Description

Benefits and Uses of Castor Oil

Castor oil is a multi-purpose vegetable oil that people have used for thousands of years.

It’s made by extracting oil from the seeds of the Ricinus communis plant.

These seeds, which are known as castor beans, contain a toxic enzyme called ricin. However, the heating process that C O undergoes deactivates it, allowing  to be used safely.

C O has a number of medicinal, industrial and pharmaceutical uses.

It’s commonly used as an additive in foods, medications and skin care products, as well as an industrial lubricant and biodiesel fuel component.

In ancient Egypt, C O was burned as fuel in lamps, used as a natural remedy to treat ailments like eye irritation and even given to pregnant women to stimulate labor. Today, C O remains a popular natural treatment for common conditions like constipation and skin ailments and is commonly used in natural beauty products.

Perhaps one of the best-known medicinal uses for C O is as a natural laxative.

It’s classified as a stimulant laxative, meaning that it increases the movement of the muscles that push material through the intestines, helping clear the bowels.

Stimulant laxatives act rapidly and are commonly used to relieve temporary constipation.

When consumed by mouth, C O is broken down in the small intestine, releasing ricinoleic acid, the main fatty acid in C O. The ricinoleic acid is then absorbed by the intestine, stimulating a strong laxative effect.

In fact, several studies have shown that C O can relieve constipation.

For example, one study found that when elderly people took C O, they experienced decreased symptoms of constipation, including less straining during defecation and lower reported feelings of incomplete bowel movements.

While castor oil is considered safe in small doses, larger amounts can cause abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Although it can be used to relieve occasional constipation, C O is not recommended as a treatment for long-term issues.