I remember the first time I ever heard about castor oil. It was a comment someone made to me while pregnant. Nearly two weeks past the due date, to be exact. “Castor oil will get that baby out!” they insisted. What? How was that even possible? And what is this castor oil stuff?

Fast forward a few years when the words again crossed my path. I was reading about how to grow my lashes to be long and lustrous, as I dreamed they could be. I had been looking for a replacement for the toxic-filled lash growth serum I was using. I wasn’t sure I believed that castor oil could do the trick or not, but gave it a try and was pleasantly surprised. So it got me thinking, what is this stuff and why does it work?

Castor oil has been around forever. And when I say forever, I mean for. ever. It is an old folk medicine that pre-dates our great grandparents and holds deep roots in Ayurvedic medicine. It is well known for its skin healing and digestion calming properties.

Today, castor oil is used primarily as a laxative, to boost the lymphatic system, improve circulation, and enhance immune health. It also has some claims to heal arthritis and other inflammatory disorders.

Ok, so what is castor oil exactly?

It is a thick liquid that is composed of triglycerides and a very specific and rare compound called ricinoleic acid. This is a fatty oil found on the seeds at the center of the bean plant. Castor oil is mainly found and cultivated in Africa, South America, and India (over 90% is found here!).

Castor oil also contains beneficial salts that enter and act as skin conditioning agents, which is why it is such a hot commodity in skincare and cosmetic products. Research indicates that it also contains flavonoids, phenolic compounds, amino acids, and phytosterols, as well as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. And there’s more: it’s also been found to be hepatoprotective (which means it protects the liver) scavenges for free radicals (those pesky things that make us sick by damaging our DNA), and is a major support for wound healing.

Phew.

That’s a lot of stuff.

Let’s dive into the proven benefits of castor oil.

First up, improving the immune system.

Castor oil is believed to help lymphatic drainage, blood flow, and thymus gland health. The thymus gland plays an important role in T-cell immunity (made famous by SARS-CoV-2) and fights off pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, and cancer. The thymus is also believed to play a role in autoimmune disease and aging. It also produces several important hormones. Specific issues that castor oil is known for helping with include abdominal/digestive pain, arthritis, backaches, constipation, muscle aches, chronic headaches, gallbladder pain, PMS, rheumatism, and insomnia. A small double-blind study found that adults who used a castor oil pack on the abdomen had a significant increase in the production of lymphocytes, which are the immune system disease fighters that attack toxins, bacteria, and other “threats.”

Second, castor oil improves skin and wound healing.

As a nice, thick substance, castor oil naturally prevents and treats skin dryness. It assists in healing wounds and pressure ulcers thanks to its antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. Studies show that castor oil fights staph infections and the more dangerous strains of E. coli (Abdulla Al-mamun et al., 2016). The anti-inflammatory properties of castor oil have been shown to fight blemishes and bacterial overgrowth on the skin. Pretty impressive for one little oil.

Third, joint pain, arthritis, and inflammation may be improved by castor oil too.

Vieira et al. (2010) found that topical application of castor oil can be applied to achy joints, muscle or skin tissue and provide an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect. A randomized double-blind clinical study (this is the king of studies) found that castor oil capsules are considered an effective therapy in primary knee osteoarthritis.

And finally, my favorite. Hair growth!

How an oil can improve the rate of hair growth is incredible and almost unbelievable. The oil speeds up circulation to the hair follicle, which in turn, increases hair growth. Research shows that ricinoleic acid balances prostaglandin production which affects hair growth. This can work for thinning and aging hair as well as just trying to get those eyelashes to bat a little longer. The key is to get the oil into the root. If you apply to the scalp, you’ll need to massage it deeply into your head and if you are using it for your lashes, make sure to apply right at the root.

So now what?

There are few ways to incorporate castor oil into your routine, should you need it. The most common way to use castor oil is with a castor oil pack. You can buy these ready-made, but they are also super easy to assemble at home. You can use on joints, injured areas, or on the abdomen to support digestive pain.

  •  You will need

    • A bottle of hexane-free, cold-pressed and organic castor oil

    • A medium-sized piece of flannel

    • Plastic wrap

    • Hot pack

    • An old towel that you won’t mind if it gets dirty

  • Heat 4 oz of castor oil in the microwave for 45 seconds or on the stove top. If microwaving, use a glass dish.

    1. Soak the flannel in the hot castor oil. Allow it to soak up the oil.

    2. Use the towel to support the area you’re going to use the pack on to keep it elevated.

    3. Cover the affected joint with the flannel soaked in castor oil.

    4. Use the plastic wrap to bind the flannel to the affected area. Place the hot pack on top of the plastic wrap.

    5. Keep the pack on for 20-45 minutes. Plan to take a shower in order to remove the remaining castor oil.

  • You can reuse the flannel sheet again. Just store it in a glass container until next time!

  • For best results, apply castor oil packs for 60-90 minutes as soon as trouble starts. Do this about 3 times a week for a 3 week period. Consult with a doctor to rule out more serious causes.

Don’t want to DIY? Here is a high-quality one to buy.

You can also use castor oil more sparingly such as on a blemish, dry skin, sunburns, or age spots.

There are a few precautions.

If you are pregnant and do not want to induce labor, stay away. And even if you do want to induce labor, the research is limited on if this even really works.

Some may have a reaction when applied topically. Do a test patch first.

Can cause diarrhea if ingested. Don’t do that unless you are under the direct care of your medical doctor. Or just don’t do it.

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