Castor Oil Uses

Most people know there are medicinal castor oil uses even if they are not aware of exactly what is castor oil used for. It is often remembered as a dietary supplement for children that is given to improve gastrointestinal health and provide beneficial vitamins, minerals and essential oils.

However, nowadays castor oil is used more frequently as a treatment for a wide range of maladies, illnesses and infections. Regularly taking castor oil as a dietary supplement can help to prevent many illnesses from being suffered.

This article covers the common – and not so common – uses for castor oil to improve general wellbeing and for the treatment of health a wide range of health problems.

Castor Oil Uses for Skin and Hair Care

One of the most common castor oil uses is for skin and hair care. Castor oil is an excellent emollient and humectant which helps to lock moisture into the skin and hair to keep it soft, smooth and supple. Because of these properties it is excellent at reducing the appearance of wrinkles and scars.

The nutrients in the oil penetrate deep into the skin and nourish the hair roots encouraging hair growth. For this reason some of the most popular castor oil uses are for treating baldness and thinning hair. Castor oil is also very soothing and it has excellent anti-inflammatory properties, making it ideal for treating sunburn and minor skin irritations.

The oil has antibacterial and antiviral properties and one of its main constituents –ricinoleic acid – is a powerful antifungal agent. There are many castor oil uses as anti-fungal remedies with the oil a great natural choice for treating fungal skin infections such as athlete’s foot and ringworm, as well as viral skin afflictions such as warts.

Castor Oil Uses for the Treatment of Medical Conditions

The wide range of castor oil uses were known to many ancient civilizations. At that time the structure of the oil was not known and its constituent minerals were a mystery. All that mattered was that it was beneficial for skin and hair care and it helped people to recover from illnesses more quickly.

Today we know that castor oil contains Vitamin E which is a powerful anti-oxidant which helps the body to eliminate of dangerous free radicals. Vitamin E is also important for immune system function as well as many metabolic processes. It also helps to keep the blood vessels clear and is vital in the maintenance of healthy skin.

Castor oil also contains many compounds which have anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties, in addition to the oil being an excellent source of omega 6 fatty acids. These are used by the body to produce prostaglandins and other essential biological molecules. Because of the health benefits of all of these constituent compounds there are many castor oil uses in medicine. Castor oil uses in pharmaceuticals are extensive, with the oil added to many modern drugs to improve function. Many of the uses of castor oil many not yet be known and further research is likely to reveal even more health giving benefits of the oil.