14 Reasons to Keep a Bottle of Castor Oil in Your Home

As many of you may already know, castor oil is the go-to concoction recommended by ancient healers for treating a wide range of ailments—from constipation to colds to fevers and even parasites. Castor oil is known as one of the best medicines.

I’ve written before about some of the mysterious and potential health uses of oil, and although there is less research to support its potential medicinal effects, I still believe there are clear benefits to using this versatile oil.

This is one of the best-known natural remedies, with a long history that warrants greater scientific exploration — though it’s worth doing some careful home testing before use.

The use of castor oil dates back hundreds of years

Castor oil is pressed from the seeds of the castor bean, which originated in India and is now grown in Mediterranean countries such as Algeria, Egypt and Greece. In France, castor is grown as an ornamental plant for its large, beautiful leaves.

Many ancient civilizations, including the early Egyptians, Chinese, and Persians, valued the castor plant for its many uses, such as fuel for lamps and as an ingredient in lipsticks and ointments.

In the Middle Ages, the castor plant became a well-known remedy for skin ailments in Europe. The Greek physician Dioscorides even described how to extract oil from the plant, but warned that the seeds should only be used externally because they had a “strong purgative effect.”

Castor oil is a triglyceride composed of fatty acids, 90% of which is ricinoleic acid. Other seeds and oils, such as soybean oil and cottonseed oil, also contain this unique fatty acid, but in much lower concentrations.

Ricinoleic acid is said to be the main therapeutic component of oil, and medical researcher, chiropractor and biochemist David Williams states:

“[It] is effective in preventing the growth of many viruses, bacteria, yeasts and molds. It is an effective topical treatment for ringworm, keratosis, skin inflammation, abrasions, fungal infections of the finger and toenails, acne and chronic itching.”

In his article, Williams also notes that in India, the castor plant has been traditionally used to treat a variety of ailments, such as dysentery, asthma, constipation, inflammatory bowel disease, and bladder and vaginal infections.

14 Ways to Use Castor Oil at Home

If you already have oil at home, that’s great, but if not, you should consider buying a bottle of a high-quality brand of oil right away. You’ll be amazed at the many uses for this versatile oil. The Natural Living Ideas website lists 14 ways to use oil, which I’ve summarized here:

A safe, natural laxative. 

A study conducted in 2010 highlighted how oil packs can help effectively relieve constipation in older adults. In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers this oil “generally recognized as safe and effective” for use as a stimulant laxative.

Oral castor oil can “cleanse” the digestive tract within two to five hours. However, remember to use the proper dosage. Adults can take 1-2 tablespoons, while children between 2 and 12 years old should only take 1-2 teaspoons.
For infants under 2 years old, it is not recommended to take more than a teaspoon at a time. When giving medication to children, try mixing it in freshly squeezed juice to make it more palatable.

Relieve muscle pain. 

Apply to muscles after strenuous exercise to stimulate blood circulation and relieve pain. Mix it with peppermint oil or Roman chamomile for an even more therapeutic and soothing effect.

Relieves joint pain. 

The ricinoleic acid in oil has a decongestant effect on the lymphatic system, which is responsible for collecting waste from tissues and transporting it to the blood for elimination from the body.

If the lymphatic system is not functioning properly, such as in arthritis, joint pain can occur. Massaging oil into the joints can help relieve congestion and jump-start the lymphatic system.

A study conducted in 2009 and published in Phytotherapy Research supports this and revealed that oil can relieve pain in people with osteoarthritis of the knee.

Helps treat fungal conditions. 

Castor oil is said to be as effective as antifungal medications in treating common infections such as ringworm, jock itch, and athlete’s foot.

Simply warm castor oil and apply to the affected area before bedtime, leaving it on overnight. Repeat for a week until the infection is completely gone.

Promotes healthy hair growth. 

Massaging warm castor oil into your scalp (and even eyebrows) can stimulate hair follicles, which can promote hair growth. Use it every night and see improvements in as little as two weeks. Castor oil may also be effective for areas affected by alopecia.

Make your hair color richer. 

Castor oil can lock in moisture in your hair, making the color richer and thicker in appearance. To achieve this effect, heat a tablespoon of the oil and use your fingertips to apply the castor oil to each strand of hair, running your fingertips through your hair to work the oil into as many strands as possible.

Natural-Looking Mascara. 

Melt one tablespoon of beeswax in a double boiler, then add 2 tablespoons of charcoal or cocoa powder (depending on your hair color) and castor oil and mix until you achieve the desired consistency.

Unlike other traditional beauty products, this homemade mascara doesn’t contain any toxic chemicals. Alternatively, apply castor oil to your eyelashes every night to make them appear fuller and thicker.

Skin Moisturizer.

The fatty acids in castor oil nourish and moisturize dry skin. Due to its viscous nature, castor oil stays in place and can more easily penetrate your skin tissue.

