Castor oil has numerous uses, and this potent vegetable oil has been in use for thousands of years. Mostly, the oils have been used for cosmetic and medicinal purposes – it is hailed to provide skin benefits along with other health benefits of castor oil.
Fast facts about castor oil
- The castor oil is an extract from the seeds of castor plant – Ricinus
- Ricinus communis is a native plant of tropical areas of Asia and Africa.
- The oil is relatively safe to use, though few people report some side effects.
- The castor oil is applied directly to the skin.
- The medicinal effect of castor oil includes anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and moisturizing properties, among others.
The seeds of castor oil are commonly called castor beans. Apart from the oil, they also have a toxic compound (enzyme) called ricin. During the extraction of the oil, the castor bean is heated. This deactivates the enzyme; thus, the oil is safe for use.
What is Castor Oil?
Castor oil: the oil is translucent with a yellow tint. The oil has extensive applications, including- found in cleaning products and paints, among others.
Health benefits of Castor Oil
- Laxative
- Stimulates wound healing
- Powerful Anti-Inflammatory Effects
- Castor oil Benefits to the skin
- Anti-fungal properties
- Good For Skin health
- Necessary for the hair skin and scalp health
1. Laxative
The castor oil can increase the intensity of contraction and relaxation of intestinal walls, and act that helps to clear the bowel. Typically, it is a stimulant laxative. So people having constipation can use this oil to alleviate the condition.
When you take it by mouth, the oil is broken in the small intestine into ricinoleic acid to speed up the digestion process. The intestinal wall also absorbs this compound; thus, speeding up the laxative effect. (1)
2. Stimulates wound healing
Essentially, the castor oil prevents the sores from drying out by creating a moist environment.
In turn, this promotes wound healing. Additionally, castor oil stimulates the tissues to grow to create a barrier between the wound and its environment, which decreases infection chances.
3. Powerful Anti-Inflammatory Effects
Thanks to the Ricinoleic fatty acid, castor oil is full of anti-inflammatory properties.
According to studies, when you apply the oil topically, it will reduce inflammation as well as relieve pain. So people with inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis can benefit from this oil.
4. Castor Oil Benefits to the skin
The benefits of castor oil to the face are immense. For instance, oil is essential in:
- Reducing acne: the ability to reduce inflammation as well as kill bacterial makes castor oil one of the best options for reducing acne. Acne depicts themselves by blackheads, pus-filled pimples as well as large, painful bumps. They may occur on the face as well as the body, and they are associated with bacteria Staphylococcus aureus.
- Improve texture: apart from Ricinoleic fatty acid, there are other fatty acids, which will make your face smooth and soft.
- Works well for sensitive skin: comedogenic score for castor oil is meager, which means that people with sensitive skin can use it without the fear of clogging pores.
5. Antifungal properties
Studies show that castor oil has potent antifungal propers again fungus like Candida albicans, which causes conditions like the growth of plaques, and gum infections.
Castor oils eliminate this fungus. Still, it can treat denture-related stomatitis.
6. Good for Skin health
Castor oils work well for most types of skins, and it effectively treats irritated skin.
Did you know that you can use the castor oil to cleanse your skin too?
The combination of its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties ensures that the skin is safe and healthy.
Amazingly, the oil also has hydration properties, courtesy of its humectant properties, i.e., it can draw moisture from the air into the skin.
Still, the oil has moisturizing properties obtained from a high number of triglycerides, which help to maintain moisture on the skin; thus, it can be used to treat dry skin.
7. Necessary for the Hair and scalp health
Castor oil is a powerful hair conditioner. Being a moisturizer, it can help treat dry and damaged hair.
When you apply the oil regularly onto your hair, it will lubricate the hair shaft. In turn, this makes it flexible and reduces the chances of breakage.
The anti-inflammatory ability of castor oil makes it good for treating dandruff caused by seborrhoeic dermatitis.
Additionally, when you apply the oil, it will moisturize and soothe the irritated skin, which reduces flaking.
Precautions
- Can cause diarrhea
- It can induce labor
- Can cause allergic reactions such as itching, swelling and skin rashes
Conclusion
Castor oil has numerous health benefits. It is beneficial to skin problems. Castor oil has amazing benefits for hair and scalp. If you want thick hair, it can do a miracle.