For centuries, folk medicine has recommended the internal or topical use of castor oil to address various health complaints. Naturopaths and other holistic practitioners utilize this therapy to foster health in individuals under their care. An age-old holistic remedy, therapeutic castor oil packs, also known as poultices, can provide relief from symptoms, promote healing, and even affect various blood markers.
Castor oil is a vegetable oil made from Ricinus communis, the castor bean. This plant is native to India, with 90 percent of the world’s oil production being in Brazil and India. Records show that castor oil was used in ancient Egypt for laxative properties and to stimulate labor in pregnant mothers. While people often think of castor oil as a laxative, various holistic practitioners tout other benefits from the internal use of castor oil, such as promoting lipid metabolism, uterine contractions, and antimicrobial activity.
