Health Benefits of Castor Oil

Castor oil has many health benefits. It is extracted from a flowering plant commonly found in eastern regions of the world. This vegetable oil is derived from cold-pressing castor bean plant seeds. Castor oil is a reservoir of Ricinoleic acid, a specific type of fatty acid characterized by its antioxidant, pain-relieving, and anti-inflammatory properties. Health Benefits of Castor Oil impacts several functions in your body.

Thousands of years ago, people used castor oil as a natural remedy for several health issues. For example, in ancient Egypt, castor oil was used to relieve constipation and soothe dried eyes. In the Indian region, castor oil was considered a medicine that helped treat skin conditions and improve arthritis or joint pains as well. 

In the recent era, many pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing companies are using castor oil in their products. The cosmetics industry uses castor oil during the manufacturing of cosmetic products, beauty soaps, hair, and skincare products such as lotions, creams, and shampoos. 

Studies suggest that castor oil may have health benefits due to its diverse therapeutic and medicinal properties. It is rich in antiviral, antimicrobial, and wound-healing properties which make it useful for everyone. 

What is Castor Oil?

Castor oil is extracted from the seeds of the castor plant, which has been used for thousands of years for its remarkable health benefits. Its immense popularity is associated with its wide range of health, beauty and everyday uses in your daily life. Castor oil has unique properties due to its composition. It has an amazing constituent, ricinoleic acid that helps to fight against microbes, pathogens, and inflammatory issues. Other useful aspects of castor oil include improving digestive health, boosting hair growth, reducing joint pain, supporting the immune system, and improving skin health.

It can be used orally or topically. If you want to use it as a laxative or for inducing labor in pregnancy, you can take it orally but for improving hair and skin health you can apply it to your skin or hair.

Whatever the benefit you want to enjoy from castor oil, the most important is to be aware of potential castor oil side effects and use it in the correct way and proportion. Here are some health benefits of castor oil which can help you to explore how castor oil is useful or beneficial for your health or beauty.

Helps Relieve Constipation

Castor oil is a well-known laxative and commonly used to relieve constipation. The oil increases the muscle contractions that help pass stool through the intestines to eliminate the waste. The Food and Drug Authorities in the USA approved castor oil as an effective stimulant laxative and safe for oral use. However, since last decade the use of castor oil as an effective laxative has declined because more effective laxatives with fewer side effects have become available in the market. 

Studies showed that castor oil is a better laxative because it helps reduce straining during bowel movement, lessen the feeling of incomplete bowel, and create softer stools. In addition, castor oil is also used to clean out the bowel before and after medical procedures, such as colonoscopy or cesarean surgery. However, as a laxative castor oil works quickly and produces bowel movements within a minimum time, usually 5 to 10 hours after taking it.

As a Good Moisturizer

Castor oil is also rich in moisturizing properties because it is a reservoir of fatty acids. Fatty acids help keep your skin hydrated and glowing. This oil acts as a humectant, a substance that traps a mixture in your skin to keep it smooth, shiny, and soft. Castor oil is also a protective barrier in your skin that helps prevent moisture from evaporating from the skin. 

In addition, cosmetic industries use castor oil on a large scale to manufacture cosmetic products. They add it to makeup items, lip balms, and lotions, as an emollient to promote hydration in your skin. You can use castor oil directly for your skin glow but keep in mind that castor oil is thick, you should dilute it by mixing it with carrier oil, such as jojoba oil, almond oil, or coconut oil, before applying it directly on your body or face.

Research on the benefits of castor oil for skin health is not enough. Therefore, more research is needed to prove that fatty acids present in castor oil are helpful in promoting skin repair and reducing the appearance of wrinkles, acne scars, or fine lines. You can get a better understanding of the health benefits of castor oil by exploring more research articles.

Promote Wound Healing

Castor oil creates a moist environment and prevents drying out. These properties help promote wound healing. Many ointments are used in clinical settings, combining castor oil and balms to treat wounds. In addition, ricinoleic acid is the main fatty acid in castor oil that helps reduce pain in wounds, supports healing quickly, and reduces skin inflammation near scars or wounds.

However, the important thing is to remember that castor oil topical wound treatment needs a combination of ingredients, not just castor oil. Only applying castor oil to any wound may cause irritation and severe pain in the wound.

Help Keep Dentures Clean

People who wear dentures need to clean them every day to prevent plaque accumulation and protect their oral health. A sticky white layer containing a large number of bacteria and fungi known as plaque that commonly grows on dentures. This plaque makes people, who wear dentures, vulnerable to oral fungal infections, especially Candida yeast. The yeast accumulates on dentures and increases the risk of denture stomatitis, a well-known infection that causes oral inflammation and oral pain. 

Studies suggest that castor oil is rich in anti-fungal and antibacterial properties that may help keep dentures clean. According to a study, soaking dentures in 10% castor oil for 10 minutes can kill fungi and bacteria completely. 

In addition, research also supports that brushing dentures and soaking them in a castor oil solution reduces Candida infection among people who wear dentures.

