17 Science Backed Health Benefits of Castor Oil
What is Castor Oil?
Castor oil is derived from the seeds of the Ricinus communis
plants which grow wild in wastelands across tropical regions.
Records show that a long time ago the plant was referred to
as the “Palma Christe” because the shape of the plant’s leaves was said to
resemble the palm of Christ.
In milder climates, this plant is often grown as an
ornamental garden herb and is now cultivated for biodiesel manufacture on a
large scale.
Castor oil has been around for centuries and has been widely
used for medicinal purposes in its native lands across the African continent,
the Indian subcontinent, and the Mediterranean basin.
The ancient Egyptians used it as a potent, natural remedy
for skin and eye irritations.
Castor oil has also been prized by the Indians for its
skin-healing, antibacterial, digestive soothing potential.
Folk healers worldwide have used castor oil to treat a great
number of health conditions for thousands of years.
Throughout history, at the first sign of illness, parents
would give their children castor oil either topically or internally to improve
naturally immune function and accelerate the healing process.
Due to its high viscosity and lubricating property, castor
oil is one of the first vegetable oils to be used for industrial purposes.
Furthermore, castor oil was the inspiration for the name of
the automotive lubricant company Castor.
Castor oil has been popularized for its capacity to clear
constipation, treat skin infections, and improve both the health and the
appearance of hair.
However, according to research, castor oil is reported to
have additional and more essential applications for boosting immune function.
Castor oil may increase the number of white blood cells and
T-11 cells, which are a type of special white blood cells that operate as
antibodies and are produced within the body’s lymphocytes, thereby helping your
body get rid of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and cancer cells.
Castor oil’s benefits greatly depend on its chemical
composition.
It is classified as a triglyceride fatty acid, where almost
90% percent of its fatty acid content is a rare and specific compound called
ricinoleic acid (1).
Due to its concentrated content of ricinoleic acid which is
found in scarce amounts in many other substances, castor oil is considered to
be unique.
It is produced by cold-pressing the seeds.
Ricinoleic acid is not the only valuable constituent of
castor oil because the oil also contains some beneficial salts that act
primarily as skin-conditioning agents.
Simultaneously, they are helpful in stabilizing the
consistency and texture of products.
For
this very reason, castor oil is used in a large number of cosmetic products and
hair and skin-care treatments, according to the International Journal of
Toxicology (1).
Health Benefits of Castor Oil
Ricinoleic
acid, found in castor oil, is an unsaturated fatty acid that provides a great
number of healing benefits (2).
What does castor oil do?
supports
the lymphatic system
increases
circulation
eases
constipation
fights
skin disorders and infections
treats
skin inflammation, ringworm, keratoses, abrasions, and fungal infections
heals
acne
reduces
itching and swelling on the skin
reduces
painful sunburns
prevents
the growth of viruses, bacteria, yeasts, and molds
hydrates
chapped lips
helps
with pregnancy and inducing labor
helps
hair grow
fights
toenail fungus
and much more
Castor oil supports the body’s lymphatic system with its
immune-enhancing effects.
The lymphatic system present throughout the entire body in
small tubular structures functions to absorb and remove excess waste materials,
fluids, and proteins from our cells.
Lymph nodes within these tubes operate as the body’s natural
toxin filters.
Furthermore, when you are sick, these nodes pump out
antibodies to keep foreign bacteria or proteins at bay.
For example, if you have ever had an enlarged lymph node
near your genitals or in your neck, this is an indicator that your body is
releasing a high level of antibodies to fight a nearby infection.
If the lymphatic system is malfunctioning, you are exposed
to a higher risk of the failure of numerous healthy cells, which eventually may
lead to degeneration and destruction of organs.
For instance, if you suffer from poor lymphatic heart
drainage, this will damage the tissue, which will eventually lead to heart
disease.
Not only does the lymphatic system improve the function of
the circulatory system, help establish defensive antibodies for the immune
system, and eliminate toxic waste from your tissues, it also helps absorb fat
molecules in the small intestine.
In fact, a great deal of all the fat from the gut is
absorbed by the lymphatic system.
However, some fat molecules cannot be absorbed because of
their large size.
When this occurs, the lymphatic system receives them and
then releases them into the bloodstream.
Eventually, they are carried throughout the body to be used
as fuel.
Improves Immune
Function
Castor oil is reported to improve blood flow, thymus gland
health, lymphatic drainage, and other immune system function.
According to Cell Immunology’s 2010 study, patients who use abdominal castor
packs produce significantly increased levels of lymphocytes, compared to
patients using placebo packs (3).
