Castor oil : natural skin benefits and health benefits

What is Castor Oil and what are the health benefits?

Since the beginning of time, folk healers worldwide have used Castor oil to treat a variety of health conditions. Including hair and skin care. First of all, it is a vegetable oil with many health benefits. It also has various therapeutic properties.

Pressing castor seeds extracts this pale-yellow oil. The plant has a distinctive scent and flavour that’s a bit like nuts, smoke, and tree resin, depending on the type you buy. And Castor oil is tasteless and odourless. Furthermore, it’s extracted by pressing castor plant seeds and is a triglyceride oil that is composed of fatty acids, 90% of which is ricinoleic acid. Especially relevant, Dr Mercola, Health Researcher, states that this acid is the primary healing ingredient of castor oil.

Castor oil support our immune system

According to Dr Axe, Medical Researcher and natural remedy expert it has an even more critical use for supporting the immune system. He says that research shows this oil is capable of increasing white blood cells and the count of T-11 cells. Within the lymphocytes system, these cells are produced and they help kill viruses, fungi, bacteria and cancer cells.

“Effective in preventing the growth of numerous species of viruses, bacteria, yeasts and moulds. It’s successful as a topical treatment for ringworm, keratoses, skin inflammation, abrasions, fungal-infected [fingers] and toenails, acne and chronic pruritus (itching).

“The most efficient uses are castor oil packs or poultices, which increase topical absorption. And when used correctly castor oil packs improve the function of the thymus gland and other immune system functions,”  David Willams – Medical Researcher

Castor oil is a purgative medicine

Secondly, in the last century, castor oil was used extensively as a purgative and as a medicine for almost all ailments; ranging from colds, coughs, fevers, indigestion, tape worms, rountape worms. Because the idea was that disease started in the digestive system and that after a thorough cleansing of the system, problems would disappear.

Also, Castor oil has been used widely for commercial and non-commercial purposes. It’s a favoured ingredient often used in manufacturing cosmetic and beauty products. So, apart from cosmetics, castor oil is also used to make industrial fluids like lubricants, hydraulic brake fluids, paint coatings, inks, wax and polishes, cold resistant plastics, pharmaceutical products, perfumes, etc.

Switching to all-natural ingredients in health and beauty care

According to the David Suzuki Foundation, a science-based environmental organisation headquartered in Vancouver, 1 in 8 of the 82.000 ingredients used in health and beauty care products are industrial chemicals.

As a result, unless you want to absorb carcinogens, pesticides, reproductive toxins and hormone disruptors daily, it’s important to remember that natural is the KEY!

And as you can imagine, industrial chemicals harm the environment and alter your health as well. Most noteworthy, these chemicals lead to autoimmune diseases caused by inflammation in the body. Nature provides us with many wonderful raw oils. Since many kinds of butter are also beneficial to your skin and hair,  you don’t necessarily need to expose yourself to harmful, toxic ingredients.

Cleansing, antifungal and antibacterial skin benefits of castor seed oil

Because Castor oil has antifungal and antibacterial properties, it is useful for treating skin diseases and skin ulcers. Furthermore, it deeply cleanses skin, targets fungal skin conditions, and reduces the appearance of stretch marks. Also, this medicinal oil also helps fades scars, treats acne and combats lines and wrinkles.

In conclusion, it has numerous health and immunity benefits: skin care, oral care, rheumatism, menstrual disorders, proper lactation and birth control.

1.     DIY Cleanser

So, to create your custom-made skin cleanser, mix a small amount of oil with rosehip and emu oil and add 2 to 3 drops of geranium essential oil. In conclusion, this mixture is excellent for deeply cleansing your skin and the astringent properties of geranium oil minimise wrinkles and tighten facial skin. After 10 minutes, wash your face with a warm cloth to remove excess oil, dirt and other pore-clogging material.

2.    Targeting fungal skin conditions

Because castor oil contains undecylic acid, it helps to combat ringworm and athlete’s foot.

In addition a good tip: Add a few drops of tea tree oil (which is useful for treating ringworm), as it’s an antibacterial oil with many purposes. You may even ozonate your oil, which makes the oil even more powerful and medicinal.

