Household Healers: Discover the Benefits of Castor Oil

This is the fourth article in my Household Healers series.

The first blog post in this series was all about my favourite herb: chamomile. Today’s post will be about my second favourite herb – the castor oil plant – and its many healing properties.

JOINT PAIN

Castor oil has anti-inflammatory and pain blocking properties. Rubbing it on joints can help with pain and swelling. Mixing the oil with other pain-relieving herbs increases the effects.

PIMPLES AND SCARRING

I did an Instagram post about how castor oil is my favourite spot treatment for a pimple. It brings down the redness and size of the pimple fast. I even like it better than the popular tea tree oil for pimples. It also may reduce the appearance of scars from pimples.

HAIR AND LASHES

Many patients find that applying castor oil to their lashes helps the lashes grow. I also like massaging it into the scalp. Castor oil strengthens the hair and helps with issues of hair falling out. Traditionally, it has been used to treat dandruff.

CONSTIPATION

Taking castor oil internally is not something I recommend because it’s too strong of a laxative. Rubbing the belly in a clockwise direction with castor oil is a gentle way to treat constipation. It’s even great for kids.

DETOX

Applying castor oil over the liver region has been used for decades as part of a gentle liver detox program. It’s applied around the right lower rib-cage. This is definitely in the department of folk medicine rather than research-based medicine.

DIAPER RASH/ INFLAMED SKIN

Applying castor oil on the skin is a great way to sooth diaper rash. Most rashes that involve a lot of redness and inflammation can be soothed with castor oil.