Remember, small changes, as long as you stick with it, can go a long way. Just rub a teaspoon between your palms and apply to your skin.

Eliminate skin blemishes and other skin problems. 

Say goodbye to unsightly and embarrassing skin growths with the help of castor oil.

Castor oil has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, so it may be effective for skin warts, acne, and warts. A study published in the Journal of International Toxicology also found that castor oil may have a positive effect on occupational dermatitis.

Helps improve sleep quality. 

It is said that sprinkling a small amount of castor oil on your eyelids can help you fall asleep more easily. Castor oil can promote deeper and longer sleep.

It is very effective for colic in babies. 

Colic sometimes occurs in the first few months of life and can cause prolonged, excessive crying. Its exact cause is still unknown, although gas is generally considered to be the main cause. To use castor oil to treat colic, simply rub it gently on your child’s abdomen.

Safely treat your pet’s wounds. 

If you see a minor wound on your dog or cat’s skin, applying a little castor oil can help promote wound healing because it has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. If your pet licks his wounds (which most pets do), castor oil is harmless, but it may cause diarrhea.

It can be use as a food preservative. 

Coating dry grain products with castor oil not only prevents them from spoiling, but also protects them from microorganisms and pests. However, in general, grains should be stored for the shortest possible time to ensure the best health.

An all-around lubricant. 

If you have items in your home that need lubrication, such as squeaky hinges, scissors, or a meat grinder, castor oil can be used directly. Due to its consistent viscosity, castor oil does not freeze, so it can be used in hot or cold environments.

When used topically, it does not necessarily have to be mixed with a carrier oil, just test it on a small patch of skin to check for any allergies or skin reactions.

In addition to rubbing or massaging directly on the skin, you can also make castor oil packs, which I believe play a key role in holistic healing. The late psychotherapist Edgar Cayce first recommended the use of castor oil packs to promote healing. Later, Dr. William McGarey in Phoenix, Arizona, studied this.

McGarey, a primary care physician and follower of Cayce’s teachings, said castor oil packs can greatly benefit the immune system if used correctly.

For more information on how to make a castor oil pack, watch the following video from Edgar Cayce’s Association for Research and Enlightenment, which was founded to transform people’s lives through Cayce’s teachings. 

Castor oil can stimulate labor — with extreme caution

Another popular traditional use of oil is as a labor stimulant. Researchers have found in studies on mice that ricinoleic acid can cause intestinal and uterine contractions, which can stimulate labor. One study found that more than half of the 100 pregnant women tested who were given oil went into labor within 24 hours. However, I do not recommend this use because of the potential harmful side effects.

A study conducted in 2001 reported that all pregnant women who ingested castor oil experienced nausea afterwards. Another study also warned that castor oil-induced contractions may cause babies to pass meconium (baby’s first bowel movement) while in the womb, putting babies at risk for meconium aspiration, which may cause respiratory distress in the newborn. The study authors noted:

“Most of the side effects of oil include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Castor oil also affects the APGOR score in the first minute of pregnancy… It is very important that women get the proper dosing from their midwives or obstetricians before attempting any oil to induce labor.”

Did you know that castor seeds contain deadly ingredients?

Despite castor oil’s potential therapeutic benefits. You should be aware that the castor plant also contains a powerful poison called ricin. Found in both the raw castor bean and the “paste” left after processing oil. Ricin blocks protein synthesis and kills cells when ingested orally, nasally, or intravenously.

Ricin is so toxic that ingesting or inhaling 1 mg can be fatal, just like eating four to eight castor seeds can cause death. And there is no antidote for the toxin, so ricin has been use as a chemical warfare agent.

However, you don’t have to worry about ricin poisoning from oil. As the toxin is extract from castor beans during the production process. This has been confirm by the final report on oil in the Journal of International Toxicology. Which states that ricin does not “enter” oil, and therefore. Castor oil is safe to add to cosmetics without any side effects.

Use castor oil, but be aware of potential side effects

As with any herbal oil, I recommend using castor oil with caution due to the potential for side effects. People with sensitive skin may have an allergic reaction to oil if apply topically. So I recommend doing a patch test before applying large amounts to large areas of skin.

If taken internally, the ricinoleic acid in it is irritating to the intestinal mucosa, thereby relieving constipation. However, it can also cause gastrointestinal discomfort, dizziness, and nausea. Therefore, I recommend that you avoid oil if you have any digestive problems. Such as irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers, cramps, diverticulitis, colitis, or hemorrhoids. People who have recently undergone surgery should also avoid oil.

Finally, make sure you buy organic oil from a reliable source. Most commercial oil sale in stores today is source from castor beans. That have likely been heavily spray with pesticides or treated with solvents and other chemical contaminants. Wiich can harm their beneficial components and possibly contaminate the oil.