its medicinal and therapeutic benefits, which are believed to stem from its high content of unsaturated fatty acids.
Here are eight most important reasons to add castor oil to your daily beauty products and health care routine.
Benefit #1 – Hydrates Your Skin
Dealing with dry, flaky skin? Castor oil can rehydrate your skin, leaving it feeling soft and smooth. Its fatty acids penetrate your skin to prevent it from drying out.
The oil also acts as an emollient, drawing in moisture from the air!
Therefore, many beauty experts recommend washing your face with it. Yes, you read that right. Thanks to many natural disinfecting properties, castor oil draws out impurities in the skin and acts as a natural moisturizer.
Just do the following:
- Just apply it to your face and massage it in for two minutes.
- Soak a washcloth in a hot water and place it over your face for thirty seconds.
- Wipe away any remaining oil and your skin should now be well-moisturized, clean and fresh!
This gentle form of steaming will draw out any impurities in your skin.
Benefit #2 – Minimizes Joint & Muscle Pain
Forget over the counter pain relievers. Reach for a bottle of castor oil the next time your muscles or joints ache. The anti-inflammatory properties of this oil relieve pain and facilitate the healing process.
For best results, create a castor oil pack:
- First, rub the oil over the affected area.
- Wrap the area with an old cloth (castor oil stains and leaves behind an oily residue).
- Saran-wrap the area together with the cloth.
- Place a heating pad set to low on the area for an hour.
For further pain relief, you can keep the wrappings on the area overnight.
Related studies:
Boddu, S. H., et al. (2015). “Anti-inflammatory effects of a novel ricinoleic acid poloxamer gel system for transdermal delivery”, in International Journal of Pharmaceutics, Vol. 479(1).
Sokolski-Papkov, M., et al. (2009). “Prolonged local anesthetic action through slow release from poly (lactic acid co castor oil)”, in Pharmaceutical Research, Vol. 26(1).
Benefit #3 – Promotes Health & Growth of Your Hair
They say there’s nothing in the world that can make your hair grow faster, but apparently, those people have never tried castor oil. What is it about this oil that promotes growth and hair health?
For starters, castor oil has natural antifungal and antibacterial properties, which keeps the scalp clean and healthy.
It’s also rich in Vitamin E, proteins, minerals, and Omega 6 and 9 fatty acids. Castor oil also has high levels of ricinoleic acid, which improves circulation to the scalp. It’s the improved circulation that promotes growth.
This acid also helps keep your scalp’s pH levels under control. With some quick research online, you’ll find hundreds of people claiming that castor oil increased their hair growth to 3-5x the normal rate.
Just follow these directions:
- Just apply a small amount of the oil to your scalp once a week.
- Allow it to sit for a few hours or overnight for the best results.
- Cleanse and condition as normal.
The key here is to use only a small amount as castor oil is thick and difficult to remove.
Related studies:
Fong, P., et al. (2015). “In silico prediction of prostaglandin D2 synthase inhibitors from herbal constituents for the treatment of hair loss”, in Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Vol. 175.
Benefit #4 – Boosts Your Immune System
Castor oil can not only improve your skin and hair but boost your immune system, too. Scientifically, this oil has demonstrated immune-stimulating as well as antiviral properties.
Castor oil packs, like the one we described earlier, actually boosts lymphatic flow, which detoxifies your body.
It also increases the activity of T-cell lymphocytes, which is a type of white blood cells. The combination of increased lymphatic flow and white blood cell activity boosts your immune system, allowing it to produce more antibodies.
Related studies:
Eckhard, L. H., et al. (2014). “Biohybrid polymer-antimicrobial peptide medium against Enterococcus faecalis”, in PLos One, Vol. 9(10).
Benefit #5 – Effective Solution for Acne & Wrinkles
Acne and wrinkles are two common but troubling skin conditions. Many people struggle to find an effective solution that prevents breakouts and keeps their skin looking young.
If you’re suffering from acne or aging skin, castor oil may be the solution you’re looking for.
With antibacterial and antifungal properties and high levels of Omega 6 and 9 fatty acids, this oil is an excellent treatment for acne. It kills bacteria while moisturizing your skin and preventing new bacteria from clogging your pores.
Rich in vitamin E, the oil is also an excellent treatment for aging skin. Vitamin E promotes collagen production, which can minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Related studies:
Persson, C., et al. (2015). “The effect of unsaturated fatty acid and triglyceride oil addition on the mechanical and antibacterial properties of acrylic bone cements”, in Journal of Biomaterials Applications, Vol. 30(3).
Benefit #6 – Helps with Ringworm Infection
Ringworm can be a stubborn condition to treat, but the undecylenic acid in castor oil is highly effective at killing this fungal infection.
Simply apply castor oil packs to the affected area daily. For the best results, use before going to sleep.
Related studies:
Shi, D., et al. (2016). “Antifungal effects of undecylenic acid on the biofilm formation of Candida albicans”, in International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Vol. 54(5).
Benefit #7 – Strong Laxative
If you’re struggling with constipation, castor oil can help you find relief. Known for its laxative effects, people have been using castor oil to treat constipation for centuries.
The laxative effects of castor oil have been well-studied, but scientists are still stumped as to how or why it makes your bowels move.
It’s believed that the ricinoleic acid is the key to stimulating movement in the intestines. A spoonful of castor oil is all you need to find relief from constipation.
Related studies:
Tunaru, S., et al. (2012). “Castor oil induces laxation and uterus contraction via ricinoleic acid activating prostaglandin EP3 receptors”, in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United Stats of America Vol. 109(23).
Benefit #8 – Relieves Effects of Allergies
Allergy sufferers rejoice – castor oil can help you find relief from your symptoms. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, this substance can be used to minimize symptoms and help you get through allergy season without having to resort to over-the-counter medications.
Keep in mind: Simply apply castor oil packs daily to enjoy its healing anti-allergenic properties.
Side-Effects & Dangers of Death
Castor oil boasts some health benefits, but can produce adverse side effects as well. This substance is safe when taken orally as a single dose. However, some people may experience:
– Cramping, nausea, stomach discomfort, and faintness.
Taking castor oil orally in large doses or long-term is possibly unsafe because it can lead to potassium and fluid loss. These results can be seen when taking the oil orally for over one week or in doses higher than 15-60mL per day.
- Do not eat castor seeds. The hull of the seed contains a deadly poison. Chewing just 1-6 whole seeds can result in death in adults.
- Do not take it if you’re breastfeeding, have a blocked intestine, gallbladder issues or unexplained stomach pain.
Keep in mind: When applied topically, some people may experience an allergic reaction although this is not common.
Castor oil has been used for centuries for its medicinal and therapeutic benefits. Folk healers have long turned to this oil to treat illnesses before they progress and maintain health through castor oil packs.
