Castor oil and castor beans are surprisingly versatile—from addressing eczema and high blood pressure to cosmetic uses. Here’s a look at one smart little seed.
Castor oil: a health and beauty asset
The castor seeds: do not eat them
Everything starts with a plant native to East Africa, Ricinus communis, the castor tree. It can also be found in the Mediterranean region and around India. The plant produces castor seeds, also known as castor fruits.
First, a precaution: NEVER eat castor seeds, or you risk nausea, abdominal pain, severe kidney, liver, or pancreatic problems that can be fatal. Castor seeds contain a toxin, ricin. Why talk about it then? Because the poison is in the hull! So let the professionals handle that, and focus on castor oil, derived from the seeds.
A medical use
The seeds have long been used in traditional medicine. They still carry touted benefits and are studied for their potential in treating eczema, high blood pressure, and menopause symptoms. Research is exploring their role in remedies for rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, diabetic neuropathy, or even breast cancer. These are intriguing leads but not yet applicable to everyday practice.
Castor oil, a superb cosmetic oil
In daily use, we don’t rely on castor seeds; we use castor oil. This vegetable oil accounts for about 40 to 60% of the seed’s weight and is obtained by cold-pressing the seeds, since ricin is not soluble in the oil.
In any case, do not take castor oil orally! It has long been used as a laxative but today it is discouraged because it is too potent.
The daily benefits of castor oil
Castor oil is especially useful for hair. It has long been used to smooth hair, and it has been found that it can also help grow hair, including eyelashes or beards. It nourishes dry hair and gives it shine. You can make a homemade castor oil hair mask to strengthen it, using it pure or mixed with another vegetable oil, and leave it on for an hour before a light shampoo.
On the beauty side as well, it does a lot of good for damaged nails. For this use you can apply it directly to the lashes or nails.
In cosmetics, castor oil is often used as an emollient, for example to repair the skin, hydrate, and promote tissue suppleness. It’s commonly found in lipstick formulations because it adds shine, and in soaps it helps create lather. A daily use targets very dry areas of your body, such as elbows or feet, where you can apply pure oil. It can also be applied to chapped lips.
Castor oil is therefore useful in hydrating cosmetics, and due to its antibacterial and antifungal properties, it can also be used in cosmetics for acne. It is also a good healing oil.
Also read Nourishing hair mask: discover homemade recipes
