Practical Reasons to Stock a Bottle of Castor Oil at Home

From Dr. Mercola:

STORY AT-A-GLANCE
Castor oil is considered one of the world’s oldest drugs, perhaps most well-known for its
laxative effects and ability to induce labor in pregnant women — although I don’t
recommend using it for the latter purpose.
Made by pressing the seeds of the castor bean plant (Ricinus communis), the resulting
pale yellow oil is made up of 90% ricinoleic acid, along with small amounts of linoleic
(4%), oleic (3%), stearic and linolenic fatty acids.

Practical Reasons to Stock a Bottle of Castor Oil at Home
Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola December 07, 2023
Castor oil is considered one of the world’s oldest drugs, perhaps most well-known for its
laxative effects and ability to induce labor in pregnant women — although I don’t
recommend using it for the latter purpose

While castor beans have notable anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, antibacterial, wound-
healing and laxative properties, they also contain ricin, a poison; fortunately, ricin isn’t
found in castor oil

Castor oil packs may help relieve symptoms of constipation in the elderly; the FDA
considers castor oil as “generally regarded as safe and effective” for use as a stimulant
laxative

Topical application of ricinoleic acid found in castor oil may exert “remarkable analgesic
and anti-inflammatory effects,” including relief from muscle and joint pain

Castor oil may be useful for fungal diseases, skin health, dry eye and other eye surface
diseases

Castor is native to India but cultivated in Mediterranean countries such as Algeria, Egypt
and Greece. In France, castor is grown as an ornamental plant because of its large and
lovely foliage. Many ancient civilizations, including early Egyptians, Chinese and
Persians, valued the castor plant for its many uses, such as fuel for lamps and as an
ingredient in balms and ointments.

In Prehistoric Times, Castor May Have Been Used as a Poison
While castor beans have notable anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, antibacterial, wound-
healing and laxative properties, they also contain ricin, a poison. This is why, if chewed
and swallowed, castor beans are toxic. While ricin is also contained in the bean pulp that
remains after it’s pressed for oil, it isn’t found in castor oil.

“Castor oil does not contain ricin because ricin does not partition into the oil,” according
to the International Journal of Toxicology. It may be the poison from castor beans that
has the longest usage. According to the Toxins review:
“The castor plant has been known since time immemorial and its use in the
prehistoric era has been evidenced by archaeological ndings such as that of
the Border Cave in South Africa. Traces of wax containing ricinoleic and
ricinelaidic acids were found on a thin wooden stick, which was suggested to be
a poison applicator, dating back to about 24,000 years ago.”

Ricin prevents protein synthesis and kills your cells through oral, nasal or intravenous
transfusion. It’s so potent that ingesting or inhaling just 1 milligram may be fatal, just as
eating four to eight castor seeds can lead to death. There is no antidote for ricin, which
is why it’s even used as a chemical warfare agent. In 2013, there were reports of ricin
being mailed to U.S. senators and even former President Obama.

Castor Oil Used ‘Since Time Immemorial’
Castor bean has a number of beneficial properties that have been harnessed since
ancient times. “The castor plant (Ricinus communis L.) has been known since time
immemorial in traditional medicine in the pharmacopeia of Mediterranean and eastern
ancient cultures. Moreover, it is still used in folk medicine worldwide,” University of
Bologna, Italy, researchers wrote in the journal Toxins.

In ancient Egypt, castor seeds and other parts of the plant were used for
pharmacological purposes, including as a laxative, abortifacient and a treatment for
baldness. Many other references also point to the importance of castor oil for medicinal
purposes throughout history:

The Hearst Papyrus describes castor plant for expelling fluid accumulation and use
in poultices for bandaging Ancient Egyptians used the castor plant for urinary disease in a possibly diabetic child Hippocrates prescribed castor oil as a laxative and detoxifying agent
The Greek herbalist and physician Pedanius Dioscorides wrote about castor seeds’
expectorant, diuretic, emetic, laxative and anti-inflammatory properties to treat
burns, varicose veins and bacterial skin infection Pliny the Elder described castor bean in “Naturalis Historia” (Natural History), which is considered the first encyclopedia

Further, traditional Chinese medicine recommends castor seeds for parasites, ulcers
and chronic wounds, while in Ayurveda, castor is considered useful for rheumatic
conditions, constipation, inflammation, fever, bronchitis, cough, skin diseases and
colic.
Modern-Day Uses for Castor Oil
While it’s long been known that castor oil acts as a laxative and labor inducer, it was
relatively recently — in 2012 — when researchers found the mechanism behind it. It turns
out that ricinoleic acid in castor oil connects to a prostaglandin receptor known as EP3.

“Thus, the castor oil metabolite ricinoleic acid activates intestinal and uterine smooth-
muscle cells via EP3 prostanoid receptors,” according to the PNAS study. Ricinoleic
acid also binds to EP3 in the uterus, which causes contractions.
I don’t advise using castor oil as a labor stimulant due to its potentially harmful side
effects. However, there are many reasons to keep a high-quality bottle of castor oil in
your medicine cabinet, including the following.

1. Natural laxative — Castor oil packs, which are castor oil-soaked pads applied to the
skin, may help relieve symptoms of constipation in the elderly. The U.S. Food and
Drug Administration also describes castor oil as “generally regarded as safe and
effective” for use as a stimulant laxative.
Oral ingestion of castor oil can “purge” the digestive tract within two to five hours.
However, remember to take it in the appropriate dose. Adults can take 1 to 2
tablespoons, while children 2 to 12 years old should be given only 1 to 2 teaspoons.
Infants under 2 years old are not advised to take more than a teaspoon at a time.
When giving it to children, try mixing it in freshly squeezed juice so it becomes more
palatable.

