For centuries, at the first sign of illness, many parents and grandparents would immediately turn to giving their children castor oil, either topically or internally, to naturally boost immune function and speed up healing. Castor oil is a multipurpose vegetable oil that people have used for thousands of years. It’s made by extracting oil from the seeds of the Ricinus communis plant. These seeds, which are known as castor beans, contain a toxic enzyme called ricin. However, the heating process that castor oil undergoes during production deactivates the ricin, allowing the oil to be used safely. Castor oil has a number of medicinal, industrial, and pharmaceutical uses. It’s commonly used as an additive in foods, medications, and skin care products, as well as an industrial lubricant and biodiesel fuel component. Today castor oil remains a popular natural treatment for common conditions, such as constipation and skin ailments, and you can often find it in natural beauty products. Perhaps one of the best-known medicinal uses for castor oil is as natural laxative . People use castor oil as a natural remedy for occasional constipation. Castor oil is also known for treating arthritis, its anti-inflammatory properties make it an ideal massage oil for relieving joint pain, nerve inflammation and sore muscles. Massaging the joint with castor oil and placing a hot water bag helps in pain relief. In cases of arthritis, this process if repeated twice a week will ensure better results. Another benefit of castor oil is the best to enrich your scalp . It contains ricinolein acid and omega-6 fatty acids and therefore when massaged onto the scalp it helps in increasing the blood circulation which improves hair growth. Castor oil also moisturizes and conditions your hair naturally. It is also beneficial for beauty purposes. It is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids which reduce the pigmentation by aiding in the growth of new healthy skin cells. It is a wonderful ingredient to treat skin ailments. It is a natural moisturizer for the skin, keeping it soft and hydrating for long. Its removes dryness and hence delays the signs of premature aging and wrinkles. If you’re interested in using castor oil for constipation or any other health condition, talk with your healthcare professional first to determine whether castor oil is safe and appropriate to use for your specific health needs.
By: Shumaila irum