3.    Reduce the appearance of stretch marks

Because Castor oil is high in ricinoleic acid, a fatty acid that helps target stretch marks, it lessens the appearance of stretch marks. Massage castor oil into the skin regularly at least a few weeks or more, depending on the age of the marks.

4.    Watch Scars Fade

In addition, castor oil penetrates deep into the skin, through the epidermal layer to heal scar tissue. This is due to its high fatty acid content.

5.    Treat Acne

Acne can appear for many reasons. Our sebaceous glands produce a natural oil called sebum, which helps keep skin moisturised. Hormonal fluctuations can also cause acne, as well as medication, poor hygiene, stress and certain diets.

Commercial solutions for acne often have side effects, and sometimes they lead to more acne. And castor oil is an excellent alternative and natural treatment.

6.    Combats lines and wrinkles

Fatty acids in castor oil can deeply penetrate the skin and stimulate the production of collagen and elastin.

The skin around the eyes is delicate and therefore more susceptible to damage. The first signs of this are dark bags under the eye and crow’s feet. Apply castor oil to these areas to reduce wrinkles. Cleanse the skin, then apply a dab of castor oil to your eye area with a cotton pad.

Health, immunity and anti-inflammatory benefits of Castor oil

Castor oil can strengthen our immune system through its deep-penetrating, anti-inflammatory properties found in its fatty acids. It’s also an effective treatment for gout, arthritis and rheumatism. You might be surprised to know that castor oil is used as a form of birth control. It helps with menstrual disorders and lactation. It also acts as purgative and soothes bugs and bites.

1.     Rheumatism benefits on Rheuma

Fatty acids in castor oil are excellent for treating arthritis, rheumatism and gout.

2.    Balance Scalp PH levels

If the pH balance of the scalp is too alkaline or too acidic, it can lead to bacterial or fungal infections. This means a very itchy scalp and dandruff. Ricinoleic acid found in castor oil can balance the pH of your scalp. It restores the natural oils and improves the health of the hair. This is one way to reduce the harm caused by the harsh chemicals in hair products.

3.    Natural Birth Control

Ricin is a toxic protein found in Castor Seed Oil. When small dosages are administered, it may act as a germicidal substance.

4.    Menstrual disorders

Ricinoleic is a fatty acid, and a key ingredient in castor oil. It is an emmenagogue by nature and helps menstrual flow when there is pain, obstruction or delayed menstruation. It also helps relieve pain during menstruation.

5.    Lactation

Also, castor oil is a natural galactagogue. It stimulates secretion of milk and increases the quantity of milk produced, due to the presence of fatty acids in the milk. Low doses avoid side effects on infants.

6.    Natural laxative

Furthermore, castor seed oil is most widely used as a laxative (a purgative) and is very effective for treating extreme cases of constipation when bulk laxatives do not work.

7.    Soothes bug bites and stings

Lastly, castor oil soothes itching and heals insect bites. It is anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. Just a small dab of castor oil can be effective. Apply to bites throughout the day for as long as needed.

My favourite natural and toxin-free organic brands for my hair, skin and beauty care are:

• Khadi: Herbal colouring with Henna, herbs and plant pigments
• Morrocco-Method: Herbal colouring with Henna, herbs and plant pigments
• Plant Therapy : Therapeutic and food-grade essential oils
• Ancient Apothecary: Therapeutic and food-grade essential oils
• Tata Harper: High Performing, innovative and toxin-free face care
• Au Naturelle : Advanced, active & toxin-free make-up
• Poppy Austin : Pure, unrefined, organic, cold-pressed body/face/hair oils
• Levenrose : Pure, unrefined, organic, cold-pressed body/face/hair oils
• Pukka: Pure, unrifined, organic Castor oil

Empowering others via my anti-ageing wellness platform and holistic health books

For a few years, I suffered from thinning, lifeless hair that was falling out at a rapid rate.

Enough was enough – I decided to take drastic action and switched to a completely natural, non-toxic, healthy and holistic haircare and health routine. The results were astounding, and after a lot of hard work, my health and hair are now healthier and glossier than ever before!

Now, through my holistic wellness books and anti-ageing health platform, I want to empower people around the world do the same and regain their health, hair, life, vitality, confidence and beauty!