Castor is a perennial shrub, which belongs to the Ricinus genus, Euphorbiaceae family. This species is indigenous to the tropical regions, India, Mediterranean regions, Eastern Africa. The appearance of castor plant may be different. It may even grow in a small tree and reach 12 meters in its height. The seeds of castor plant are the source of popular and wide known castor oil. In early Egyptian medicine castor oil was used for body ointments, hair growth and lightning. The list of castor oil uses is really huge. Even Cleopatra herself used it. The benefits of castor oil lead in ricinoleic acid, which it contains. Uses for castor oil: medicine, manufacturing of soaps, brake and hydraulic fluids, lubricants, dyes, paints, inks, coatings, waxes, nylon, polishes, cold resistant plastics, perfumes, pharmaceuticals, food industry, in production of biodiesel.
Let’s consider what the castor oil benefits in medicinal sphere are. Using castor helps to treat:
- constipation;
- syphilis;
- leprosy;
- migraine;
- skin problems;
- osteoarthritis;
- baldness;
- dandruff.
It is said that castor may help to start the milk flow. It is used before surgery to clean the bowel and helps pregnant women to induce labor. This oil is a real treasure for women, as it improves the hair growth. It can be applied to eyelashes and eyebrows. Castor oil is also used to remove makeup and even can be put into eyes to clean them from irritants.
Using castor oil is safe for most adults for a short period of time and in medicinal doses (no more than 15-60 ml a day for adults). Children are not recommended to use it more than one week (no more than 1-15 ml a day). Taking castor oil while pregnancy is safe only for women, who are ready to deliver. Do not eat whole seeds, it is unsafe.