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Medicinal Uses for Castor Oil

Castor oil is a popular form of plant-extract oil. Its medicinal properties are legendary. Used as far back as ancient Egypt, castor oil has shown itself to be an excellent alternative to traditional modern medicine. Before starting a castor oil regimen, check with your doctor. Castor oil has been shown to contain ricin proteins, a substance that's potentially hazardous to small children.

  1. Digestive Uses

    • For adults, who are better suited for its use, castor oil can provide a multitude of benefits for the digestive system. For constipation, a typical recommendation is to take 1 tsp. of castor oil. Although its benefits as a laxative are well known, it may taste poorly. To cut down on the bitterness and help your stomach settle, consider mixing it with orange juice, ginger or prune juice. This will not alter the properties of the oil as a laxative. Castor oil has also been said to be useful for people who suffer from an inflammatory bowel or dysentery. Because of the potentially hazardous effects of the ricin proteins, do not take castor oil orally until you have spoken with a licensed physician.

    Topical Uses

    • Castor oil is an excellent treatment for a variety of topical ailments, according to the Lifescript website. Burns are said to be positively affected by the use of castor oil presses; the oil is said to draw out much of the swelling and reduce pain. When treated with castor oil, infections can be shortened significantly. Castor oil naturally obstructs bacteria, viruses and certain forms of yeast from growing at the infection site. Castor oil can be used to rid the skin of ringworm and guinea worm. By mixing castor leaves with coconut oil, the worms may be drawn out of the body.

    Lymphatic Uses

    • In a double-blind study, 36 healthy participants were examined for lymphocyte values before and after the topical use of castor oil. The study, published in the "Journal of Naturopathic Medicine," describes the anti-toxin and immunological properties of the oil itself. When used topically for two hours a day, participants showed an increase in the amount of T-11 cells (cells used to fight infection), as well as an increase in lymphocytes.

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