5 Health Benefits And Uses Of Castor Oil

Castor plant also called Arandi is a native of India and is used as a medicinal herb in many parts of the country. Castor oil was used as a medicine for all the ailments in olden days. Even today many parts of India and Brazil cultivate Castor. There are many health benefits and uses of Castor oil. The oil is used for hair ,skin and other health benefits. Apart from these Castor oil is also used as a lubricant for automobiles. it has many industrial uses.

So Here Are Some Health Benefits And Uses Of Castor oil

1. Boosts immunity

Castor oil is helpful in increasing white blood cells which help in fighting infections [1] . Research findings say that application of Castor oil externally has increased the wbc count within 24 hours. Wbc’s help to kill bacteria, virus and fungi. Apart from this Castor oil is helpful to provide good blood supply to lymphatic system which is a main component of the immune system. Castor oil help to improve blood flow to the thymus gland and also helps with lymphatic drainage. Proper function of the lymphatic system is essential for the circulatory and digestive systems.

2. Helps In Fighting Skin Infections

Castor oil is an age old remedy for skin infections [2] . Ricinoleic acid present in the Castor oil prevents the growth of bacteria virus and some fungi. Hence the external application of the Castor oil will be an ideal remedy for skin infections and skin ulcers. It is also useful in nail fungus and ring worm treatments. Ring worm infections are common in children and are contagious. It takes long time to treat these infections with antifungal medicines, hence using Castor oil can be a better remedy. Castor oil is also helpful in treating acne because of its anti inflammatory and antibacterial properties. For skin infections you need to dip a cotton ball in Castor oil and apply over the infected area over night.

3. Arthritis Remedy

Rheumatoid arthritis has affected about 1% of the adult population in the USA [3] . Castor oil’s anti inflammatory properties makes it an ideal oil to provide relief from arthritis. External application of Castor for painful joints works effectively.you can simply apply a few drops of Castor oil on the affected areas and massage for 5-10 minutes and apply a hot water pack. This provides a relief from joint pains. Castor oil pack is also used to relieve back pain. You can also consume 1-2 drops of Castor oil in ginger tea to get relief from rheumatoid arthritis for a few days.

4. Helps In Relieving Constipation

Castor oil works as a mild laxative [4] . You need to take a few drops of Castor oil to get relief from constipation. The ricinoleic acid present in the Castor oil helps in proper digestion and cleanses your body. It also helps in better blood circulation to the blood and thus removes toxins and bad bacteria from the gut, thus helping in providing relief from constipation.

5. Helps In Hair Growth

Castor oil benefits your hair for growth by making it longer thicker and stronger [5] . The fatty acids present in the Castor oil helps to fight dandruff. As it also improves circulation Castor oil helps in good hair growth from the follicles. Massage a small quantity of Castor oil onto your scalp and you can leave it over night.

Apart from the above uses Castor oil is used to toe nail fungus moles and cysts. It is also helpful to treat sunburns and other infections. Castor oil is used to increase libido and treat hormonal imbalances.