Castor oil is a vegetable oil pressed from castor seeds, used for a wide range of cosmetic, medicinal and pharmaceutical purposes. Castor oil is a colourless or slightly-yellow liquid, thick in consistency and with a distinct flavour.
Castor oil comes from seeds of the Ricinus communis plant, indigenous to the south-eastern Mediterranean Basin, Eastern Africa and India.
Here are some historical facts about castor oil:
- Herodotus and other Greek travelers used castor oil for lighting, body ointments and improving hair growth and texture.
- The Ebers Papyrus, an ancient Egyptian medical treatise believed to date from 1552 BC, describes castor oil as a laxative.
- In India, traditional Ayurvedic and Siddha medicine considers castor oil the king of medicinals for curing arthritic diseases.
- Also, in India, castor oil is regularly given to children to treat parasitic worm infections.
- Ancient Romans used castor oil for lamp oil and castor plant leaves to improve complexion.
- In China, castor oil has been prescribed since centuries ago in local medicine for internal use or for use in wound dressings.
There are several methods to extract castor oil from castor seeds—solvent extraction, expeller press and cold press. Wondering how these methods differ? Read on!
Solvent Extraction
In this method, hexane is used to extract the oil from the seed. Hexane is widely used for oil extraction because of easy oil recovery. Apart from that, it is also the cheapest method. However, hexane can cause mild central nervous system effects such as nausea and headaches.
Expeller Press
Unlike the solvent extraction method, a high-pressure screw press called an oil expeller is continuously used to crush the castor seeds to facilitate the removal of the oil in this method. Usually, higher temperatures are used to increase the efficiency of the extraction. However, these higher temperatures can cause castor oil to lose most of its nutrients.
Cold Press
The best method for health benefits, in this method, castor seeds are ground to squeeze out the oil while rotation is used to extract the oil. The cold press method takes its name from the German words kalt geschlagen, translated as ‘cold pummelling’. No external heat is required to fuel the process. The friction that is created by the rotation works to separate the oil. In this method, castor oil’s natural properties such as purity, flavour, fragrance and most importantly, nutritional value are preserved.
Now you may wonder, what is it in castor oil that makes it great? What are the nutrients found in castor oil so valuable that the method of extraction matters? The answer is ricinoleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid. Apart from that, castor oil also carries vitamin E and linoleic and oleic acids.
Here are some of the amazing benefits of castor oil and how to make the most out of it:
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FACE
Reduce Acne
The antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of castor oil make it useful in reducing acne. Ricinoleic acid can inhibit growth in the bacteria that cause acne. Being a natural moisturiser, it also helps to soothe inflamed and irritated skin.
Soft and Smooth Skin
Castor oil is also rich in other fatty acids. Working as an emollient, it can enhance smoothness and softness when applied to facial skin. It can also provide a barrier on the skin to protect against moisture loss.
Glowing Complexion
The fatty acids in castor oil can also promote the growth of healthy skin tissue, making it great for restoring uneven skin tones.
Gentle on Sensitive Skin
Castor oil has a low comedogenic score. This means that it is unlikely to clog pores in the skin and reduces the risk of developing blackheads, making it appropriate for use on sensitive skin.
Anti-wrinkle
Ricinoleic acid is a potent antioxidant, effectively protecting the skin from free radical damage that causes collagen damage and wrinkles.
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BROWS & LASHES
Apply a little castor oil daily to your eyebrows and eyelashes. Castor oil promotes hair growth and improves blood circulation. More circulation results in more nutrition to your hair follicles.
Apart from that, the moisturising properties of castor oil will help condition and thicken the brows and lashes.
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HAIR
Hair Conditioner
Dry or damaged hair can especially benefit from an intense moisturiser like castor oil.
Applying castor oil to the hair on a regular basis helps to lubricate the hair shaft, increasing flexibility and decreasing the chances of breakage.
Treat Dandruff
Castor oil can also benefit those who experience dandruff, a common scalp condition characterised by dry, flaky skin on the head.
