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What is Castor Oil?
Castor oil is a vegetable oil obtained from the castor bean
(technically castor seed as the castor plant, Ricinus communis (Euphorbiaceae),
is not a member of the bean family). Castor oil is a colorless to very pale
yellow liquid with mild or no odor or taste. Its boiling point is 313 °C (595
°F) and its density is 961 kg/m3. It is a triglyceride in which approximately
90 percent of fatty acid chains are ricinoleic acid. Oleic and linoleic acids
are the other significant components.
Castor oil, extracted from castor beans, is widely used across the
world. The castor plant, which initially originated in the warm regions of
India, can be found in most of the Mediterranean and tropical zones. Though raw
castor beans are not fit for human consumption, even causing illness at times,
castor oil has been infused with a large number of health benefits, apart from
uses as a beauty product. For instance, it is anti-inflammatory and
anti-oxidant oil which has been used for centuries for its therapeutic and
medicinal benefits. Then, the oil can also be used for treating various skin
ailments. Although it has a strong and rather unpleasant taste, castor oil is
used in cosmetics, soaps, textiles, medicines, massage oils and many other
everyday products. Want to know more about the benefits of castor oil? Read on.
What are the Benefits of Castor Oil?
I’m gonna focus more on the benefits of castor oil for beauty but I’m
gonna share a quick peek on some of its benefits for health. Castor Oil has
been used both internally and externally for thousands of years due to its many
wonderful health benefits. Since it can strengthen the immune system, castor
oil is considered a great remedy to treat the following major illnesses and
ailments:
Multiple Sclerosis
Parkinson's Disease
Cerebral Palsy
Pain from Arthritis and Rheumatism
Yeast Infections
Constipation
Gastrointestinal Problems
Menstrual Disorders
Migraines
Athlete's Foot
Ringworm
Skin Abrasions
Inflammation
Castor Oil is also commonly used to induce labour, so pregnant women
should always consult a doctor before using it.
Here’s the benefits of castor oil for your beauty:
Castor
Oil Prevents Hair Loss and Regenerates Hair
The anti-bacterial and anti-fungicidal properties of ricinoleic acid
in castor oil protect the scalp and hair from infections that can cause hair
loss. The omega-9 fatty acids in castor oil also nourish the hair and prevent
the scalp from drying. Rubbing castor oil on your scalp and the roots of your
hair will regenerate new hair growth within months. This will also thicken
thinning hair.
For a deep healing treatment, rub castor oil into your scalp and leave
it on overnight. You can wrap your hair up in a towel or a shower cap to keep
the oil on your scalp and away from your bed linen (castor oil stains are
almost impossible to remove).
For a lighter treatment during the day, rub a very small amount of
castor oil into your scalp or hair (whichever you feel needs help). Castor oil
is very thick and viscous, so a little goes a long way. You can either wash
this off at the end of every day, or leave it in if you feel comfortable (to
maintain your regular schedule of hair washing, whatever that may be).
However, if you have fine or weak/brittle hair, it’s a good idea to
mix castor oil with a lighter oil so that it’ll be easier to wash out later
(baking soda will also help remove castor oil, but it can be temporarily
drying). Some have reported good results from mixing castor oil with coconut
oil, olive oil, almond oil and tea tree oil. The moisture benefits of these
oils prevent the hair from becoming dry and brittle. Coconut oil is especially
good for restoring damaged and weak hair because of its high nutrient content.
A tablespoon of lavender oil added to a half a cup of castor oil will
make the hair smell good, will coat and seal the hair shaft and will trap
moisture inside effectively.
Castor Oil Keeps Hair Looking Soft and Shiny
Castor oil is a humectants as it draws moisture into the hair and
skin. Applying castor oil on hair will keep it looking soft, shiny and strong. Castor
oil coats the hair shaft and smoothes the cuticle layer, sealing in moisture
and leaving the hair feeling soft and silky. It is more easily absorbed by the
hair, allowing for deeper penetration into the hair shaft. You can also
experiment with castor oil for hair on your ends. This rich, thick oil will
help your ends becomes shiny and hide the appearance of frizzy, damaged, and
split ends. Over time, as you trim damage away, you'll notice your hair won't
develop split ends as easily.
Castor Oil as Hot Oil Treatment for Hair
Pure castor oil can serve as an organic hot-oil treatment for the
hair. Deep-condition once a month by applying castor oil to your hair from
roots to ends. Massage the scalp before putting on a shower cap. Afterwards,
leave it on for a few hours or preferably overnight. When you wake up in the
morning, wash off the residue with water, and shampoo your hair as you normally
do. Follow this ritual faithfully and you will notice that castor oil for hair
not only cleanses and moisturizes, but also helps thicken and protect it from
damage.
