Castor Oil – Knowing More About the Plant 

Castor oil obtains from the seed of the castor plant that gives a lot of benefits to humans. It is extracted by pressing the castor seeds that are colorless to extremely pale yellow color liquid with light and no scent or taste. This oil has an uncommon chemical composition the triglyceride in which 90% of fatty acid stores are ricinoleate. Aside from this fatty acid, there are other extremely significant components that can be found in castor oil like oleat and linoleates. These chemical compounds available in the oil offer a lot of uses to humans.

The castor plant springs up abundantly in a native to tropical climates. It can grow up 30 to 40 ft high in its natural habitat. A lot of castor plants can be found in the Southern United States, most of these grow in the river banks and streams. In India and Brazil, this is their major crop earning. Nowadays, castor oil is applied for medicinal use around the world; some places recognized the oil as curative are China, Africa, Persia, Rome, Ancient Egypt, Europe and United States.

Various Uses of Castor Oil

The oil has been used for centuries by humans in treating various illnesses. For using this oil, it can be applied on the skin or ingested internally. It offers many uses and intensifies the immune system and treats numerous diseases. A few of diseases treated with castor oil are hair loss, arthritis, rheumatism, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease.

Internally, it is used to treat heartburns, migraines, constipation, menstrual disorders, gastrointestinal problems, headaches, and stomachaches, joint and muscle pain. Externally, it is used to cure acne, wrinkles, yeast infection, sunburn or open sore, athlete’s foot, inflammation and skin abrasion.

Now, let us understand deeply how castor oil is very useful to human life and its uses to cure several health problems.

1.  Induce Labor – Castor oil is well-known to induce labor in pregnant women who have difficulty in delivering their baby. It is typically effective for women who are giving birth which it functions to induce bowels. It can cause cramping and tightening in the bowel which may spread to the woman's uterus, leading and encouraging contractions.

You can use the oil if you are 40 weeks of pregnancy and showing indications of labor because it will boost your chances to have an effective and easy labor induction.

2. Cure Skin Problems – Castor oil can be used as a relaxing ointment or personal lubricant for people who have skin problems. It can be used for curing sunburn or open sore, stretch mark, dry skin and acne. It is also effective for treating athlete’s foot, warts, chronic itching and warts. All you need to do is apply the cream lightly over the affected skin areas. You can apply it twice a day, morning and evening.

3. Ease Joint and Muscle Pain – It is effective in relieving pain in joints and muscles. Just put the exact amount of castor oil on the hands and apply it in the aching area of the body and massage it. It will completely give relief in the muscles.  

4. Hinder Baldness or Hair loss – Castor oil is efficient hair oil due to its ricinocleic acid presents in the oil that has anti-fungicidal and ant-bacterial components, which protect the hair and scalp make bacterial infections leading to hair loss. It helps and nourishes the hair to grow well and healthy. If you have hair loss problem, you can try this castor oil, who knows, it may be effective for you. In applying oil in your hair, just massage the oil into your scalp and leave it in an hour and wash it off afterward.

5. Alleviate Constipation – Castor oil is an effective and a strong laxative which can alleviate constipation by consuming a teaspoon of this oil in the morning or mixing this with cranberry juice or orange juice or any other fruit juice to lessen the nasty and bitter taste of the castor oil. However, when you mix it with any other juice, it reduces the laxative effect of the castor oil.

6. Reduce Dark under Eye Circles, Treat Wrinkles and Thicken Eyebrows – This can be used as a moisturizing face cream which can reduce dark under eye circles and treat wrinkles. When you apply the castor oil on your face or skin, it penetrates into the skin and increases the production of elastin and collagen which make the skin soft and young. It is also used in the eyebrows and eyelashes. Since, it is effective for hair treatment; it is also effective to thicken eyelashes and eyebrows.

7. Help To Get Rid of Acne - Castor oil is rich in ricinoleic acid, which helps to remove acnes cause by bacteria. Make sure to apply this oil after washing your face with warm water as it can open the pores allowing the oil to penetrate into the skin. All you need to do is massage the oil in your face and leave it overnight. You can wash your face in the morning.

8. Relieve Arthritis and Rheumatism – Castor oil is a perfect partner for massage to ease your joint and muscle pain and nerve inflammation. It helps to alleviate pain from rheumatism and arthritis. All you need to do is apply the oil in the joints and massage it gently. You can get immediate relief after the massage.

9. Stretch Marks – It is used to remove stretch marks on your thighs and stomachs. Most of the time women have stretch marks due to pregnancy or overweight. Applying this castor oil on the area often times gets a better result.

Industrial Uses

Aside from personal uses, castor oil has been used in industry. It h as several uses in the market like it is used in making paint, varnish and nylon. It is also used in creating food additives, fruit flavorings and food packaging. It can also be used as oil for engines. There are still many uses of castor oil in the industry and they are very useful to us.