Discover the unexpected therapeutic applications of castor oil, including its role as a natural mascara, moisturizer, and even as a potential aid for sleep and relief from colic.
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.
- 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 older people; the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (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.
Made by pressing the seeds of the castor bean plant (Ricinus communis), the resulting pale yellow oil is made up of 90 percent ricinoleic acid, along with small amounts of linoleic (4 percent), oleic (3 percent), stearic, and linolenic fatty acids.2
Joseph Mercola
Author
Dr. Joseph Mercola is the founder of Mercola.com. An osteopathic physician, best-selling author, and recipient of multiple awards in the field of natural health, his primary vision is to change the modern health paradigm by providing people with a valuable resource to help them take control of their health.
