Castor oil has many benefits. It is used in its pure form, added to lotions and moisturizers, and even taken orally. Together with your doctor, we’ll figure out why it’s useful and how it works.
Castor oil is one of the most popular and valuable vegetable oils. The ancient Egyptians began using it as a laxative and to induce labor. Today, castor oil is included in many cosmetic products: from mascara and hair care products to scrubs. In addition, you can add it to your favorite cream or make a homemade mask from it. A nice bonus: this universal beauty product is sold in almost every pharmacy.
Can castor oil be taken internally?
Only castor oil capsules are taken internally. The protective shell of the capsule disintegrates in the duodenum, exposed to pancreatic enzymes. Thanks to this, the gastric mucosa is not irritated by contact with the contents.
The broken capsule shell releases the contents in the intestines, which provokes irritation of the villi and intestinal walls along its entire length. This leads to a reflex increase in peristalsis, due to which feces move more actively towards the anus, simultaneously softening the intestinal muscles.
Physico-chemical characteristics
Molecular formula: C3H5(C18H33O3)3. Transparent or slightly yellowish liquid (freezing point = −16 °C), thick and viscous. The smell is weak, the taste is peculiar, unpleasant.
Unsaturated compounds are oxidized under the influence of atmospheric oxygen and light. Oxidation products initiate the polymerization of unsaturated compounds - this happens, for example, in sunflower oil. In castor, the content of double bonds is low, its components do not polymerize.
CAS registration number: 8001-79-4.
Where to apply castor oil
I use the product to treat calluses. The oil effectively softens the skin, so it can be applied to rough calluses to soften the rough areas of the foot. After applying the oil, your feet should be wrapped in warmth - for example, put on cotton socks.
The same effect is observed when used on the face. The oil makes the skin more elastic, reducing the intensity of wrinkle formation. When lubricating the space between eyelashes, the oil penetrates to the bulbs, where it acts as a growth activator. It wakes up sleeping bulbs. Long-term use of the oil at night can make eyelashes appear thicker.
special instructions
What is castor oil? What is castor oil obtained from?
Castor oil is a fatty phyto-oil obtained by cold or hot pressing from the seeds of Ricinus communis L. At least 80% consists of triglycerides (fats) of ricinoleic acid, the remaining 20% is a mixture of triglycerides of oleic and linoleic acids. At the same time, the concentration of oleic acid is 3-9%, linoleic acid is 3-5%.
The name of the product in Latin is Oleum Ricini, in Ukrainian it is ricin oliya.
Belongs to the group of non-drying liquid oils (oil slowly thickens in air). The properties of the oil, namely its increased kinematic viscosity and density, are determined by the high concentration of ricinoleic acid in it. The difference between castor oil and other vegetable oils is that it dissolves well in ether and ethyl alcohol, but is poorly soluble in gasoline.
Another valuable property of castor oil is its low pour point (from -18 to -22°C).
The product is a thick substance of yellow or yellow with a brown tint (the best varieties of Ricinus communis L oil are almost colorless). The density of the liquid varies from 0.96 to 0.97 g/cu. cm.
Castor oil was used for medicinal purposes by ancient Egyptian doctors, who added castor oil to various balms and ointments. However, most often the product is used for constipation and to cleanse the intestines .
In combination with pachycarpine , pituitrin and quinine, it is used to stimulate labor.
The benefits of castor oil in cosmetology
Why do you need castor oil in your home cosmetics bag? The most valuable properties of the drug, if we talk about the use of castor oil for the face, are the ability to soften and nourish the skin (including dry and sensitive), reduce peeling; whiten the skin, reducing the appearance of age spots; even out skin tone and smooth out its unevenness, rejuvenate the skin and eliminate shallow expression wrinkles.
In addition, the product is often used to strengthen hair, as well as to eliminate cracks in the skin, small scars, warts , corns and calluses .
In cosmetology, hydrogenated castor oil is used, which is obtained from ordinary castor oil by chemical hydrogenation. This product is more resistant to oxidation processes, which is very important for use for cosmetic purposes.
Castor oil for face
What are the benefits of castor oil for skin? Having a pronounced nourishing and softening effect, castor oil helps make the skin smoother and softer. The product stimulates the production of collagen and elastin , nourishes the skin and retains moisture.
The product allows you to get rid of wrinkles (including around the eyes) and papillomas , and also makes age spots and freckles less noticeable.
Reviews from cosmetologists indicate that you can rejuvenate your facial skin at home by adding a few drops of castor oil to your daily dose of cream, as well as making masks with castor oil.
For facial skin on which early wrinkles have appeared, use a mask based on castor, olive and sea buckthorn oils. The oils are taken in equal parts and heated in a water bath to 30ºC, then the mixture is applied to the face using a cotton pad and the skin is massaged with light movements for 2-3 minutes. After half an hour, wash with warm water.
