Health Benefits of Castor Oil

The castor plant is a large, leafy, tropical-looking plant with red or green “beans.” The castor bean is not a true bean; it is a thick round seed with small bumps on the surface. The seeds and possibly leaves (depending on the plant’s growth) of the castor bean plant are poisonous, containing ricin proteins. In fact, raw castor beans can cause illness and even kill a child. The seeds of the plant contain approximately 60% vegetable oil, which is rich with ricinolein, a glyceride of ricinoleic acid. This is the part that is extracted for manufacturing.


Studies have shown that Castor Oil is a very strong laxative, which makes it very effective against constipation. If you are constipated and want to try this castor oil, simply take a teaspoon in the morning. You can mix the oil with your favorite juice to lessen the bitter taste without affecting the laxative effects. As a rule for laxatives, castor oil should not be taken for a very long time. As advised, do not take it continuously for more than 3 days. If symptoms persist for longer than 3 days, consult your physician immediately.

Here are other health benefits of castor oil

Arthritis Natural Remedy
The anti-inflammatory properties of Castor Oil make it an excellent massage oil for relieving arthritic joints, nerve inflammations, and sore muscles. Make a small pad by folding a small piece of unbleached cotton flannelette into 3 or 4 layers. Dip the cotton pad into Castor Oil and place it on to the affected joint or muscle. Cover the pad with a plastic wrap. Place a hot water bottle or heating pad over the plastic wrapped cotton pad. The plastic wrap will prevent the water bottle or heating pad from getting oily. Leave the cotton pad on for 45 minutes to an hour, once per day.

Hair Loss Treatment

Instructions

• Prepare your scalp for treatment. Wash your hair with regular shampoo and rinse thoroughly. Towel dry and let it air dry for 5-10 minutes.
• Prepare Castor oil solution. Mix equal parts Castor oil and grape seed oil to create an oil treatment.
• Apply Castor oil solution to the scalp. Slowly massage the Castor oil into the scalp to cover it entirely. Make sure all areas including the base of the scalp near the neck and patches around the ears are covered with the oil solution.
• Wrap your hair in a towel. Create a "hair turban" with the towel and clip it in place with the jaw clip. Make sure the entire scalp is covered with the towel.
• Let the treatment set for at least 15-20 minutes.
• Rinse the hair with warm water.
• Repeat the process at least 1-2 times per week. This will help stimulate hair growth and help slow down hair loss over time.

Be sure to avoid getting the oil solution into eyes or on clothing.

Castor Oil for Acne
The Ricinoleic Acid in castor oil works to inhibit many viruses and bacteria, and as castor oil is able to penetrate skin tissue deeply, this makes it an effective treatment for acne.

To treat acne, dab a hot damp washcloth all over your face in the evening before you go to bed. The heat will gently open the pores on your face. After this, massage a little castor oil gently into the skin. Leave on overnight. Repeat this daily for 1 to 2 weeks to see results. You can also repeat this twice in the day, once at night and once in the morning.

Castor Oil for Smooth Skin
Castor oil’s ability to penetrate more deeply than any other essential plant oil make it an excellent way to keep skin looking youthful and fresh. Castor oil works better than any store-bought anti-ageing creams.

The best way to use castor oil is to rub in a small amount over your face and around your eyes before bed. This may be hard to do at first because castor oil is extremely thick and sticky. Therefore, rub the oil in as thoroughly as possible and then pat your face gently with a tissue to get rid of the excess. This will keep wrinkles at bay. Be sure to use only cold pressed castor oil that is hexane free. Any other kind may clog your pores. Castor oil is found in several anti-ageing creams, wrinkle creams and under-eye creams.

Successful studies have approved the use of Castor Oil for skin infections and other skin problems such as sunburn, abrasions, acne, dry skin, boils, warts, stretch marks, athletes foot and chronic itching and inflamed skin.

Side Effects of Castor Oil
Castor oil is normally safe if used in moderation. However, pregnant and lactating women and people with intestinal blockage, acute inflammatory intestinal disease, appendicitis, or abdominal pain should not take Castor Oil without their doctor's approval.

Note that precautions must be taken when taking the oil internally, so you should always follow the directions on the package and consult your doctor or naturopathic professional before consuming it. 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 diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or cramping.

With the many health benefits of castor oil, it is no wonder why it is one of the most beneficial oils that are available for us to use. Castor oil is truly a valuable, organic remedy that can help improve your body’s physical fitness, vigor and overall wellness.