Castor Oil Benefits – 7 Impressive Health Benefits Of Castor Oil

7 Impressive Health Benefits Of Castor Oil

• Reduces Acne

Acne is a skin disease that can cause blackheads, pus-filled pimples, and large, sore bumps on the face and body. It is most common in teenagers and young adults and may hurt self-esteem. The trouble with most cosmetic products is that they drain the oil out of your skin. Every time your skin is deprived of oil, it compensates for the loss of moisture by creating more oil that contributes to oily, irritated skin that causes acne.

Castor oil has many properties that can help to reduce the effects of acne. Inflammation is considered to be a factor in the rise and severity of acne, so applying castor oil to the skin can help to minimize inflammation-related symptoms.

Castor oil has antimicrobial characteristics that can help combat bacterial overgrowth when added to the skin. One test-tube study found that castor oil extract demonstrated significant antibacterial capacity, preventing the development of several bacteria, including STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS.

Castor oil is also a natural moisturizer and can help to soothe the sore and irritated skin characteristics of those with acne. The necessary fatty acids that castor oil provides help to maintain the balance of natural moisture in the skin. Gently apply castor oil to your face and massage in a circular pattern.

• Keeps Your Hair and Scalp Healthy

Castor oil is also used as a natural hair conditioner. Dry or injured hair will especially benefit from strong moisturizers such as castor oil. Applying fats such as castor oil to the hair daily helps to lubricate the hair shaft, improve durability, and reduce the risk of breakage. Castor oil can help those who have dandruff, a common scalp condition characterized by rough, flaky skin on the head.

While there are several different causes of dandruff, it has been associated with SEBORRHEIC DERMATITIS, an inflammatory skin disease that causes red scalp patches. Thanks to the capacity of castor oil to minimize inflammation, it can be an effective cure for dandruff caused by SEBORRHEIC DERMATITIS.

Also, the application of castor oil to the scalp helps to moisturize dry, irritated skin and can help to prevent flaking.

• A Powerful Laxative

Maybe one of the most known medicinal applications for castor oil is a natural laxative. It is known as a stimulant laxative, which means that it improves the activity of the muscles that force the substance into the intestines, helping to clear the intestines. Stimulant laxatives work efficiently and are widely used to treat temporary constipation. When ingested by the mouth, in the small intestine castor oil is fragmented into RICINOLEIC ACID, the main fatty acid in castor oil. RICINOLEIC ACID is then absorbed by the intestine, which stimulates a strong laxative effect.

A variety of studies have shown that castor oil can alleviate constipation.
For example, one study showed that elderly people using castor oil experienced reduced symptoms of constipation, including less pressure during defecation and lower recorded sensations of incomplete bowel movements. While castor oil is proven healthy in small quantities, larger amounts may cause abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. While it can be used to alleviate occasional constipation, castor oil is not recommended for long-term care.

• A Natural Moisturizer

Castor oil is high in ricinoleic acid, which is a monounsaturated fatty acid. Such types of fats serve as moisturizers and can be used to moisturize the skin.

Humectants maintain moisture by avoiding the leakage of water into the outer layer of the skin. Castor oil is also used in cosmetics to encourage hydration and is often applied to items such as lotions, lipstick, and cleansers. You may also use this rich oil on your own as a safe substitute for store-bought moisturizers and lotions. Many of the common moisturizing items found in stores contain potentially dangerous ingredients such as preservatives, perfumes, and dyes that may irritate the skin and harm overall health.
Swapping out these ingredients for castor oil will help to reduce the susceptibility to these additives.

Plus, castor oil is cheap and can be used on the face and body. Castor oil is thick, so it is mostly mixed with other skin-friendly oils such as almond, olive, and coconut oil to produce an ultra-hydrating moisturizer.

• Promotes Wound Healing

Applying castor oil to wounds provides a moist atmosphere that facilitates healing and keeps sores from drying out.

VENELEX, a common ointment used in the clinical treatment of wounds, includes a mixture of castor oil and PERU BALSAM, a balm extracted from the MYROXYLON TREE.

Castor oil promotes tissue development to create a membrane between the wound and the environment, reducing the possibility of infection. It also decreases dryness and cornification, the process in which dead skin cells build up that can hinder wound healing.

Studies also found that castor oil-containing ointments can be particularly helpful in the healing of pressure ulcers, a form of wound that results from prolonged pressure on the skin.

ONE STUDY OBSERVED THE WOUND HEALING ACTION OF CASTOR OIL IN 861 NURSING HOME PATIENTS WITH PRESSURE ULCERS.

Those whose wounds were treated with castor oil experienced faster rates of recovery and quicker healing times than those treated with other treatments.

• Impressive Anti-Inflammatory Effects

RICINOLEIC ACID, the main fatty acid present in castor oil, has an impressive anti-inflammatory effect.

Studies have shown that castor oil decreases inflammation and relieves discomfort when used topically.

The pain-reducing and anti-inflammatory effects of castor oil can be especially useful for people with inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis.

Animal and test-tube tests have demonstrated that RICINOLEIC ACID decreases pain and swelling. One research found that treatment with a gel containing ricinoleic acid resulted in a substantial decrease in pain and discomfort when applied to the skin relative to other treatment approaches. The test tube portion of the same study found that ricinoleic acid helped minimize inflammation caused by human rheumatoid arthritis cells better than any other drug. Apart from the ability of castor oil to minimize inflammation, it may help to alleviate dry, irritated skin in those with psoriasis due to its moisturizing properties.

• Fights Fungus

Candida albicans is a fungus that usually causes dental problems such as plaque overgrowth, gum infections, and root canal infections. Castor oil has antifungal properties that help battle Candida, keeping the mouth safe. One test-tube analysis showed that castor oil had removed Candida albicans from infected human tooth roots. Castor oil can also help relieve denture-related stomatitis; a painful condition believed to be caused by the overgrowth of Candida. For the people who wear dentures, this is a common problem.

Studies in 30 elderly people with denture-related stomatitis have shown that medication with castor oil has led to changes in clinical symptoms of stomatitis, including inflammation.

People have been using castor oil for thousands of years as an effective natural cure for several health problems. It has been shown to help alleviate constipation and hydrate dry skin, among many other benefits. If you are looking for an inexpensive, multipurpose oil to have in your medicine cabinet, castor oil might be a good option.