Castor Oil use dates back to thousands of years ago. It has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Indian Ayurveda, and even by the Ancient Egyptians to light their torches! Castor Oil has been historically used for its rejuvenating health and beauty benefits. The castor bean plant is also called the ‘Palm of Christ’, because Castor Oil is mentioned in the Bible as an anointing oil. Others have since given it the name "Liquid Gold". For centuries, at the first sign of illness, many parents and grandparents would immediately turn to giving their children castor oil, either topically or internally, to naturally boost immune function and speed up healing.
Castor Oil on its own (or on a Castor Oil Pack), has been an absolute game-changer for a lot of my clients! The benefits are amazing for those dealing with chronic inflammation, as it helps improve the Parasympathetic (Healing) Tone. In the past, it has been used for skin-healing, digestive-soothing, for eye irritation and even as an antibacterial. Others use it as a natural laxative, for arthritic pain, and even for boosting lymphatic, circulatory and immune health.
Some of the benefits of castor oil include:
Anti-diabetic
Anti-inflammatory
Antimicrobial
Antioxidant
Liver-protective
Free radical scavenging
Wound-healing
Immune-boosting
Skin-moisturizing
Circulation-boosting
Laxative effect
Hair health
Labor-inducing (talk to your practitioner first!)
Some of the conditions that castor oil has been used for include:
Abdominal disorders
Arthritis
Backache
Constipation
Muscle aches
Parasitic infections
Chronic headaches
Gallbladder pain
Thyroid conditions
PMS
Rheumatism
Sleep problems like insomnia
Sunburn
Acne
Liver issues
Hormone imbalances
Hair loss
Bone spurs
Fibroids
Cysts
and so much more!
If you don't have any castor oil, you might be wondering where to get some. There are a lot of different products on the market, and like supplements, not all of them are created equal. You want to ensure you're getting 100% pure, organic, cold-pressed & extra virgin castor oil. For packs, you'll want to make sure they are 100% cotton, linen or wool without synthetic chemicals or uncomfortable straps. The brand that I use personally and would highly recommend is Queen of Thrones. They have castor oil by the bottle, or you can grab a Castor Oil Pack (for liver, thyroid, eyes, etc).
Alright, so let's get into the 7 best uses for Castor Oil!
1. Lymphatic drainage
The lymphatic system plays a crucial role in fighting against infections and balancing your fluid levels. When it's clogged, your body can’t cleanse properly causing you to feel worn down. When applied topically on your skin, Castor Oil works its way into your tissues and stimulates lymphatic drainage via the Peyer’s patches, a small group of lymphatic tissues. Using the compression of a castor oil pack placed over your liver area (over your right rib cage), combined with the movement of your breathing muscles, acts like a pump for your lymphatic system, encouraging drainage. You can further enhance lymphatic flow by simply adding a Dry Brush to your routine.
2. Anti-aging
Castor Oil is rich in fatty acids, which contain skin-nourishing nutrients like omega 6 and 9, vitamin E, and polyphenols like quercetin. These nutrients have anti-aging properties that reduce wrinkles, dark circles, and puffiness under the eyes. You can use a Castor Oil Eye Compress for anti-aging benefits and to stimulate the circulatory and lymphatic systems. You can also use Castor Oil as an eye makeup remover and a gentle moisturizer!
3. Thicker eyelashes & brows
Stress, bacterial growth, immune reactions, thyroid and hormonal imbalances can cause thinning of eyebrows and eyelashes. Regular use of a Castor Oil eye compress (while you sleep) can nourish the hair follicles and enhance circulation. Just apply Castor Oil to your lashes and brows, and your eye compress helps keep the oil from rubbing off. Wearing a compress to bed helps to naturally balance your sleep hormone, melatonin, so you can sleep deeper. You can also use castor oil on the scalp. I love to combine it with rosemary oil for the best hair growth benefits!
4. Inflammation
Castor Oil is a great natural anti-inflammatory for everything from your bowels to your menstrual cycle (if you have one), by way of stimulating your smooth muscle fibers, easing cramping and pain. Ricinoleic acid is the active component of Castor Oil, which is an anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain reliever). The gentle compression of your Castor Oil Pack will work to permeate the oil deeper into your skin. Many people use Castor Oil to help with arthritis, sore joints, lower back, hip and sciatic pain. It can even be used on your skin as an anti-inflammatory for breakouts/acne and on your gums for irritations or pain.
5. Improving bacterial balance
A balance between healthy and harmful bacteria is crucial for your skin and scalp health. When applied to the skin, scalp, and mucus membranes, Castor Oil can help to support a healthy microbiome. Cleansing your skin with Castor Oil can help balance the bacteria propionibacterium acne, which can cause skin breakouts. When you use Castor Oil on your scalp, it can naturally balance the microbiome of the scalp and may help reduce inflammation of hair follicles and dandruff relief.
6. Constipation
Your bowel movements are eliminated via muscular contractions in the intestines, called peristalsis. When you're constipated, these muscle contractions aren't working properly. Studies have shown that a Castor Oil Pack over the abdomen can help to relieve constipation by improving the smooth muscle function of the digestive tract. This allows you to get rid of all the junk in your digestive system and start having regular healthy bowel movements again.
7. Hormone balancing
Our sex hormones are in the same pathway as cortisol (our stress hormone), which we secrete in times of inflammation. When we have higher amounts of cortisol, it can steal from our sex hormones, leaving them out of balance. Castor oil can stimulate the release of certain "feel-good" hormones and neurotransmitters like dopamine and oxytocin. Oxytocin lowers cortisol, leading to healthy levels of progesterone, happy hormones and lowered anxiety.
Like most other things, Castor Oil has the best results with consistency, but don't overwhelm yourself. Do it when you can, and enjoy the benefits!
With love,
Brie