Castor oil is highly nutritious and has been used by humankind for generations. It is a great source of vitamin E, omega-9 fatty acids and omega-3 fatty acids and is used for a wide range of purposes from health and beauty to cleaning. Here are the different uses of castor oil around the house and further.
Health benefits
Relieve menstrual cramps
Castor has anti-inflammatory properties and an analgesic agent which helps relieve pain. For this reason, massaging warm castor oil over your abdomen can relieve menstrual cramps.
Induce labour
Castor oil has been used for centuries to help pregnant women with delivery. One study found that 93% of midwives in the US use this oil to induce labour. Another study found that it successfully initiated labour in 91% of women with little to no childbirth complications.
Laxative properties
Castor oil is a natural, medically approved laxative and is often used as a home remedy to relieve constipation. It works by increasing the movement of the muscles that push materials through the intestines helping clear the bowels. One study found that older adults who too this oil experienced decreased symptoms of constipation.
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Anti-inflammatory effects
Castor oil helps reduce swelling and pain caused by inflammation with research showing that it may reduce arthritis symptoms more effectively than prescription topical treatments.
Promote wound healing
Applying castor oil to a wound creates a moist environment that promotes healing and help prevent sores from drying out. It also helps by offering pain relief and anti-inflammation.
Treat some skin conditions
Its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties as well as its moisturizing effect are thought to help treat some types of acne. Other studies have found the oil to be helpful in treating dandruff, and ringworm.
Relieve arthritis
Research shows that using castor oil as an external ointment helped relieve pain among patients with knee osteoarthritis. Applying it three times a week to the affected joint should soon yield great results. It can also be used to relieve sore muscles from other activities like exercise.
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May relieve insomnia
Anecdotal evidence suggests that rubbing some castor oil on your eyelids before going to bed promotes and induces sleep.
Beauty uses
Castor oil has emollient properties which soften and moisturize which is why it’s a favourite for use on the skin and the hair. It also has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties which further encourage its use.
- Considered the best moisturizer with a little going a long way.
- Relieves sunburn, acne, athlete’s foot, and other skin ailments.
- Enables the production of collagen countering early wrinkles.
- It may help clear stretchmarks.
- Promotes healthy hair growth when massaged onto the scalp.
- Treats scalp infections.
- May be used to darken hair stopping premature greying.
- Softens and conditions the hair.
- Softens corns and dry, rough feet.
Other general uses of castor oil
- Clean and polish wooden furniture.
- Repel moles, skunks, and other bugs in the garden (they all hate the smell).
- Revive ferns by adding some castor oil to the water your spray them with.
- Lubricant for hinges and other metals like kitchen shears because it’s safe to consume.
- Use castor oil as dog shampoo to make their coats shinier and stronger.
- Apply it to pet wounds to treat minor cuts. It functions as a barrier to dirt and its antibacterial properties prevent infection.
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