5 Must Know Health Benefits Of Castor Oil

Castor oil is an odorless oil extracted from the seeds of the Ricinus communis plant. It has a light and clean smell ( sometimes pungent). It is nearly taste, but for some people taste is unpleasant. It is an excellent source of ricinoleic acid.

Castor oil is used as an active ingredient in several medicines, skincare products, and shampoo.With a comedogenic rating of 1, castor oil is suitable for almost all skin types and doesn’t clog skin pores.

# May Induce Labor

Castor oil has labor-inducing properties. The laxative nature of castor oil causes intestinal spasms, stimulates the bowel and vagal nerve. This causes irritation and contraction of the uterus and helps with labor.As per studies, castor oil is a safe non-pharmacological method for inducing labor, and pregnant women who take castor oil are more likely to go into labor within 24 hours.

Castor oil is effective for inducing labor in women that have borne more than one child ( post date multiparous).But there are contradictory studies that claim castor oil doesn’t induce labor, and there was no reported harm to the baby or mother.

# Treats Constipation

The laxative properties of castor oil stimulate bowel movement and relieve constipation.Castor oil packs reduce straining during defecation and give a feeling of complete evacuation post bowel movement.

The use of castor oil for treating constipation should be considered after consulting with a doctor.Use a small amount as its excessive use may damage the functioning of the bowel muscles.

# Helps In Birth Control

Castor seed oil can also be used as birth control due to the presence of ricin ( a protein) in it. It is a toxic compound that works as a germicidal substance when administered in very small dosages. Because of its spermicidal properties, it is also added to spermicidal gels and lotions as an effective birth control method.

# Aids in the treatment of arthritis

The anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of ricinoleic acid in castor oil provide relief from pain and inflammation caused by inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, rheumatism, rheumatoid, gouts, asthma, and bronchial asthma.As per a study on people with osteoarthritis, people who took castor oil capsules thrice a day for four weeks showed improvement in osteoarthritis symptoms.

Other fatty acids such as linoleic acid and oleic acid in castor oil also relieve pain and inflammation caused by arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. They relieve symptoms such as joint pain and knee pain.

# Good for Nursing Women

The fatty acids in castor oil benefit nursing women as they stimulate the secretion of breast milk and increase the quality of milk.

Despite its advantage for lactating mothers, it is advised to consume it in low doses and after consulting with your to ensure there won’t be any adverse effects on the infants.