To prepare a mask for dry, aging skin, boil 2 tablespoons of oatmeal in milk and mix it with honey and castor oil (take 2 teaspoons of these ingredients). The mixture is applied in a thick layer to cleansed facial skin for 20 minutes, 2 times a week.
A mask for dry and normal skin with wrinkles is prepared by mixing a tablespoon of heated castor oil with raw yolk.
For delicate skin around the eyes, castor oil is used in its pure form. Apply the product with light clockwise movements.
Castor oil for acne
Castor oil is an effective acne . The properties of ricinoleic acid, which is part of castor oil, allow you to successfully fight acne of bacteria and fungal infections .
The procedure is carried out in the evening. To begin with, the skin is cleansed and steamed to open the pores (you can make a compress with a hot towel). Then apply a few drops of oil along the massage lines with light movements. There is no need to rinse off the product. Treatment should be continued for 2 weeks.
A mask helps to enhance the effect, for the preparation of which a teaspoon of castor oil is mixed with a teaspoon of calendula tincture in 70% alcohol, one egg white and a powdered tablet of acetylsalicylic acid .
The mask should be applied in 3-4 layers, maintaining five-minute intervals. after 5 minutes After the last layer has been applied, wash your face.
Castor oil for eyebrows
Why is castor oil used for eyebrows?
Dermatology reference books indicate that the benefits of castor oil for eyebrows are enormous: healing procedures with castor oil can make hair thicker, healthier and silkier, in addition, the oil promotes faster eyebrow growth. If you believe the reviews, you can achieve a noticeable effect after just a month of using the product, but it will take at least six months to consolidate.
Castor oil for eyebrow growth is used as follows:
- eyebrows and the skin around them are thoroughly cleansed with shampoo;
- soak a cotton swab with oil and wipe one of the eyebrows with it, then take a clean swab and repeat the procedure for the second eyebrow;
- In the morning, eyes and eyebrows are washed with cool water.
To achieve visible results, the procedure must be repeated at least 4 times a week, but it is best to wipe your eyebrows daily.
For better effect, castor oil can be mixed with:
- vitamin A;
- calendula extract;
- chamomile extract;
- olive, peach or burdock oil.
What is castor oil used for eyelashes?
Using castor oil for eyelashes can reduce the fragility of eyelashes and prevent their loss.
How to strengthen eyelashes with castor oil? Following the instructions of specialists, for preventive purposes the product should be applied three times a week for 1 hour; if there are more serious problems - actively falling out and excessively brittle eyelashes - the oil should be used daily, at night.
How to apply eyelashes? The product is applied to the eyelashes with a clean mascara brush from roots to ends, avoiding getting oil into the eyes. In the morning, rinse eyelashes with warm water.
Castor oil can be used either in its pure form or in combination with other ingredients. So, to make the eyelashes even more velvety, you can add an oil solution of vitamin A or E (a drop of vitamin per 3-4 drops of castor oil).
To grow eyelashes, castor oil is mixed with rum in a 1:1 ratio (the product should be applied very carefully so that it does not get into the eyes).
It must be remembered that in some cases the oil can cause conjunctivitis .
Castor oil for hair
The use of castor oil for hair allows you to strengthen your hair, restore its structure, and eliminate dandruff .
Castor oil for hair growth is used as follows: the product is slightly heated and rubbed into the hair roots and scalp, then the head is covered with a plastic bag and a towel. You can wash your hair after a couple of hours, or you can leave the mask on all night.
For greater effectiveness, castor oil for hair can be combined with linseed or burdock oil in a 2:1 ratio. Reviews and instructions for using the hair care product note that the product is difficult to rinse off, so it is recommended to wash your hair with slightly hot water and a large amount of shampoo.
Shampoo can be mixed with egg yolk. This mixture will not only remove residual oil, but will also make your hair shinier.
For hair loss, castor oil is used in combination with kefir or cognac. A nourishing hair mask with kefir eliminates excess oiliness and dandruff; in addition, it is very useful for the ends of the hair.
To prepare it, add 2 tablespoons of castor oil . The mixture is applied to the hair under a plastic cap and washed off after half an hour.
The mask with cognac, in addition to castor oil and cognac, which take 1 tablespoon each, also includes 1 raw chicken egg yolk. The mass is distributed on the hair and washed off after half an hour.
against dandruff on dry hair is prepared using 1 part castor oil , 1 part olive oil and freshly squeezed juice of half a lemon. A mixture of castor oil, lemon juice, aloe and honey taken in equal proportions helps against dandruff
The mask should be applied to your hair about half an hour before washing your hair. Full course - 10 masks.
also mix castor oil fish oil and rub thoroughly into the scalp. The mask is left overnight and washed off with shampoo in the morning. It is recommended to repeat the procedure every week for 2-3 months.