Castor Oil Helps Hair Breakage, Helps to Grow and Darken Hair
The oil is considered a natural hair oil for baldness or thinning hair
which is the result of diet, stress and environmental and/or lifestyle factors.
Scientific research on the subject is lacking and the results of clinical
studies are ambiguous. However, many people attest to the fact that castor oil
has helped with various hair complaints. There have been cases where the hair
treated with castor oil turned dark - in some cases new, dark hair growth
appeared in place of grey hair, after massaging the scalp regularly with the
oil.
Regular usage of castor oil is purported to increase hair growth,
reduce or prevent damage and breakage, treat dry hair conditions and condition
and moisturize hair and scalp. The oil can be used to prevent hair frizz and/or
split ends.
Castor Oil Thickens Eyelashes and Eyebrows.
Rub a little castor oil over the base of your eyelashes before bed.
This prevents thinning and promotes rapid growth, leading to thicker and fuller
lashes. In fact, many commercial products for eyelashes contain castor oil. To
thicken sparse eyebrows, rub a little castor oil over the brow line before bed.
Castor Oil to Treat Dandruff
Using hair care products that contain castor oil can help keep
dandruff at bay. You can also massage the oil into the scalp, leave it
overnight and wash hair the next morning, to get rid of dandruff.
Castor Oil Against Skin Diseases
The triglyceride fatty acid within the oil such as ricinoleic acid is
well known for its antimicrobial action. Therefore, this makes it powerful
against skin infections such as eczema, dermatitis, and skin rashes. Even
people who are suffering from skin inflammation, irritation and itching are
generally advised to apply some of the oil to the skin to ease the discomfort.
It is even known to be effective against ringworms and fungal infections
present in the fingers and toes. For skin diseases, a cloth soaked in castor
oil is wrapped around the affected area and left overnight.
Castor Oil Against Dry Skin
Aside from its antibacterial properties, the oil can also prevent
against dryness of the skin because it helps lock in moisture in the epidermis.
It is beneficial during the winter season in the prevention of dry and cracked
heels. The oil should be massaged on the ankle and feet then soaked in warm water
to regain the softness of the skin.
Castor Oil Against Skin Moles
Surprisingly, castor oil has also been known to treat moles, which is
an abnormality on the skin also termed as dark spots. Moles are usually removed
surgically; however castor oil is one of the few natural remedies against it. A
paste is made from a pinch of baking soda and a small amount of castor oil. The
past is applied on the mole and allowed to stay overnight. This application
should be repeated daily until the moles are removed.
Castor Oil as Acne Treatment
One of the most common skin problems among people is acne. Topical
application of the oil on the affected area can help purify the skin. It can
also be found as a common ingredient in many anti-acne soaps.
Method to treat Acne: In the night before you go to sleep, take a hot
damp washed cloth and put it on your face for few minutes (cloth should be warm
enough so that you can bear the heat ). The heat from the damp cloth will help
to open pores on your face. Then take few drops of castor oil and massage it on
your face gently in circular motion. Leave it overnight. Continue to do this
for 1-2 weeks and see the result.
Although using castor oil for acne may seem like a bit of a process,
it works very well and it is also considerably cheap. The treatment should be
applied every night to get rid of acne and prevent it from coming back.
Castor Oil Acne Precaution
Should the acne condition worsen for any reason, it is important to
stop the castor oil treatment immediately and visit a dermatologist. In most
cases, the treatment works well and for those who have extra sensitive skin, it
may be practical to try out the castor oil in certain areas of the face first
and observing the possible reactions.
Castor Oil to Treat Wrinkles
Castor oil is a natural emollient that penetrates the skin and helps
stimulate the production of collagen and elastin which can soften and hydrate
the skin. Therefore, it is a wonderful natural treatment for wrinkles since it
restores and rejuvenates skin's natural youthful appearance by making skin
smoother, softer and pliant.
Method to treat Wrinkles: Before going to bed just rub few drops of
castor oil all over the face in a light tapping motion with your fingertips to stimulates
the skin and circulation and rinse it morning. Alternatively, you can wash it
off in 2-3 hours of time also. Use warm -- not hot -- water and a soap-free
cleanser on your face.
Alternatively you can dip a small cotton ball into the oil and apply
it on wrinkled skin before going to bed. Use only a small amount of oil when
applying it to the skin near the eyes.
Keep in mind that castor oil is very thick and just a few drops can go
a long way. Regular use of castor oil for few months can help to fade pimple
marks or spots. Castor oil restores and rejuvenates skin looking smooth, firm
and wrinkle free.
