Castor oil is the oil produced from pressing castor beans. It is a thicker, pale yellow colored oil high in Vitamin E and Omega-6 and -9 fatty acids. While conventional doctors and the internet will advise against using castor oil, it’s typically prescribed by natural healthcare practitioners to aid in moisturizing, cleansing and repairing the body. Read more to learn about the head to toe applications of this wondrous oil.
Hair Health
Castor oil can be applied topically to your scalp to aid in hair regrowth. Simply add a few drops of the oil to your fingertips or a cotton swab and apply at your temples or part line. It can also be applied to your eyelashes before bed to encourage hair growth and thickness. Castor oil is rich in ricin and ricinoleic acid which are nourishing and moisturizing to the hair follicle. These same acids offer protection against fungal and bacterial infections, so you may think of applying this to your scalp to combat dandruff.
Eye Health
Do your eyes have it rough? Are they dry or itchy? Maybe you suffer from cataracts or floaters? Reach into your cupboard for this cheap remedy. Yes, you can put sterilized castor oil into your eyes for all sorts of ocular imbalances. When using castor oil topically to relieve dry eye, eye infections, eye inflammation or floaters, expect your vision to be a bit blurry for a few minutes. One to two drops of castor oil once or twice a day can be placed into the eye. Close your eyes for a few moments. Gently massage the eyelid up/down and left/right. Let the oil come to body temperature and spread out over the eye. Any blurriness will subside in a few minutes and clearer vision can be noticed in as little as 6 weeks.
Constipation
Yes, you can even take castor oil internally. This is not just an old wives tale. One teaspoon of castor oil mixed with warm water can be taken once a day, then as needed, for constipation. Castor oil was used in many households every week to keep digestion strong and flowing.
Parasites
Castor oil has been used for thousands of years to help eliminate parasitic infections. Internally, castor oil is hydrolyzed by the intestines ultimately resulting in increased peristalsis of the intestines. This wavelike action encourages a quick removal of parasites from the body. Castor oil can be used as an intestinal purgative alone, or in follow up to an herbal parasite cleanse to ensure removal of dead parasites and colon waste buildup from the body. Please note that too much castor oil can cause internal irritation which typically subsides after use.
Athlete’s Foot
Athlete’s foot is a common fungal infection that causes symptoms like itchy, burny or tingly skin. This fungus is easily spread via damp locker rooms, communal showers, contaminated towels or socks and shoes. There is no need to reach for an expensive antifungal medication, when topical application of castor oil has been shown to be more effective against Athlete’s foot than commercial medications.
As with any herb or supplement to be taken orally or applied topically, quality matters. The castor oil you choose should be organic, cold-pressed and hexane free. This will ensure its purity and potency. Also be sure to choose one that comes in a glass bottle. Castor oil’s wonderful drawing ability means it can draw chemicals out of plastic, which you would not want in your body. I use Heritage Brand Organic Castor Oil that comes in a glass bottle so not chemicals from the bottle leach into my oil!