Have you heard of Castor Oil and its’ magical uses? I will start with my post here and will talk about the most interesting uses of castor oil!
“The Palm of Christ”
Landscape designers love a beautiful tall shrub with burgundy openwork leaves. It looks advantageous in any composition.
It is interesting that in the Middle Ages it was called the “palm of Christ”: the leaves of the plant really resemble the palm opened in the defense.
The whole plant is poisonous, but especially the seeds hidden in prickly boxes. It is from these seeds that castor oil is prepared by pressing. In the process of making of castor oil, the poisonous compounds remain in the waste products, and the oil itself becomes healing.
Castor oil is a high-fat product, the fats in it are more than 90%. The oil itself consists of 85% of ricinoleic acid, which has bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and regenerative properties. The remaining 15% contains vitamin E and acids: linoleic, oleic, palmitic and stearic.
Ricinoleic acid is one of the rarest acids, which is almost never found in herbal remedies. It is she who determines the properties of this product and makes castor oil the densest among all known oils. At the same time, getting on the skin, this product is perfectly absorbed without leaving greasy marks.
Features of ricinoleic acid determine the beneficial properties of castor oil as a wound healing, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal agent.
Contraindications for Castor Oil
- any use of the oil by taking it orally should be advised and supervised by your healthcare provider;
- It is contraindicated in children under three years of age;
- Not to be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding unless your healthcare provider suggests it;
- Not to be used with an intestinal disorder or obstruction;
- Not to be used with pancreatitis!
Castor Oil Packs
Packs with castor oil to stimulate lymph drainage and cleanse the organs and systems of our body. How to and where to apply.
For Hair and Nails
Castor oil has been used for centuries in cosmetology. It was the favorite drug of those who wanted to have luxurious hair. The tool helped, and helps in our time, from dandruff, hair loss and loss of eyelashes, treats dry, brittle and split ends, restores their elasticity and strength.
Castor oil is used as various hair masks. You can use oil without additives: then before washing your hair, you just need to rub it into the hair and scalp. The product must necessarily be warm (this is also necessary for any other mask based on castor oil). The mask is kept for at least 30 minutes, then washed off with shampoo and rinsed with diluted Apple Cider Vinegar (1-2 tablespoons per 1 quart of warm water) or chamomile “tea” (1-2 tablespoons of chamomile flowers simmered in 1 quart of water for 5 minutes). Be careful not to get Apple Cider Vinegar water into your eyes during rinses! This procedure improves blood circulation and nutrition of hair follicles.
Hair and nails are very similar in composition: what helps hair is often beneficial for nails. If the nails are weak, often break or peel, you need to rub warm castor oil into them and into the cuticle in the evening.
The procedure is done every day for a month. Castor oil for these purposes can be pure or you can add vitamin A, E, or D as an oil.
Eyelashes and Eyebrows.
So that the eyelashes and eyebrows are well-groomed and thick, they are smeared with castor oil at night (you can use a toothbrush as an eyelash brush). Make sure to take a clean toothbrush so you would not transfer your mouth bacteria onto your eyelashes! Before applying castor oil to the eyelashes, you need to completely remove the mascara. If you add 7-10 drops of vitamin A to a standard castor bottle, eyebrows and eyelashes will receive additional nutrition.
Castor Oil in Cosmetology
Castor oil extract is also moisturizing and emollient for the skin of the face, hands, and feet (not only for beauty but also for a number of serious diseases and conditions). Castor oil may help to reduce stretch marks, wrinkles, including facial expressions, helps restore skin turgor (the elasticity of the skin). With regular use, the skin acquires a healthier color.
Castor oil helps to improve the condition of the skin even with serious diseases such as diabetes. Ordinary “castor oil” is really able to reduce the “parchment skin effect” in patients suffering from diabetes and protect the patient from many complications. The oil moisturizes the skin, eliminates its peeling, acting as a natural peeling – smoothes the skin, removes bumps.
It is better to prepare castor-based products, and not use the oil in its pure form without additives. It is very effective, but the body quickly gets used to it.
Castor oil can be added to any cream for the face, legs, hands or body. Then castor oil is mixed with transport oil (peach, almond, jojoba oils) in a ratio of 1: 1, moisturize and nourish the skin with this mixture in a warm form. It helps to smooth the wrinkles.
Dermatology and More
Castor oil is used to regenerate the epidermis, as it easily penetrates the depths of the skin and restores damaged cells. This process, unfortunately, is not fast. Scientists have found that castor oil is also effective against yeast and fungal flora.
With heel cracks and corns, the damaged areas are moisturized at night before bedtime and covered with socks. It is necessary to do this for at least one week to see the results, but sometimes longer.
Castor oil is also used to heal scratches, cuts, wounds, and bruises. Apply compresses with castor oil to damaged tissues twice a day, or leave lotions overnight.
The antimicrobial properties of the castor oil are useful in inflammatory processes. For example, oil is applied with a thin brush to damaged areas 2-3 times a day to a boil (abscess).
Removal of warts!
Such an amazing remedy can remove warts. For this purpose, rub the oil in question for 5–10 minutes daily up to 4 r / day into the wart. The procedure will be delayed for 1-2 months, but the effect of exposure to castor oil will be just amazing!
If papilloma appears on the skin, simply moisten a cotton swab in this wonderful product, apply it to the formation on the skin and fix it with a band-aid. Change the remedy three times a day for a new one, and within a week from the papilloma there will be no trace
With any dermatological disease, itching causes a lot of problems, but squeezing out castor oil helps well in such situations. Pure castor oil or its 1: 1 mixture with coconut oil is heated in a double-boiler. The compress is applied to the affected skin for an hour. If there is redness after the applications, i.e. individual intolerance to castor oil, treatment must be stopped immediately.
The use of castor oil is also known to help with itching from insect bites.
Other Uses
Castor oil has been used for centuries in the treatment of diseases of the joints, gout, rheumatoid arthritis. If castor oil is rubbed into painful areas or compresses are applied, pain and swelling go away, inflammation is relieved. You need to do such procedures daily. Sometimes – even twice a day. It is often recommended to rub the joints overnight with oil.
Zhanna Tarjeft, FNP-BC is a Functional Medicine Family Nurse Practitioner specializing in gut health issues such as SIFO (Small Intestinal Fungal Overgrowth), SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth), leaky gut, IBS, Mold illness (CIRS, Biotoxin illness) and in thyroid disorders such as hypothyroid and autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s autoimmune thyroiditis). For more information on how to become a patient, please contact our office.