Note: If you intend to use castor oil intensively (24 hours/day over
many consecutive days without significant breaks), you may encounter some
temporary “looseness” in the area of application. This looseness/wrinkling
effect is temporary, and the skin will tighten back up again in 1-2 weeks if
you take a break from castor oil. However, you can avoid this risk by taking
regular breaks. Read this comment for more information. This “looseness” should
not happen when castor oil is used normally. To clarify, 24 hours/day over many
consecutive days = NOT normal use!
Note: Rubbing or pulling the skin when you apply castor oil or
sunscreen can stretch the skin and increase wrinkling. Applying excess oil
could block your pores and contribute to blemishes.
Castor Oil to Treat Scars and Pigmentation
Number of studies have proved that regular use of Castor oil on the
scars and pigmentation helps to fade marks, pimple spots and pigmentation.
Castor oil mixed with Turmeric gives long lasting results.
Method to treat Scars & Pigmentation: Make a face mask by taking
few drops of castor oil and little amount of turmeric (actually its depends on
your own choice, you can make a thick paste = more turmeric & less oil or a
thin paste = less turmeric & more oil ). You can apply this mask on your
face and leave it on your face mask as long as you are comfortable.
Note: All natural remedies require patience. Also, remember that the
skin only renews itself every 30 days or so.
Castor Oil to Treat Stretch Marks:
Rub a small amount of castor oil over your stomach and thighs daily to
prevent stretch marks during pregnancy or periods of weight gain.
Castor Oil Cures Sleeplessness and Insomnia
If you suffer from insomnia, rub a little castor oil over your eyelids
before going to bed. Castor oil applied this way will bring about a feeling of
deep relaxation for a peaceful slumber without the use of drugs.
Castor Oil Treats Skin Infections
To treat small skin infections,
apply a few drops of castor oil onto a plaster or bandaid and apply it
over the area you wish to treat each day. For a larger skin infection, use a
piece of clean cloth soaked in castor oil instead.
Castor Oil Breaks Up External and Internal Scar tissue, and Prevents
New Scars From Forming
Castor oil’s unrivaled deep tissue penetration help to soften and
remove both external and internal scars, like those that form following
surgery. Castor oil will penetrate deep into the tissues to slowly break up
scar tissue. Amazingly, castor oil is able to distinguish between healthy cells
and abnormal ones. In healthy cells, castor oil will detoxify and stimulate
them, while increasing circulation. In abnormal cells like scar tissue and
growths, castor oil will instead work to aggressively dissolve cells thanks to
its solvent property.
To break down internal scarring, soak a piece of clean cloth with
castor oil and place it over the scar area for an hour or two each day. You can
also simply rub castor oil over the scar each day. More serious internal
scarring will take longer to break down.
On another note, castor oil can also prevent scars from forming in the
first place. Applying castor oil over cuts or scrapes will promote excellent
skin healing.
Remarkably, applying castor oil after surgery, cuts or wounds will
also minimize scar formation. Several commercial scar reduction creams also
contain castor oil (eg Scar Zone, Scar Repairex). However, they also contain
more chemicals than they do castor oil!
Castor Oil Softens Thick Calluses and Removes Corns
Castor oil application will soften any rough or thickened skin,
including calluses and corns. To treat corns, apply castor oil over your feet
and put cotton socks on before going to bed. (Incidentally, sleeping with
castor oil socks on will also soothe painful heels and foot pain.)
Castor Oil will Remove Moles and Warts (apply heat for faster
results)
Rub castor oil into moles or warts every night. The moles (or warts)
will start to shrink over a few weeks, and continued use will eventually remove
the mole without any scarring. Complete removal may take 2-3 months, but this
slow healing will also ensure there is no “hole” in your skin. (The surgical
removal of moles will often leave a hole where the mole was. This indentation
can often be permanent.)
What are the Side Effects of Castor Oil?
Castor oil is normally safe if used in moderation. But there are also
things that have to be considerate such as:
- Please do not use a castor oil if you are breast feeding, pregnant,
suspect to be pregnant or trying to conceive.
- People with appendicitis, acute inflammatory intestinal disease,
intestinal blockage or abdominal pain should not consume castor oil with out
doctor's approval.
- Precautions must be taken when consuming castor oil. Always consult
your doctor first, follow the steps or instruction written on the castor oil
pack. A typical recommended dosage for the oil is no more than one-half to one
full teaspoon per day. Over dosage of Castor Oil may result in different
problems such as cramping, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain or vomiting.
Tip: Remove castor oil residue with baking soda
Castor oil is thick and viscous, but it can be washed out with regular
soap and a good lather. However, if you find it more difficult than usual to
wash castor oil out of your hair or skin, try mixing in some baking soda and
water. Baking soda can cause some temporary dryness, but is very effective in
removing all traces of castor oil.
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