Castor Oil
Castor oil is a multipurpose 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 castor oil undergoes during production deactivates the ricin, allowing the oil to be used safely.
Castor oil 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, people burned castor oil as fuel in lamps, used it as a natural remedy to treat ailments like eye irritation, and even took it to stimulate labor in pregnancy (1Trusted Source).
What are the benefits of using castor oil on your skin?
Castor oil has many potential benefits. These include:
Preventing wrinkles
Castor oil contains antioxidants that fight free radicals in your body. Free radicals are responsible for accelerating the aging process, making wrinkles appear sooner.
Fighting acne
Castor oil has antibacterial properties. Bacteria on your face can clog pores and lead to acne.
Reducing puffiness
Castor oil has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce swelling and puffiness. It could reduce the size of inflamed pimples or eye bags as well.
Moisturizing
Moisture keeps your skin looking young, shiny, and healthy. Moisture also prevents wrinkles.
Soothing sunburn
Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, castor oil may ease the pain associated with sunburn. Its moisturizing qualities may also reduce peeling.
Fighting dry lips
Castor oil is a very common ingredient in both lipstick and lip gloss. If you have dry lips, skip the color and use castor oil. But you may want to mix it with a better-tasting oil, like coconut oil.
Promoting overall skin health
Castor oil is full of healthy fatty acids. Fatty acids are essential to maintaining good skin health.
Objectives:
- Identify the mechanism of action of castor oil.
- Describe the potential adverse effects of castor oil.
- Review the contraindications of castor oil.
- Identify the indications for using castor oil.
