Castor Oil Uses and Benefits

Castor oil is a plant oil derived from the castor bean. Although it's often thought of as an unpleasant laxative, castor oil has beneficial uses for the hair and skin. Despite being an oil, it actually has cleansing and antibacterial properties that make it a popular ingredient in soaps, and it can be used in alternative ways to benefit the skin and hair.

Castor oil is a component in a facial cleansing routine called the oil cleansing method, which is considered an alternative to traditional skin-care regimens. The theory behind the oil cleansing method is that "washing" the face with oils will help get rid of dirt and oil better than washing with soap and water, because oil dissolves other oil more effectively. Although this theory has not been scientifically proven, the oil cleansing method may be worth a try if you're unsatisfied with your current skin-care products. Castor oil is used due to its cleansing and anti-inflammatory properties, but may actually dry out some skin types; to clean your skin with the oil cleansing method, mix a small amount of castor oil with an equal amount of olive oil and massage into your skin. Wipe clean with a wet, warm washcloth.

The use of castor oil for hair has its roots in ancient Egypt, according to the e-museum at Minnesota State University. Egyptian women used castor oil, along with rosemary, sweet almond and fir oils, to stimulate hair growth. Today, it's recommended in a manual on African children's skin and hair care from the University of Pittsburgh. In infants of African descent, castor oil can be used as a hair conditioner; apply after shampooing and comb through with a soft-bristle baby brush. It can also be applied to children's hair before shampooing to combat dandruff and/or dry scalp.

Castor oil has many commercial uses, including several in the cosmetics industry. It can be derived into synthetic flower scents, making it useful for perfumes, according to an article from Palomar College; and it helps dissolve dyes as a component in lipsticks.

By pressing castor seeds castor oil is extracted also known as Ricinus communis. Benefits of castor oil, it has loads of ricin oleic acid, it possesses anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties - all of which are vital to bloom the natural beauty in you. The ricinoleate derivatives obtained from Castor oil are utilized in common cosmetic creations like deodorants, eyeliners, soaps, perfumes and lipsticks.
Many of us are unaware about how wonderful castor oil is for hair growth, skin care, weight loss and health related conditions. Castor oil has extreme skin and hair softening attributes as it is able to maintain good levels of moisture. More-over, it is exceptional as a hair strengthening agent. As emollient oil it acts deeply for conditioning both hair and skin.

Castor Oil Benefits for Hair Growth
Castor Oil Benefits for Thickening Eyebrows and Eyelashes

If you keep lamenting about scanty eyebrows or even eyelashes, then remember to rub a few drops of castor oil over your eyebrow lines or the base of eyelashes (as the case may be) before retiring to bed to take the benefits for hair growth. Doing so regularly helps to prevent thinning of brows or lashes and promotes rapid hair growth instead. You will eventually gain thicker brows or fuller lashes. In fact, most commercial products pertaining to eyelashes do contain small amounts of castor oil.

Castor Oil for Preventing Hair Loss

In most cases of hair loss it occurs due to scalp infections . The anti-fungicidal and anti-bacterial qualities of ricinoleic acid contained in castor oil benefits to protect the scalp from infections that can result in hair loss. Also the omega-9 fatty acid content in castor oil benefits to condition hair and nourish the scalp and avert both from going dry.
For best results rub castor oil on your scalp and massage lightly. Allow the oil to seep through your scalp for some time and then shampoo your hair as usual. Done regularly with castor oil, will benefit for new hair growth will generate within few months. Castor oil will also solve your hair thinning problem.

Castor Oil and Hair Care

Hair is a bunch of sensitive deal cells and if you are not sensitive towards the dead, you will not be spared a good night’s sleep without hair fall. So, in order to pamper your dead cells, it is better to choose a castor oil treatment on your scalp for maximum circulation, stimulating more hair growth and restricting the loss of hair. You may use castor oil with a leave-in conditioner. The frizz of dark hair can be achieved through simple castor oil treatment. Also, castor oil can eliminate dandruff, scalp inflammation and lice.

Castor Oil Benefits for Acne

Castor Oil Cures Acne
Ricinoleic acid in the castor oil works on holding back the acne causing bacteria and virus. More over castor oil is capable of penetrating deep in the skin tissue which makes it efficient in treating acne.
To take care of acne, dab a hot but damp washcloth all over your face just before retiring to bed. Applying heat this way helps to open the skin pores gently on your face. After this, massage a few drops of castor oil on facial skin and leave it overnight. Repeat this exercise twice daily for a fortnight and then check results.

Castor Oil as Skin Cleanser

Being similar to your skin’s natural oils, castor oil
helps to retain your skin’s moisture . And prevent sagging. As you age, your skin loses its suppleness slowly and this results in the skin to wilt or sag. Castor oil benefits in preventing age related sagging as it keeps the skin taut and moisturized. When used on rough or dry skin castor oil is effective in making it supple or smooth. Being a good emollient/castor oil it keeps skin well-hydrated.

