The Many Health and Beauty Benefits of Castor Oil

Nowadays, we’re bombarded with advertisements for expensive creams and treatments to improve our health, even though natural substances and oils can be just as effective and better for our bodies. Castor oil is one of those natural wonders that can benefit your body from head to toe!

What is castor oil?
Castor oil is pale yellow oil that comes from the castor plant, which is scientifically referred to as Ricinus Communis. Many centuries ago, ancient Egyptians were among the first people to use it for therapeutic purposes.

What are the benefits of castor oil?
Castor oil has several health and beauty benefits, such as:

1. Pain relief
Castor oil can be used as a pain reliever for people with arthritis, back pain, and rheumatism. Try it by dipping a piece of cloth in castor oil, putting it over the pained area and simply apply heat.

2. Constipation
Known to be a very powerful laxative, castor oil can treat constipation. Try this by taking a small teaspoon of castor oil in the morning. If it tastes too bitter, try mixing it with juice to neutralize the taste.

3. Dry heels and calluses
If your feet need some pampering, apply a generous amount of castor oil to your feet, especially if you have dry heels and/or calluses. Wear a pair of socks after applying so you don’t make a mess, and leave it overnight. It might take several nights, but you’ll notice a significant difference.

4. Hair growth
If you want to thicken your hair, eyebrows, or eyelashes, then you’ll love using castor oil. Massaging a bit of the oil on the affected area for about 6 minutes every day promotes hair growth. However, if you use it on your eyelashes, be careful not to get it into your eyes. As a plus, castor oil is said to help combat split ends and give your hair a healthy glow!

5. Stretch marks and scars
Many mothers complain about stretch marks on their belly after giving birth. Other people complain about scars that never seem to go away. One thing you can do is regularly massage castor oil into the affected areas. This will promote the growth of healthy skin tissue, helping stretch marks and scars fade away over time! Castor oil might work for the rest of your skin, too. It is believed to decrease the appearance of wrinkles, soothe sunburns, and treat brittle nails.

6. Immune booster
In addition to its many benefits, castor oil is known to be a great immunity booster, which is why it’s recommended as a home remedy for people with multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy and many other illnesses. Talk to your doctor about how castor oil can help you strengthen your immune system.

Can I start using castor oil?
You should definitely try out all these great benefits of castor oil for yourself. However, before you do, consult your doctor just to be on the safe side, especially if you’d like to use it for immunity purposes. Be especially careful if you intend on using castor oil for internal use by swallowing or ingesting it.

Furthermore, remember that too much of a good thing can harm you, so talk to your doctor about how often you can use castor oil so you can gain the benefits without hurting your body. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, you need to get your doctor’s approval before using castor oil.

Love yourself enough to live a healthy lifestyle! Check out our Health & Fitness section here.

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