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Castor oil is a vegetable oil acquired from the seeds of the castor plant, also called Ricinus Communis. The oil is odorless and tasteless so it is easy to consume. Since ancient time, castor oil has been used as a medicine in various treatments for illnesses and diseases in both children and adults such as cough, cold, indigestion, constipation, etc. This is due to the germicidal, purgative and disinfectant properties.
However, castor oil is only beneficial if it is consumed in very low dosages and it can become a poison to people if the consumed amount exceeds the allowable levels. In detail, castor oil can cause vomiting, nausea, sickness when people use it in low dosages. When the amount increases, the oil is likely to cause fatal condition to human. Therefore, it is necessary to learn well about the impacts of castor oil before applying it.
Let’s find out top 10 heath benefits of castor oil and how to apply it.
1. Rheumatism
Castor oil is packed with a huge amount of healthy fatty acids like the Ricinoleic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Oleic Acid, etc. which are highly effective in treating rheumatism, gout and arthritis. To make use of the oil, apply the oil directly on the affected areas and give them a gentle massage so that the oil can easily penetrate to the skin. For a better effect, you can add some kinds of medicine for rheumatism into the oil before applying.
2. Ringworm
It is not easy to reduce and completely treat the condition of ringworm, a common infectious ailment. Basically, ringworm is caused by the growth of fungus under the first layer of the skin, leading to itchiness, red spots and swelling on several body parts like head, scalp, hands and back. Thankfully, you can fight the fungus with castor oil thanks to its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.
To learn more other treatments for ringworm, you can find out at Home Remedies for Ringworm.
3. Menstrual Disorder
Castor oil is found extremely helpful for girls and women with delayed, obstructed and painful menstruation. Thanks to the Ricinolein acid, castor oil is able to open menstruation and reduce the pain caused by the period. However, it should be only used in a small amount so as not to lead to other side effects.
4. Stretch Marks
Stretch marks are an annoying problem to women, especially those who have just experienced delivery. Although stretch marks cannot be completely eliminated, you still can reduce the signs and tarnish the marks by using useful ingredients from nature, including castor oil. This is also a great home remedy for milks, dark spots, pimples and other problems of the skin.
For more solutions for stretch marks, you can take a look at Home Remedies for Stretch Marks.
5. Skin care
Another benefit you can take from castor oil is skin care. The Undecylenic acid in the ingredient is known to have germicidal and disinfectant properties, thus it can be used in fighting against skin diseases and skin ulcers. Furthermore, the oil is extremely good for bacterial and fungal infections.
6. Constipation
Whenever it comes to constipation and you do not want to resort to medicines, give castor oil a try. According to many studies and researches, castor oil can act like a purgative. As a result, when bulk laxatives do not work, leading to severe constipation, castor oil can be a useful ingredient to make a home remedy for the condition.
For other natural effective treatments for constipation, read also Home Remedies for Constipation.
7. Lactation
Castor oil has been long used as a remedy to enhance the milk production in women. Specifically, the oil cannot only work with the milk flow in lactating women, but also increase the milk quantity. This is thanks to the rich content of fatty acids in castor oil. Nevertheless, the ingredient should only be consumed in very low dosages so that it cannot affect the infant.
Read also Home Remedies to Increase Breast Milk.
8. Stye
Stye, which seems to be a common problem occurring with people of all ages, is mainly caused by bacterial infections in the oil glands of your eyelid. To deal with this problem, many people rush to find medicinal treatments to quickly get rid of stye. However, there are also many natural ingredients can be used to deal with this without any sides effects, including castor oil. By using the oil to apply onto the stye, you are making use of the ricinolein acid to fight back the inflammation.
For further detail of how to apply castor oil, please take a look at Home Remedies for A Stye.
9. Hair care
Hair loss is a common problem that affects lot of people worldwide. The condition is caused by many different factors but the two main causes are microbial and fungal infections. Fortunately, castor oil with it germicidal, fungicidal and insecticidal properties can protect the hair and scalp and keep the condition at bay. At the same time, the fatty acids in the oil actively work to nourish hair and moisturize the scalp, keeping them at the best condition.
Besides castor oil, there are many other ingredients from nature that can help with the condition of hair loss. You can find out more at Home Remedies for Hair Loss.
10. Birth Control
It has been found out that castor oil contains a protein called Ricin, which is also a toxin to the body. When it is consumed in a very low dosage, it acts like a spermicide to reduce the fertility in men. However, it should be noted that castor oil is not recommended for women in pregnancy since it can cause miscarriage if being consumed in high dosages. Moreover, it can be also dangerous for the mother too so every pregnant woman should be alert while using the oil.
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