Castor oil: application and effects at a glance

The areas of application and the effects of castor oil are far greater than most people suspect. Often it was only given for constipation problems - wrongly. We have summarized for you what it is still good and where you can use it.

Castor oil: effects on the body and application for health

Castor oil is made from the seeds of the tropical "miracle tree". Various fats contained therein make the oil valuable for the body and health.

• The most well-known is the laxative effect of castor oil. The triglycerides contained in the oil are responsible for this. This releases ricinoleic acid in the intestine through the enzyme lipase, which in turn inhibits the absorption of water and sodium in the intestine. So the chair remains "wetter" and therefore softer.
• If you suffer from constipation, take one or two spoons of the oil you take on an empty stomach. The oil should take effect after two to four hours. If you don't like the taste of castor oil, use castor oil capsules. However, you need to convert something: to achieve the same effect, you need to take about four to six grams of castor oil in capsule form.
• In the long run, however, castor oil is not an advisable solution for digestive problems. You should definitely look for enough fiber in your diet. Coffee can also help with constipation. We explain why this is the case in another article.
• Castor oil is widely used in the cosmetics industry. Since it promotes the production of collagen, it is used, for example, in wrinkle creams. However, you do not need to use expensive products to use the positive effects of the oil on the skin. Simply massage a few drops of castor oil onto affected areas on the face. The regions around the eyes, nose, mouth and forehead are usually particularly prone to wrinkles.
• Even the beard, which is currently experiencing its renaissance, is being cared for because the oil keeps the hair soft and smooth. However, not only male facial hair benefits from the nourishing effect.
• The same also applies to the head hair, since it is of the same consistency - from horn. We describe in detail the advantages of castor oil for skin and hair in a separate article.
• It is known that castor oil promotes labor. So far, however, it has not been possible to find out exactly how and why. Therefore, pregnant women should better avoid castor oil.