Castor oil has been around for centuries to help treat health-related conditions. This is due to its many antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
The oil itself is actually called Ricinus Communis and is excreted from the seeds of the castor plant. In today’s medical practices, castor oil is most often applied topically or taken orally to help treat a vast number of ailments.
Here is a more in-depth description of castor oil and 15 helpful uses for castor oil that you can work into your everyday health care routine.
What Is Castor Oil?
Castor oil is a plant-based oil that can be used to help with a number of skin, hair, and health issues. To learn more about what castor oil is and how it can help you, check out this awesome YouTube video!
1. Increases Hair Growth
Although you can’t grow hair anywhere by just simply applying castor oil, when rubbed on your scalp, it can help increase overall hair growth. The main reason behind this is the warm consistency of the castor oil improving your circulation.
To start treatment, heat up a half cup of castor oil and allow it to cool for a few minutes so you don’t burn yourself. Once it’s nearing room temperature, apply it to your fingers and massage your scalp.
Plan on doing this treatment every night and you should start seeing results within two weeks or less.
In addition, if you desire thicker eyebrows, the same treatment can be used to help treat your condition, but instead of your fingers use a Q-tip.
2. Helps Keep Skin Moisturized
Castor oil is a key ingredient in a lot of skin moisturizers being sold around the world. Instead of glossing on your skin like some knock-off skin moisturizers, it helps dig into your skin tissue and improve fatty acids.
However, don’t be tricked with moisturizers that feature castor oil as one of their ingredients. Most of those companies don’t realize the full potential of only using castor oil on your skin.
To treat your skin, simply rub a small amount of oil on your hands and rub it onto your face. Once you get an even layer, keep it on your face for a few minutes, wash it off, and pat it dry.
3. Acts as a Spot Treatment for Many Skin Problems
Castor oil can serve as a great spot treatment for skin tags, acne, and warts. Although warts can be resulting from a type of viral condition, skin tags and acne can appear from bacteria getting on your skin.
Simply apply castor oil to these problematic areas for a week using a cotton swab. You should expect to see results as soon as one to two weeks due to the miraculous anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties of castor oil.
Related: 15 Miracle Uses of Argan Oil For Your Face, Hair & Skin
4. Helps Treat Against Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis is a type of disorder that deals with the degeneration and inflammation of myelin in the spinal cord and brain. Since MS degenerates the myelin, there is a disruption of impulses that go to and from the brain.
Consuming castor oil can help provide your body fatty acids and anti-inflammatory protection to defend your body against MS and prevent harmful conditions such as fatigue, balance problems, and bowel inconsistencies.
5. Treats Migraines
Migraines are a type of condition that can cause an intense throbbing headache. Symptoms include vomiting, unsteadiness, and sensitivity to light. Unfortunately, migraines can last for hours, but using castor oil can help lessen the symptoms and recovery time.
Since castor oil is full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatories, it can help reduce the likelihood and severity of the symptoms that accompany migraines. In addition, it can also help increase the circulation of the immune system that can cause migraines to happen in the first place.
6. Relieves Sore Muscles
Castor oil can be crucial to relieving sore muscles and if often used with massage therapy. If you have a sore muscle, all you have to do is apply a small amount to your skin and rub it in.
You should expect to see results within a few hours to relieve any pain you may be feeling.
7. Acts as a Natural Lip Balm
Castor oil has anti-inflammatory properties that can help heal dry or chapped lips. It also makes for one of the most effective all-natural remedies to help treat dry, bleeding, or chapped lips.
8. Helps Treat Rheumatism and Arthritis Pain
Rheumatism and Arthritis are caused by inflammation and can affect small joints in your feet and hands. Since the lining of your joints is affected the most, painful swelling that is associated with these conditions can cause joint deformity.
Plus, these two disorders are classified as autoimmune which can cause the immune system to attack your own body’s tissues.
However, castor oil can help fight against these conditions since it is such a strong antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory treatment. Plus, it’s anti-inflammatory properties can also reduce the tendency of inflammation in your joints.
9. Losing Weight
Though castor oil can be used to help treat all sorts of ailments and illnesses, it can also be quite effective if you are trying to lose weight. This oil contains fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins that all work to burn fat.
These fat-burning compounds make castor oil a powerful, natural treatment for weight loss.
Related: 14 Ways Almond Oil Can Revitalize Your Hair & Skin
10. Treats Infections
Castor oil can be used to treat a variety of skin infections like rashes, fungal infections, and ringworm. There is nothing quite as effective as this oil when curing these skin ailments.
It works both inside your body and outside too in order to clear up any infections you may have.
11. Moisturizes Skin
If you are prone to getting dry skin, try using castor oil. Its moisturizing properties are thanks to the many minerals and nutrients it holds.
Simply rub a little bit on any dry patches and watch them disappear.
12. Clear Up Dandruff
Castor oil can also be used to treat dandruff. It is packed full of vitamins and nutrients that help to moisturize your scalp. It also contains serious anti-bacterial properties, which helps to cure dandruff, too.
Using your hands, simply massage a little bit of castor oil into your hair, on your scalp before you go to bed every night. You will begin to see a difference in no time.
13. Aid Sleep Naturally
Ideally, adults should be getting at least seven hours of sleep a night. Unfortunately, most do not achieve this. Castor oil can help you to achieve a more restful night’s sleep. It will assist you in falling asleep faster and getting a deeper sleep for longer.
Before bedtime, dab a little bit of castor oil on your eyelids. This will help you to stay asleep for longer than six hours. Just make sure you don’t forget to set your alarm clock for the morning!
14. Boosts Natural Hair Color
Castor oil will enhance the natural color of your hair, making it look a lot richer and thicker. It locks in moisture because it is a humectant. The oil keeps the moisture in the shaft of each strand of hair, which makes it appear darker and thicker.
You can apply castor oil to your hair after your daily shower. When you finish washing your hair, dry it with a towel. In the microwave, warm up a tablespoon of castor oil.
Use your fingers, apply it to your hair, trying to reach as many strands as possible. If you have long or thick hair, try sectioning it off when applying the castor oil so it will be easier to manage.
15. Natural Laxative and Constipation Treatment
This is one of the most common uses of castor oil. Taking castor oil is incredibly safe and can even be used in small doses for children. Castor oil works by targeting the lower intestine, instead of the colon.
It is very important that you use the proper dosage when taking castor oil as a laxative, as otherwise, it can cause dehydration.
Adults over 12 should take one to two tablespoons of castor oil and children should take one to two teaspoons. You may need to mix it with a drink like orange juice to make it more appetizing.
Will You Start Using Castor Oil?
Castor oil can be used as a treatment option to help cure or reduce the number of conditions that over-the-counter medicine simply can’t. From acne to arthritis, castor oil can do it all.
Hopefully, our guide on the many uses of castor oil can help treat any further health issues you may face. Although you might not necessarily have any conditions on this list, I’m sure that even one of these uses can help you down the line.