Due to castor oil’s anti-inflammatory properties, it can effectively treat dandruff caused by seborrhoeic dermatitis—an inflammatory skin condition that causes red, scaly patches on the scalp.
Hair Tonic
Castor oil helps to thicken and grow hair.
Studies show that the ricinoleic acid stimulates the production of the lipid prostaglandin (PGE2). This lipid is known for its ability to enrich hair follicles.
Regular application along the hairline will promote definition and lustre.
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NAILS
Do you have brittle nails that break or peel easily? Then castor oil should become your go-to nail treatment. Its rich, thick texture and generous dose of vitamin E makes it great for moisturising not only the cuticle area, but also the nail bed itself. Castor oil has also been claimed to promote circulation and blood flow; hence you will see improvements in nail strength with regular application.
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BODY
Anti-inflammatory
Both castor oil and ricinoleic acid have demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties. This makes them useful for treating irritated skin caused by inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis.
Antimicrobial
It may also protect the skin from bacterial infections by keeping out microbes that can cause disease.
Moisturising
Castor oil contains triglycerides. These can help maintain moisture in the skin, making it useful for treating dry skin or dry patches on the knees or elbows.
Hydration
Castor oil has humectant properties, which means that it can draw moisture from the air into the skin, keeping the skin hydrated.
Cleansing
The triglycerides found in castor oil are also helpful for removing dirt from the skin.
Note: It can take time for the skin to fully absorb castor oil, but diluting the oil can promote absorption into the skin. Although castor oil can be used on its own, we suggest diluting castor oil with other oils, such as coconut oil. The recommended ratio is 1:1—the quantity of castor oil should be the same as the oil with which it is mixed.
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LAXATIVE
Castor oil is classified as a stimulant laxative, meaning that it increases the movement of the muscles that push material through the intestines, helping to clear the bowels.
Stimulant laxatives act rapidly and are commonly used to relieve temporary constipation.
When consumed orally, castor oil is broken down in the small intestine, releasing ricinoleic acid. The ricinoleic acid is then absorbed by the intestine, stimulating a strong laxative effect.
A study found that when elderly people took castor oil, they experienced decreased symptoms of constipation, including less straining during defecation and lower reported feelings of incomplete bowel movements.
However, do note that castor oil is not recommended as a long-term treatment for chronic constipation.
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NATUROPATHY
Arthritic Pain Relief
Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, applying castor oil to arthritic areas can relieve pain effectively. Warm castor oil can be applied topically or can be used in a pack to treat arthritic pain.
Lymphatic Drainage
When topically applied to the abdomen, castor oil is absorbed through the skin into the tissues. Heat applied helps to drive the castor oil into deeper layers. The castor oil increases lymphocyte production and increases circulation of the lymphatic system.
The lymphatic system is like a drainage system within the body.
Toxins, infections, metals, dead cells and debris from all over the body are collected and cleaned up by the lymphatic system,
then brought to the liver for filtering and emptied out through the colon. When the lymphatic system is not working effectively, waste and toxins can build up, leading to a depressed immune system, inefficient bowel movements, worsening food sensitivities, ultimately leading to inflammation and disease.
Therefore, castor oil packs can be used to increase lymphatic drainage, detoxify the body, strengthen the immune system, reduce inflammation and enhance overall health.
NewLife™ Organic Castor Oil
Produced in India, NewLife™ Organic Castor Oil is certified organic by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Ricinus communis plants and seeds are cultivated in an environment free from chemical fertilizers, pesticides and artificial chemicals.
NewLife™ Organic Castor Oil is of British Pharmacopoeia quality. It is cold-pressed, unrefined and not solvent extracted, providing maximum nutritional benefits.
It is 100% pure and contains no artificial ingredients.
NewLife™’s Organic Castor Oil can be applied topically or ingested.
Head over to your closest NewLife™ branch or contact your Upline to get a bottle of NewLife™ Organic Castor Oil for you and your family!