Castor oil for nails
Castor oil for nails - reviews are proof of this - is an effective remedy for improving the appearance of nails and cuticles. The product helps fight hangnails and also makes nails less dull and brittle.
The easiest way to use it for nails is to rub warmed oil into the skin of your fingers and nail plate every day. You can also add a few drops of castor oil to your hand cream. If there is no allergy to the product, it is used in a 10-day course, after which a break of 10 days is taken and the course is repeated again.
Castor oil goes well with other oils (olive, peach, almond, etc.) and can be used as one of the components of oil baths.
To prepare a bath, you can take 60-80 ml of sunflower or olive oil (several tablespoons) and add 10 drops of castor oil and jojoba oil and a few drops of any essential oil. Warm the mixture slightly and dip your hands into it. The duration of the procedure is 25 minutes.
Before doing a French manicure (or just to whiten your nails), you can add a small amount of freshly squeezed lemon juice to the castor oil and rub the mixture into your nails.
To achieve the best result, apply the product to your hands and nails before going to bed, and put on cotton gloves on top.
Castor oil for beard
How to properly use castor oil for a beard? First, you need to wash your beard with shampoo, and then apply the product to the places where the hairs grow (in the direction of growth). After an hour, the remaining castor oil is washed off with warm water.
Reviews of castor oil indicate that regular use of a beard care product can slow down the loss of already grown hairs and stimulate the growth of new ones, making the beard thicker and more beautiful.
Precautionary measures
It should be remembered that a remedy such as castor oil cannot be used as a laxative for more than 3 days in a row.
When does castor oil start to work?
When taken orally, the capsule substance is released in the duodenum. With different congestion of the gastrointestinal tract, and depending on the individual activity of the pancreas, destruction of the capsule may occur 15-30 minutes after administration. And the laxative effect is achieved much later - within 5-6 hours. This time is required for the oil to activate the intestinal muscles along its entire length. This means that until the oil itself reaches the end of the intestine, the laxative effect will not appear.
Contraindications
Contraindications for use are:
- hypersensitivity to castor seed oil;
- poisoning with male fern extract or fat-soluble toxic substances (for example, benzene or phosphorus);
- acute diseases localized in the abdominal cavity (including internal bleeding into the abdominal cavity or the lumen of its hollow organs, acute inflammatory processes, strangulated internal hernias , various forms of obstruction of the digestive tract);
- pregnancy.
Can children drink castor oil?
If a child has stool retention, the reason should be found out. Castor oil will be a safe solution to the problem if difficult bowel movements are associated with poor diet:
- low consumption of fiber (fruits and vegetables);
- insufficient amount of fluid to drink;
- abuse of flour products.
In all other cases associated with intestinal obstruction, impaired blood supply to the rectum, and abrasion of the villi due to celiac disease (gluten intolerance), a doctor’s consultation is needed and treatment is prescribed, which often becomes inevitable surgical intervention.
For rare episodes of difficult bowel movements caused by poor nutrition, the following dosage in children is acceptable:
- 4-5 years old – one capsule orally with meals;
- 6-7 years old – two capsules with meals;
- over 8 years old - two capsules with one meal and another capsule with the next.
If there is no expected effect within 24 hours, you should contact a gastroenterologist.
Side effects and symptoms of overdose
Loperamide is a medicine that treats diarrhea.
Long-term use of laxatives causes disruption of intestinal motility. Excessive intake of castor oil - more than 7 ml per 1 kg of weight - causes the following pathologies:
- pain and spasms in the epigastrium;
- intractable diarrhea;
- disorders of the urinary system and kidneys;
- loss of consciousness, hallucinations;
- dehydration due to prolonged stomach upset.
During the treatment of overdose, the use of Loperamide or Atropine sulfate is indicated. These drugs are specific antidotes for castor oil.
In case of overdose, replenishment of fluid lost due to diarrhea and urinary disorders and symptomatic treatment of organs and systems damaged due to excess castor oil are indicated.
When neurological symptoms appear, the use of sedatives is indicated.
Analogs
Level 4 ATX code matches:
Slabicap
Kafiol
Guttasil
Senadexin
Laxigal
Senna leaves
Herbion Laksana
Dulcolax
Bisacodyl
Regulax Picosulfate
Regulax
Weak
Mukofalk
Senade
Guttalax
Ricinova oliya-Viola , Agiolax , Bisacodyl , Glaxenna , Dulcolax , Guttalax , Laxigal , Mucofalk , Izafenin , Regulax , Slabilen , Slabicap , Senade , Tisasen , Picoprep , Fibralax .