“Disease-fighters” is another name for lymphocytes for their
function of protecting the immune system from invaders such as bacteria,
toxins, and other perceived threats.
Castor oil is also helpful when it comes to the production
of adequate levels of lymphocytes, which are transferred to and stored in the
lymphatic tissue.
The lymphatic system is also responsible for the proper
function of the circulatory and digestive system because castor oil is capable
of helping you detoxify, thereby boosting your heart health and treating
digestive issues such as constipation, as well.
Pancreatic enzymes hydrolyze castor oil in the small
intestine, which leads to the release of ricinoleic acid glycerol, along with
other beneficial metabolic compounds.
Boosts Circulation
Proper blood flow and immunity depend on each other.
This means that it is much more likely someone will become
chronically ill when the lymphatic system fails, or edema develops.
The function of the circulatory system is to pump blood to
and from the heart, where it releases oxygen throughout your entire body via
tiny vessels and small arteries.
Blood exchanges oxygen and nutrients for cellular waste
within microscopic tubular structures in the lungs.
This process is essential because it keeps us alive, brings
oxygen to our cells, and detoxifies our bodies.
When absorbed through the skin, castor oil increases both
lymphatic drainage and blood circulation.
Promotes Healthy Digestion
In folklore, castor
oil is known as a potent cathartic, meaning it stimulates the complete release
of substances from the gastrointestinal tract and ultimately promotes
defecation (5).
However, when absorbed via the skin from a castor oil pack,
the oil may provide the same therapeutic properties.
If you apply castor oil packs in the abdominal region, this
can help you with achieving regular bowel movements, which will result in an
increase in energy.
Scientists found a correlation between this laxative effect
and depression because removing infectious agents from the lining of the gut
has been found to alleviate symptoms of depression.
According to Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice,
castor oil can relieve symptoms of constipation.
Castor oil packs for therapeutic care were given to elderly
patients, who were observed with immediate improvements following less than
three days of treatment, even though 80% had been seeking relief from symptoms
of constipation for over ten years (6).
Balances Hormones and Improves Libido
The formation of
healthy hormones greatly depends on the absorption of fat molecules within the
digestive tract.
Castor oil enhances this function, making it possible to
balance hormones naturally (7).
Furthermore, better hormonal flow, coupled with decreased
floating toxins present within and around cells, causes the sexual organ system
to function more efficiently.
This alleviates PMS symptoms, mood swings, fatigue, and
depression.
Induces Labor
In ancient times, castor oil was used as a natural remedy to
help pregnant women induce labor.
Nowadays, these alternative methods are backed by science.
A group of researchers from Australia and New Zealand
conducted a study in 2009 to assess the effectiveness and safety of castor oil
to labor in pregnancies.
The findings suggest that castor oil had no side effects
affecting induction of labor (8).
Castor oil has been given orally to pregnant women for
centuries to help speed up uterus contractions.
Many have questioned the link between castor oil and
induction of labor.
However, the science suggests that ricinoleic acid in the
oil triggers EP3 prostanoid receptors in the uterus.
Even though the above-mentioned study reports no side
effects, some women feel nauseous after using castor oil, which may be one
downside of using it for this purpose.
Decreases Symptoms of Arthritis
Castor oil is often taken as a natural treatment for
inflammation, joint swelling, and arthritis pain.
Due to its natural anti-inflammatory properties, it can be
used as an ideal massage oil and applied to aching muscles, joints, or tissue.
Physiotherapy Research in 2009 published a study that castor
oil can be used as an effective therapy in primary knee osteoarthritis.
The subjects were evaluated by routine, clinical laboratory
investigation for improvement of disease.
The results suggest significant effectiveness in the
treatment of knee osteoarthritis, and no side effects were reported (9).
Use castor oil followed by a hot water pack to increase
absorption and drainage by massaging aching areas.
If you practice this process twice a week, it will most
certainly alleviate the aching symptoms.
Treats Skin Infections and Wounds
The health of your
skin is a good reflection of how healthy your immune system, gut, and hormonal
balance is.
If you use store-bought skin care products, know that your
skin will be loaded with chemical ingredients, which usually make the skin
irritation worse.
On the other hand, using castor oil is completely
synthetic-free and natural, yet your body will absorb it directly through the
skin, which will result in a few positive outcomes for skin’s appearance.
First, as we have already mentioned, castor oil promotes an
increase in circulation and blood flow, thereby promoting a better defense
against infections and faster healing for wounds.
In 2003, a group of researchers from the Fountain Valley
Regional Hospital
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