As a child, I remember my granny recommending castor oil for just about any ailment. For her, it was the go-to home remedy for a host of problems. Known as ‘Arandi Kaa Tel’ in Hindi, ‘Aamudamu’ in Telugu, ‘Erandela Tela‘ in Marathi, ‘Amanakku Enney‘ in Tamil, ‘Avanakkenna‘ in Malayalam, and ‘Rerira Tela’ in Bengali, it happens to be one of the most widely used ingredients. Castor oil is extracted by pressing the seeds of the castor plant, also known as Ricinus communis (1). It is a vegetable oil, and the plant is largely native to Africa and India. But the oil has been made famous all over the world for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It is used in various cosmetics, soaps, textiles, massage oils, and even medicines, owing to the fact that it has plenty of benefits for your skin, hair, and health.
1. Heals Inflamed Skin
2. Fights Signs Of Aging
3. Reduces Acne
4. Moisturizes Skin
5. Fades Blemishes
6. Prevents Stretch Marks
7. Reduces Pigmentation
8. Promotes Hair Growth
9. Treats Scalp Infections
10. Prevents Premature Graying
11. Conditions Hair
12. Treats Ringworms
13. Disinfects Wounds
14. Acts As A Laxative
15. Reduces Joint Pain/Arthritis
16. Boosts Immunity
Castor oil is a boon when it comes to healing skin inflammation that can be caused by sunburns, acne, and dry skin.
Castor oil has healing properties that help with skin inflammations of all sorts (2).
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One of the amazing benefits of castor oil is that when it is used topically, it can slow down aging.
Castor oil, when applied to the skin, penetrates deeply and stimulates the production of collagen and elastin (3). This, in turn, helps soften and hydrate the skin. It delays the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines and makes the skin smoother, softer, and younger. The fine lines around the eye area can also be treated with its application.
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Those who have acne-prone skin tend to shy away from most oils as they tend to clog pores and aggravate their problem. Using castor oil can prove to be beneficial in reducing acne.
Few drops of castor oil
Castor oil is rich in ricinoleic acid that fights off the acne-causing bacteria (4). It effectively penetrates the skin layers, making it an excellent remedy for acne (5).
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Castor oil leaves you with smooth, supple, and revitalized skin. So if you are looking for an inexpensive and natural skin moisturizer, you know what to reach out for!
A few drops of castor oil
Castor oil is a wonderful moisturizer (6). The highly concentrated fatty acids penetrate the skin easily. This helps remove dry patches and restores hydration of the skin. Castor oil finds uses in various industries, but it is prized in the skin care segment for its ability to moisturize effectively.
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Castor oil is often used for fading blemishes and scars. The results won’t be visible overnight. It works slowly in this regard, and needs to be used regularly to see prominent results.
Once again, the fatty acids present in castor oil come to the rescue. They penetrate deep within the scar tissue and plump it out while encouraging the growth of healthy tissues around it. This helps the blemishes fade away(7).
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Stretch marks are usually the result of pregnancy when the skin on the abdomen experiences drastic stretching over a short period of time. More elastic skin means lesser stretch marks, and this is where castor oil comes into play.
Castor oil is rich in fatty acids. So when it is used topically during the final two months of pregnancy, it can prevent stretch marks (8).
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Castor oil is extremely good in clearing your skin of spots and marks. It is so effective that dermatologists recommend castor oil to treat uneven skin tone, spots, and marks because of its ability to reduce pigmentation.
Castor oil is crammed with fatty acids, specifically omega-3 fatty acids. These omega-3s hydrate the skin, while stimulating the growth of healthy tissue, thus giving you a blemish-free and supple skin (9).
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Castor oil is an excellent remedy for promoting hair growth. Massaging your scalp with it can give you thicker and longer hair.
The oil boosts blood circulation to the follicles, leading to faster hair growth. The oil also has omega-9 essential fatty acids that are responsible for healthy hair (10). It also helps reduce split ends, controls hair breakage, and conditions and moisturizes your hair.
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Scalp infection can cause major hair problems like bald patches, dandruff, and an itchy scalp. Using castor oil can help get rid of these issues.
Castor oil is antifungal and antibacterial. It can fight pathogens and microorganisms causing the infection (11).
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If your hair has started showing the first signs of graying, applying castor oil can prevent your hair from losing more pigment.
The application of castor oil is a popular method to prevent premature graying (12). It helps your hair retain its pigment, and delays your hair turning gray or white
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An answer to all hair woes, castor oil can be extremely helpful in treating dry and damaged hair
1 teaspoon castor oil
The humectant properties of the oil help lock in the moisture in the hair (13). This prevents your hair from turning dry and makes it smoother and softer.
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Castor oil effectively treats ringworm, a common and stubborn problem across all age groups.
The active compound called undecylenic acid that is found in castor oil helps treat ringworms (14).
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Castor oil works as an excellent disinfectant on cuts and scrapes.
The antimicrobial properties make it effective for treating minor cuts and scratches (15). And because it has anti-inflammatory properties, it also helps relieve the pain.
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One of the primary uses of castor oil is as a laxative. It is still used widely as a part of conventional and folk medicine.
The ricinoleic acid present in castor oil is what induces laxation (1 ). Hence, consuming castor oil can help if you are suffering from constipation.
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Castor oil is a great remedy for treating the pain caused by arthritis. A castor oil pack can provide relief from the joint and tissue pain.
The anti-inflammatory properties of castor oil make it ideal for relieving joint pain, nerve inflammation, and sore muscles (17).
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Naturopathy practitioners and followers observe that castor oil helps boost immunity. Even when it is used topically, it increases the defense mechanisms of your body.
Castor oil, when used topically, increases the number of T-11 cells, which signals a boost in the defense mechanisms in the body (18 ). The T-11 cells form antibodies against pathogens and toxins, which promotes better health.
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Average composition of castor seed oil / fatty acid chains
Acid nameAverage Percentage RangeRicinoleic acid95
to
85%
Oleic acid6
to
2%
Linoleic acid5
to
1%
Linolenic acid1
to
0.50%
Stearic acid1
to
0.50%
Palmitic acid1
to
0.50%
Dihydroxystearic acid0.5
to
0.30%
Others0.5
to
0.20%
FDA has classified castor oil as “generally recognized as safe and effective” (19). But it does have its list of side effects and should be used with caution.
Conduct a basic allergy test before you jump on the remedy wagon of castor oil. Dab a few drops of castor oil on your arm and leave it on overnight. If you experience itching or rashes or redness, you might be allergic.
Ingesting castor oil can cause nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weakness (20). If you are experiencing these symptoms, contact your doctor immediately.
Castor oil has been known to induce early labor, so it is not advisable for pregnant women to consume it. It may interact with other medications, so you need to consult you doctor before using castor oil.
Do you know of any more uses of castor oil? Share them with us in the comments section.