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.
My friends have
been talking about this castor oil and all of them said it is very helpful with
constipation.
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
My mom is having
problems with hair loss so I researched for some natural remedy to prevent hair
loss. I read an article about castor oil and I told my mom to try this. This is
just her first day to try so we can’t see the effect right away. But if this is
effective to treat hair loss, I will post it on this blog so you guys know how
effective castor oil is.
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.