Castor Oil Benefits for Glowing Skin

The skin needs a good supplement to lock in the excess oil from its pores for remaining flexible, smooth and glowing . Castor oil contains a thick constitution, which helps in arresting these essential skin oils and returns the vitality of severely parched skin. The best part is, you can combine castor oil with your favorite skin care products, like lotions or shampoo to possess a soft skin surface and scalp, respectively. For a combination moisturizer, consider adding some other essential elements; lavender or jasmine, etc. into the present mix of castor and lotion. Wrinkles, moles and trivial skin ruptures can also be treated by castor oil. In case it does not suit you, you should cease using castor oil on skin.

Castor Oil Benefits for Age Spots, Marks & Moles

Helps Lighten Age Spots
Castor oil benefits to fade age related spots. Rub some castor oil wherever age spots persist and then massage the area gently in a circular motion. If this exercise is repeated at least twice a day and you’ll be astonished by seeing the results.

For Stretch Marks

Combine two tablespoons each of castor oil and almond oil and then rub the mix in circular motion all over your stretch marks. Leave it on for ten minutes and then rinse well. Castor oil benefits to in stretch marks reduction.

Effective for Skin Moles

Being plagued with skin moles? Then, mix few drops of castor oil with 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Apply this smooth paste generously on the mole. Wash the area after some time. Repeat procedure for some days until the mole gets completely detached.
With so many uses, keeping this castor oil handy at home does make some sense. Castor oil can be brought from your local health care stores or at pharmacies.
Note - Where ever you buy it, just be sure that it is hexane free and cold pressed since such oil is safe for internal or external use.

Castor Oil Uses & Home Remedies

Castor oil is far more effective when it comes to treating issues related to skin, hair and overall health. Castor oil contains idle elements for health, which are poised against viruses, fungus and bacteria. Moreover, castor oil is anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant. Castor oil tastes bad but it certainly contains essential and unsaturated fatty acid that is highly beneficial for the body health.
Castor oil is obviously famous in every household as it is a vital constituent in making soaps, beauty products and cosmetic accessories.

Castor Oil for Nails and Hands

To have wrinkle-free hands regularly massage them with castor oil. Applying castor oil to your nails and cuticles every night before retiring to bed helps to softens them and prevents the nails from breaking. Castor oil benefits to increase the nails growth.
Castor Oil for Treat Cracked Heels
If cracked heels are your worry, then simply start applying this castor oil on them to avoid cracking but gain healing.

Reducing Arthritis

A curious advantage of using castor oil for health benefits is to employ its efficiency in providing relief to arthritic patients. The idea is to make a castor oil bag, made from unbleached cottons, a plastic wrap and a hot water bottle or heating pad. After soaking the cotton in castor oil, one must place the cotton pad (made from 3-4 layers) over the arthritic joint and wrap it around with plastic. Upon completion, one must place the hot-water bottle or the heating pad over the cotton pad. The plastic allows complete separation of the pad and cotton. After seasoning it for few minutes, one may leave the warm cotton pad for around forty minutes, for getting some relief.

Remedy for Constipation

If you have regarded Castor Oil as a natural remedy for constipation, it is time to clean off and flush down your scarce information. Another instant fix that it attributed to castor oil, is its ability to cure digestive block heads. The process is simple as castor oil contains laxative, which are vital for digestion and clearing off our body canals. Castor oil, if taken a teaspoon full in the morning, can become a great remedy for constipation . If the strong taste deters you, you may add the oil with other fruit juices like prune, cranberry and orange.

Castor Oil Side Effects - However, a word of caution, it is not recommended beyond three days, After 3 days, if you do not see any visible results, it is time to appear before your reliable physician/doctor.

Chucking Off Ringworms with Castor Oil
Again, castor oil has been known for its complex benefits. Castor oil contains undecylenic acid, which is a great relief against ringworms. One must crush castor leaves into a pulp after spraying them with hot water. After soaking the crushed leaves in coconut oil and heating it up to an skin-friendly temperature, one can apply it on the affected area and form a plaster around it. Using it before going to sleep may take care of ringworms.
Castor Oil Side Effects - However, one must be cautioned that this remedy may be allergic to some recipients. One must not ingest castor seeds as it is fatal.
Castor oil is made from castor seeds, which are dominantly found in parts of India, Europe and the Mediterranean.

Castor oil is very beneficial for health, due to its inherent fatty acid, found in an unsaturated form. Therefore, it is recommended that you should purchase the best grade castor oil, which are free fro any sort of pesticides or processing through chemical means. In order to get the maximum benefits of castor oil, it is best to consume them in its unhampered form.