9 Great and Strange Benefits of Castor Oil for Skin, Hair, and Health

Castor oil is extracted by pressing the castor seeds. It is a vegetable oil largely native in India and Africa.

Oftentimes, castor oil is thought of as a home remedy for constipation. But actually it has a long history of being used for health and beauty problems. It is used in different cosmetics, massage oils, textiles, soaps, and even medicines because of its benefits.  This article will show you some of the most appreciated and strange benefits of castor oil. 

➀ Good For Hair Growth

Let’s be honest, the process of growing out your hair is long and at times, tedious. So, do you want to make your hair growth faster? If yes, use castor oil. You just need to massage warmed-up castor slightly on your scalp and hair to improve the blood circulation to your follicles, therefore accelerating hair growth. This oil consists of omega-6 fatty acids, helping nourish the hair. By using this oil, your hair will grow faster and be shiny.

➁ Treat Dandruff And Other Scalp Conditions

If you have dandruff and dry hair — the hair mask made from castor oil mixed with olive oil and lemon juice is a good solution. This mask should be applied on your hair roots for about 30 minutes before you shampoo and condition your hair as normal. This will not only help you remove dandruff, but also nourish as well as condition your hair. Making it shinier and healthier.

➂ Lengthen Eyelashes

For those who want to have longer eyelashes naturally, applying castor oil on every night is highly recommended. Follow this routine for about a few weeks and you will see great results: thicker and longer eyelashes that you have always wished for.

➃ Moisturize Skin

Castor oil can penetrates deep into the human skin, softens and then hydrates it. Also, this oil helps to accelerate the production of collagen and elastin, thereby helping to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. As a result, you will have a more youthful appearance of skin.

Just simply mix castor oil and sesame oil, or grapeseed oil or jojoba oil with the ratio of 1:3 and gently massage your skin with this oil mixture. Then, put warm damp washcloth slightly on your face for one minute or so and take away the excess oil using a cotton pad. That way, you will skin will be hydrated, soft and nourished.

➄ Increase Immunity

One of the most little known benefits of castor is improving immunity. Castor oil can strengthen the immune system by increasing white blood cells and therefore fight infections. Also, it is proven that this oil can promote the count of T-11 cells which is a kind of white blood cells, and the lymphocytes production in the blood within just a few hours of applying. As a result, it will initiate the human body to produce much more antibodies and kill fungi, viruses,bacteria and cancer cells.

➅ Induce Labor

This benefit of castor oil may surprise you. Many pregnant women at full-term are advised to take castor oil orally because it induces labor by pushing uterus contraction. This oil contains a ricinoleic acid which can activate EP3 prostanoid receptor in the uterus, therefore aiding in delivery. Nonetheless, this oil is not recommended in many cases because it makes the pregnant women feel nauseous.

➆ Remove Cysts And Moles

Castor oil is one of home remedies for moles and cysts. Applying castor oil with a small amount of baking soda on the affected area will treat these skin problems effectively by dissolving them. Also, it is said that castor oil can help dissolve the cysts within the ovary because the fatty acid in this oil is very easily absorbed by the human skin.

➇ Reduce Constipation

Castor oil can be helpful for those people with constipation. It serves as a laxative if taken orally. The ricinoleic acid in castor oil will get released within the intestine and then it begins functioning as a laxative. Thanks to the heated created by this oil, the process of digestion will be accelerated, helping in appropriate bowel movement.

➈ Treat Joint Pains

Did you know that treating joint pain is one of benefits of castor oil? Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, castor oil can treat arthritis and relieve joint pain, sore muscles and nerve inflammation effectively. Massaging your joint with this oil and place a hot water bag onto will relieve the pain. If you suffer from arthritis, you should repeat this process twice per week to ensure the best result.

Author bio: Vanessa Tan is a Vietnamese-American author and MA in English literature. She is a health article writer who has written many articles/online journals on home remedies and natural health. She strong believes that majority of diseases can be cured with natural home remedies. Check her out at WikiYeah.com and Pinterest.