Amazing Castor Oil Health Benefits (11 Surprising Uses)

Ricinus communis plant

Castor oil has some truly surprising uses and health benefits that I want to share with you in this article. It is a vegetable oil that comes from the castor bean plant (Ricinus communis), it is a colorless to very light yellow liquid that has a distinct taste and odor.

It’s many uses include being used in the manufacturing of food preservatives, lubricants, paint, brake fluids, medicines, and much more.

It was even used by Hitler and Mussolini to punish their enemies by feeding them large doses which causes cramping, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, but in this post I’ll focus on the positive uses instead!

So what are the amazing castor oil health benefits? Here are 11 surprising ways you can put it to good use.

Amazing Castor Oil Benefits (11 Surprising Uses)

1. Helps You Poo

You know how earlier I mentioned that castor oil is sometimes used as a punishment because it causes diarrhea? Well that’s only in large doses. In smaller doses it helps with constipation because it contains ricinoleic acid which is absorbed by the intestine and stimulates a strong laxative effect.

2. Boosts Your Immune System

Castor oil increases the production of lymphocytes in your body which are basically disease-fighting cells that helps your body get rid of toxins, bacteria, and other things that get you sick.

There are 3 types of lympocytes: T cells, B cells, and Natural Killer cells.

After taking castor oil your lympocytes count go up which helps you form more antibodies that protects your body from pathogens and toxins.

3. Helps You Heal Faster

Got a cut somewhere on your skin? Rub some castor oil on it will help you disinfect your wounds and help it heal faster.

Castor oil has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties which makes it an effective treatment for minor scrapes and cuts.

4. Helps Women Delivering Baby

Castor oil is a popular natural remedy for women to induce labor because it speeds up uterus contractions.

Some studies have shown that the ricinoleic acid in castor oil induces laxation and activates the prostaglandin EP3 receptors. For women out there who oppose taking pharmaceutical drugs to induce labor, this is a great alternative.

The only down side is that some women report feeling nausea after taking it.

5. Alleviates Arthritis Pain

Castor oil has anti-inflammatory properties and has been used since the ancient times to treat arthritis pain, joint pain, and inflammation. If you have arthritis or other joint and tissue pain then you can massage it on your muscles to provide relief.

6. Natural Skin Moisturizer

If you have dry skin then castor oil is a great natural remedy to moisturize your skin.

Castor oil is a natural beauty ingredient you can use to rub on your skin to give it a revitalized feel and look. Another idea is to mix castor oil with other healthy oils like almond or coconut oil to create a multi-oil hydrating moisturizer.

Sometimes the moisturizers you buy at stores may contain unhealthy chemicals and preservatives like paraben that you may not want to put on your skin, castor oil is a great natural alternative to replace traditional moisturizers.

7. Contraceptive Uses

Here’s something you probably didn’t expect… castor oil can be used as a birth control! This is because it contains Ricin which is a poison naturally found in castor beans.

Women in many countries have been using castor oil to prevent pregnancy for many years. However you should talk to your doctor first before using it in this way.

8. Good For Your Hair

Castor oil is a great moisturizer for your hair, it can sooth itchy scalp, help reduce dandruff, and give you thicker and stronger hair.

Some people even report that it helps with hair loss. This is not surprising seeing as how castor oil has antibacterial and antifungal properties and contains essential nutrients like vitamin E, minerals, proteins, and fatty acids to help treat hair loss caused by microbial and fungal infections.

However, reports of castor oil helping with hair loss are only anecdotal, there is no scientific studies to prove that it actually help stop hair loss or grow back hair.

9. Improves Oral Health

There is an Indian method called Oil Pulling which involves taking a spoonful of vegetable oil and swishing it around in your mouth for about 10 to 15 minutes and then spitting it out. Doing this daily has been said to whiten teeth, prevent cavities and gingivitis, improve teeth and gum health, eliminate bad breath, and other benefits for your oral health.

Oil pulling is also known as “kavala” or “gundusha,” you can use any vegetable oil to do this such as castor oil, almond oil, olive oil, coconut oil, etc. Many people online have praised it’s benefits, however many dentists seem to say it doesn’t work. I suggest you try it for yourself to see what happens. 

10. Helps You Sleep Better

Having trouble falling asleep at night? Just take some castor oil and rub it on your eyelids before bedtime and it will help promote a restful night’s sleep. It’s not clear how exactly castor oils induces sleep, but many people say it works.

The only thing is to make sure to not get any of the castor oil inside your eyes.

11. Clears Away Acne

Castor oil’s anti-inflammation properties can also help clear away deep cystic acne by reducing inflammation from the acne and killing off bacteria. The fatty acids in castor oil can also help promote the growth of health skin tissue which helps you achieve healthier looking skin.

To Wrap It All Up…

So what did you think about these 11 amazing castor oil benefits? Were you surprised at what it can do?

This oil can be used to improve the health of your hair, skin, mouth, and a bunch of other areas of your body. This is not an exhaustive list by any means, there are plenty more castor oil uses and benefits that I haven’t covered in this post.

If you would like to get yourself some castor oil you can buy it online for very cheap.

Click the image below to see the current price on Amazon:

But even though castor oil has many positive benefits you should still be cautious when using it, some people do experience negative side effects such as nausea, skin rashes, itching, dizziness, and other things.

Before including castor oil into your daily regime I recommend that you consult your doctor first.

If you have any experiences or comments you’d like to share, please leave them down below.

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