2. Muscle pain relief — Topical application of ricinoleic acid found in castor oil may
exert “remarkable analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.” Rub castor oil on your
muscles after an intense workout to promote blood circulation and relieve
soreness. Mix it with peppermint oil or Roman chamomile oil for extra healing and
soothing effect.

3. Alleviate joint pain — Ricinoleic acid in castor oil has a decongestant effect on the
lymphatic system, which is responsible for collecting waste from your tissues and
carrying it to your bloodstream for elimination.
If the lymphatic system is not working properly, such as in people with arthritis, joint
pain occurs. Massaging castor oil on the joints can help ease the congestion and
jumpstart your lymphatic system. Research published in Phytotherapy Research supports this, revealing that castor oil helps relieve pain and “can be used as an
effective therapy” among patients with knee osteoarthritis.

4. Remedy for fungal diseases — Castor oil may be useful for reliving common
infections like ringworm, jock itch (tinea cruris) and athlete’s foot. Research also
suggests that phytochemical compounds in castor essential oil may relieve
infections caused by Cunninghamella bertholletiae fungi as well as standard
antifungal drugs.
Simply warm the oil, apply onto the affected area before bedtime and leave it on
overnight. Repeat for a week or until the infection has disappeared completely. Due
to its antimicrobial effects, a castor oil solution may also be useful for denture
cleaning.

5. Promote healthy hair growth — Massaging warm castor oil on your scalp (and even
your eyebrows) may stimulate the follicles and result in extra hair growth. Do this
every night, and you might see improvement in as little as two weeks. Castor oil
may work on areas that have been affected by alopecia as well.
In addition to offering a moisturizing effect on hair, the fatty acids in castor oil may
nourish the hair follicle. Ricinoleic acid also helps protect the scalp and hair shaft
form fungal and microbial infections. It also penetrates the skin and may inhibit
prostaglandin D2 synthase, which inhibits hair growth.
“Ricinoleic acid has a two-dimensional structure, which is very similar to the
prostaglandin family and has also been demonstrated to have some degree of
effect on hair growth,” according to research in the International Journal of
Trichology. By locking in moisture, castor oil may also give your hair a richer and
thicker appearance.
To get this effect, warm a tablespoon of the oil and use your fingertips to coat each
strand, running your fingers through your locks to get it on as much hair as possible.

6. Natural mascara — Melt a tablespoon of beeswax in a double boiler, then add 2
tablespoons of charcoal or cocoa powder (depending on your hair color) and castor
oil. Mix until you get the desired consistency. This homemade mascara contains no
toxic chemical ingredients, unlike other conventional beauty products out there.
Alternately, you can apply castor oil to your lashes every night to make them look
fuller and thicker.

7. Moisturize skin and support skin health — The fatty acids in castor oil help nourish
and moisturize dry skin. Due to its viscous nature, it stays put and easily penetrates
your skin tissue. Castor oil is considered an occlusive moisturizer, which forms a
barrier on the skin, helping to prevent the evaporation of water.
“This barrier allows replenishment of the water content of the stratum corneum by
the deeper layers of the epidermis and dermis,” according to the National Library of
Medicine’s StatPearls. Remember that a little goes a long way — simply rub a
teaspoonful between your palms and apply all over your skin. You can also mix
castor oil with a carrier oil to reduce any risk of irritation.
Because of castor oil’s antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, it may also
have some beneficial effects on skin tags, acne and warts. One study published in
the Journal of International Toxicology also found that castor oil may have positive
effects against occupational dermatitis.
It also has strong antibacterial properties, including against Staphylococcus
aureus, which can cause skin infections. An ointment made of balsam Peru, castor
oil and trypsin also helped to heal pressure ulcers faster among residents in a long-
term care facility. If you see minor cuts or wounds on your dog’s or cat’s skin,
dabbing a bit of castor oil on them may also help facilitate healing, again due to its
antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects.
If your pet licks the wound (as most pets do), the oil is not harmful but could lead to
loose stools.

8. Promote restful sleep and relieve colic — Although research in this area is scarce,
anecdotal reports suggest that dabbing a small amount of castor oil on your eyelids
or using a castor oil pack can help you fall asleep easier. Castor oil may also
promote a deeper and longer sleep.
Among infants, castor oil is also sometimes used for colic, which can lead to long
periods of excessive crying. Its exact cause is still unknown, although gas is
believed to be a major culprit. To use castor oil for colic, simply rub it gently on your
child’s abdomen.

9. Relief from dry eye and other eye surface diseases — Castor oil, with its
antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, antioxidant and wound-healing
properties, may be useful when applied topically to the eyes, helping to increase
tear film lipid layer thickness and relieve symptoms of ocular surface diseases.
Writing in Clinical and Experimental Optometry, researchers explained:
“Evidence of benecial effects on the lipid layer, tear lm integrity, eyelash
health and meibomian gland functionality, suggests that topical application
of pure castor oil to the periocular skin may offer a safe, natural, affordable
and effective management option for common abnormalities of the tear
lm and ocular surface, indicating that a more extensive and thorough
exploration of this topic is warranted.”

10. All-around lubricant — If you have items around your home that need lubrication,
such as squeaky hinges, scissors or meat grinders, castor oil works perfectly for
these problems. Due to its consistent viscosity, castor oil does not freeze, so it can
be used in conditions with hot or very cold temperatures.

Castor Oil Risks to Watch Out For
Pregnant women shouldn’t use castor oil due to its ability to induce contractions. Even
late in pregnancy, I don’t recommend using castor oil to stimulate labor. One study
reported that all pregnant women who took castor oil experienced nausea afterward.

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