Help Induce Labor in Pregnancy

And a traditional method of stimulating labor, castor oil is the most popular. This is the go-to method for inducing labor pain. Some midwives still support its effectiveness as a natural method of induction. Castor oil has laxative properties which prove helpful in labor-inducing properties. Oral consumption of castor oil stimulates the bowels, which can irritate the uterus and cause contractions. Prostaglandins are the fats combined with hormones, which help prepare your cervix for delivery. Castor oil can increase the production of these fats. 

According to a 2020 study, pregnant people who use castor oil to induce labor can give birth vaginally with no pain or complications. Another review of these studies found that the safest and most effective way to prepare the cervix for vaginal birth and induce labor is the oral administration of castor oil.

However, there is another aspect of castor oil for inducing labor for pregnancy consumption of castor oil to induce labor can lead to unpleasant side effects and complications, such as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Some healthcare providers do not support the use of castor oil to induce labor because it increases the risk of the baby passing meconium. Which is a newborn’s first bowel movement before birth. This can prove a safety risk for the mother and the baby. So it is not safe to use castor oil for inducing labor without discussing it with your healthcare provider.

Ease Arthritis Pains

Castor oil has anti-inflammatory properties which offer relief for-arthritis-related pain or joint pins. Studies showed that castor oil consumption can help reduce osteoarthritis-related knee and joint pain. According to another study, taking castor oil supplements capsules or tablets three times a day for a month consecutively shows significant reductions in joint pain levels, without any side effects. 

In addition, many studies and research findings evaluated the uses of topical castor oil to reduce arthritis pain. Massaging with castor oil onto your skin above sore knees or ankles for two to three weeks can effectively reduce inflammation and pain in joints.

Promote Hair Health

It is a common observation that castor oil stimulates hair growth and prevents hair loss. However, the lack of scientific evidence prevents you from believing this hack blindly. 

However, several research findings support the idea that castor oil can treat dandruff and soothe itchy or dry scalp. In addition, many dandruff-removing products contain castor oil but no research supports that castor oil alone can be effective for treating dandruff.

Some old studies showed that some factors would help to admit that castor oil might be effective in moisturizing hair. This is because castor oil can help lubricate hair to keep it shiny and prevent split ends and breakage. The antibacterial and anti-fungal properties of castor oil provide protection for the scalp against microbial or fungal infections.

Improve Eye Health

Ancient beauticians had strongly claimed that Cleopatra had been using castor oil to brighten the whites of her eyes. Therefore, a number of people believe that castor oil can contribute to healthier eyes. New research also claims that castor oil can do everything from curing glaucoma to improving eyesight.

But, none of these clans have any scientific evidence. Opponents of these ideas said that putting castor oil in your eyes can cause severe side effects, such as blurred vision, irritation, and pain. Some ophthalmologists also claim that using castor oil for eye health can lead to burn-induced eye damage. Thus, it is recommended by the expert that if you’re experiencing eye problems. It’s important to see an eye specialist who can help you identify the issue and preserve your vision. Avoid any home remedy, including castor oil.

How to Take Castor Oil?

Castor oil can be taken orally and often it is mixed with some other liquids or juices to drive its taste. The suitable dosage of castor oil can be determined by evaluating your medical history, your age and some other factors. An expert healthcare provider can help you prescribe the correct dodge for you to consume. However, it is a common practice that people take 2 to 5 tablespoons of castor oil per day for treating constipation. But remember, it is not recommended by a doctor.

Castor Oil Precautions

Astor oil is used commonly to address various health conditions, including constipation or digestive problems. Ingestion or topical applications are commissioned ways to use it. Although it is safe for use, it can still cause some severe reactions in some individuals.

So, if you are planning to use castor oil, keep some points in your mind that can protect you from potential side effects of castor oil. These are:

Allergic Reactions: When applied to the skin, castor oil may cause allergic reactions in some people. So it is recommended that you apply a small amount of oil to a tiny patch of skin to see how your skin reacts.

Labor: Doctors usually use castor oil for pregnant people to induce labor in them. But, keep in mind that pregnant people of all stages should avoid consuming castor oil without the recommendation of an expert healthcare professional.

Gastrointestinal Side Effects: Castor oil is used to alleviate constipation but its unchecked use can cause some GI side effects like cramping, bloating, diarrhea or vomiting, and nausea. Only use it if prescribed by a health professional.

Conclusion

Castor oil is extracted from cold-pressing of the castor bean plant seeds. This oil is used commonly for relieving constipation and treating some digestive issues. People usually take it orally or apply it on their skin or hair to resolve some skin and hair issues. 

Castor oil, in your region, is generally used as a natural remedy for a wide range of health conditions but it is also used as a beauty product around the world. It has strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and pi-relieving properties that often offer certain health benefits, including inducing labor or relieving constipation. 

According to a limited range of research findings, castor oil is also effective for relieving joint pain, helping grow hair, eyelashes, and eyebrows, and making your skin youthful and glowing. However, there is no science-backed evidence to support its effectiveness in promoting hair growth or moisturizing skin.

However, ingesting castor oil without any medical supervision is associated with side effects such as abdominal pain, nausea, or diarrhea.