What are the Benefits of Castor Oil?
BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), 10 years of experience
What is the meaning of Castor Oil?
Castor oil is a kind of vegetable oil that is made from castor beans. Castor oil has been in use for thousands of years. It is made by extracting oil from the Ricinus communis plants’ seeds.
These seeds, called castor beans, consist of a toxic enzyme known as ricin. Heating the castor oil helps in deactivating the ricin, and the castor oil to be used safely.
Castor oil has many medicinal, therapeutic, and industrial uses. It is used commonly as an additive in drugs, foods, and skincare products. It is also used as an industrial lubricant and biodiesel fuel component. Castor oil is a natural remedy for the treatment of ailments like eye irritation and can be given to pregnant women for stimulating labor.
Let us tell you in detail about Castor Oil in today’s article.
- What are the different types of Castor Oil?
- What are the ingredients of Castor Oil?
- How is Castor Oil used?
- What are the benefits of Castor Oil?
- What are the precautions needed while using Castor Oil?
- What are the drug interactions with Castor Oil?
- What are the side effects of Castor Oil?
What are the different types of Castor Oil?
There are two different types of castor oils:
Black castor oil:
- Castor beans create black castor oil on roasting.
- Residue ashes are formed due to the roasting process.
- These ashes are then mixed with the oil that is extracted to make it black in color.
- Black castor oil may be added to hair care products for dry or thick hair.
Yellow castor oil:
- This type of oil is prepared by cold pressing the castor beans.
- This is the pure form of castor oil.
- It has a lower pH value than black castor oil.
- It is used in skincare and hair care products.
( Know more about- What are the benefits and side effects of coconut oil? )
What are the ingredients of Castor Oil?
The various ingredients of castor oil and its percentage are as follows:
- Ricinoleic acid: 85% to 95%
- Oleic acid: 2% to 6%
- Linoleic acid: 1% to 5%
- Alpha-linolenic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, dihydroxy stearic acid: 0.5% to 1% each
( Know more about- What are the health benefits of Peppermint oil? )
How Is Castor Oil used?
- Castor oil can be used topically on the skin, can be consumed orally, or can be applied to the hair.
- In the case of topical application, a few drops of castor oil is sufficient to provide the necessary relief in various skin conditions.
- A few drops of castor oil can be applied to the hair.
- To treat constipation, castor oil can be given orally as a single dose of 15 ml to 60 ml.
- For children below two years, the dosage may be between 1 ml to 5 ml.
- For children between two to twelve years of age, a dosage of 5 ml to 15 ml is recommended.
( Know more about- What are Flax seeds oil benefits? )
What are the benefits of Castor Oil?
The various health benefits of Castor oil include:
- Helps in relieving constipation (laxative)
- Reduces inflammation and pain
- Helps in relieving pain associated with arthritis (inflammation of joints)
( Know more about- What is Arthritis and Home remedies for Arthritis? )
- Treats sunburn
- Moisturizes skin
- Treats dry and flaky skin
- Treats uneven skin tone
- Reduces wrinkles
- Improves dental health
- Helps in reducing acne
- Helps in healing wounds
- Helps in disinfecting the wound
- Helps in the treatment of ringworms
- Helps in treating fungal infections
- Helps in relieving back pain
( Know more about- What is Back Pain Surgery? )
- Boosts the immunity of a person
- Helps in treating mouth ulcers or sores
- Relief from itching due to a bug bite
- Used for treating dry and damaged hair
- Prevents hair breakage
- Reduces dandruff in hair
- Improves the health of the hair
- Treats scalp infection
- Prevents graying of hair
- Repairs split ends
- Prevents stretch marks
- Cleanses the skin
- Used as a food preservative
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What are the precautions needed while using Castor Oil?
The following precautions need to be taken when using castor oil:
- Castor oil taken orally is generally considered safe for children when taken at appropriate doses for a short-term of less than one week.
- Castor oil taken orally may be unsafe when taken at a high dose or for more than one week.
- Castor seeds are unsafe when the whole seed is taken orally.
- For children, taking a dosage of more than 1ml to 15 ml per day can lead to a chemical imbalance in the body.
- Castor oil can be used in pregnant women who are ready to deliver (at term). However, it is highly unsafe in the case of pregnant women who are not at term, as it can induce preterm labor.
- Pregnant women should not consume whole castor seeds by mouth, as it can cause serious toxic effects or even death.
- Breastfeeding mothers should avoid using castor oil.
- Avoid castor oil if you are allergic to it, have unexplained stomach pain, have a blocked intestine, or have problems related to the gallbladder or bile ducts.
( Know more about- What is Gallbladder Surgery? )
What are the drug interactions with Castor Oil?
- Certain drugs when used along with castor oil may cause increased side effects or reduced effectiveness of either or both the drug and castor oil.
- Diuretic drugs (drugs that help in an increased production of urine) like chlorothiazide, chlorthalidone, hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide should not be used with castor oil.
- Both diuretics and castor oil may decrease the potassium levels in the body. Taking them together can make the potassium levels in the body too low, and is therefore not recommended.
( Know more about- What is Acute Kidney Failure? )
What are the side effects of Castor Oil?
Castor oil may have the following side effects:
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal cramps
- Vomiting
- Dehydration
- Electrolyte imbalance
- Heartbeat disturbances
- Malnutrition
- Damage to the bowels
( Know more about- What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome? )
- Low blood pressure
- Induction of premature labor
- Allergic reaction causing skin rashes, swelling in the mouth or face
An overdose of castor oil may cause:
- Chest pain
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Shortness of breath
- Hallucinations (rare)
( Know more about- What is Dizziness? Home remedies of Dizziness )
We hope that we could answer all your questions regarding the benefits of castor oil through this article.
If you experience any health problems after using castor oil, immediately contact the General Physician.
We only aim to provide you with information through this article. We do not recommend any medicine or treatment to anyone. Only a doctor can give you the best advice and correct treatment plan.
