Healthy Body

Castor Oil (Part 2 - beautiful skin and hair)

Last updated on 15th November 2009

Castor Oil has many medicinal and curative uses, and the same properties that make it so effective in healing the body also make it an excellent choice for maintaining beautiful and healthy skin and hair.

1. Castor Oil cures acne

The Ricinoleic Acid in castor oil works to inhibit many viruses and bacteria, and as castor oil is able to penetrate skin tissue deeply, this makes it an effective treatment for acne.

To treat acne, dab a hot damp washcloth all over your face in the evening before you go to bed. The heat will gently open the pores on your face. After this, massage a little castor oil gently into the skin. Leave on overnight. Repeat this daily for 1 to 2 weeks to see results. You can also repeat this twice in the day, once at night and once in the morning.

2. Castor Oil keeps the skin looking smooth, youthful and unlined

Castor oil’s ability to penetrate more deeply than any other essential plant oil make it an excellent way to keep skin looking youthful and fresh. Castor oil works better than any store-bought anti-ageing creams.

The best way to use castor oil is to rub in a small amount over your face and around your eyes before bed. This may be hard to do at first because castor oil is extremely thick and sticky. Therefore, rub the oil in as thoroughly as possible and then pat your face gently with a tissue to get rid of the excess. This will keep wrinkles at bay. Be sure to use only cold pressed castor oil that is hexane free. Any other kind may clog your pores.

Castor oil is found in several anti-ageing creams, wrinkle creams and undereye creams.

Reviva Labs Eye Complex Firming Cream

Burt’s Bees Radiance Day Creme

Borba Advanced Aging Recovery Crème

Commercial anti-ageing creams that contain castor oil

3. Castor Oil breaks up external and internal scar tissue, and prevents new scars from forming

Castor oil’s unrivaled deep tissue penetration help to soften and remove both external and internal scars, like those that form following surgery.

Castor oil will penetrate deep into the tissues to slowly break up scar tissue. Amazingly, castor oil is able to distinguish between healthy cells and abnormal ones. In healthy cells, castor oil will detoxify and stimulate them, while increasing circulation. In abnormal cells like scar tissue and growths, castor oil will instead work to aggressively dissolve cells thanks to the solvent property of castor oil.

To break down internal scarring, soak a piece of clean cloth with castor oil and place it over the scar area for an hour or two each day. You can also simply rub castor oil over the scar each day. More serious internal scarring will take longer to break down.

On another note, castor oil can also prevent scars from forming in the first place. Applying castor oil over cuts or scrapes will promote excellent skin healing.

Remarkably, applying castor oil after surgery, cuts or wounds will also minimize scar formation. This could be because of castor oil’s ability to increase our body’s lymphocytes (because of this, castor oil packs are especially useful for people with HIV or AIDS). Lymphocytes, or white blood cells, appear to regulate wound healing. And studies have shown that T lymphocytes may play an important role in wound healing and scar formation. Babies and young children have naturally higher levels of lymphocytes than teenagers and adults. These higher lymphocyte levels could be one of the reasons why our skin healed with much less scarring when we were younger.

Several commercial scar reduction creams also contain castor oil (eg Scar Zone, Scar Repairex). However, they also contain more chemicals than they do castor oil!

Both Scar Zone and Scar Repairex lists castor oil as an ingredient

3. Castor Oil thickens eyelashes and eyebrows

Rub a little castor oil over the base of your eyelashes before bed. This prevents thinning and promotes rapid growth, leading to thicker and fuller lashes. In fact, many commercial products for eyelashes contain castor oil.

To thicken sparse eyebrows, rub a little castor oil over the brow line before bed.

4. Castor Oil prevents hair loss and regenerates hair

The anti-bacterial and anti-fungicidal properties of Ricinoleic Acid in castor oil protects the scalp and hair from infections which can cause hair loss. The Omega-9 fatty acids in castor oil also nourish the hair and prevent the scalp from drying.

Rubbing castor oil on your scalp and the roots of your hair will regenerate new hair growth within months. This will also thicken thinning hair.

5. Castor Oil keeps hair looking soft and shiny

Castor oil is a humectant as it draws moisture into the hair and skin. Applying castor oil on hair will keep it looking soft, shiny and strong.

6. Castor Oil softens thick calluses and removes corns

Castor oil application will soften any rough or thickened skin, including calluses and corns. To treat corns, apply castor oil over your feet and put cotton socks on before going to bed. (Incidentally, sleeping with castor oil socks on will also soothe painful heels and foot pain.)

7. Castor Oil cures skin infections like athlete’s foot and ringworm

Apply a castor oil soaked cloth on the affected area. If it is small enough, a bandaid with a few drops of castor oil can be used instead.

8. Castor Oil prevents stretch marks

Rub a small amount of castor oil over your stomach and thighs daily to prevent stretchmarks during pregnancy or periods of weight gain.

9. Castor Oil will remove moles and warts

Rub castor oil into moles or warts every night. The moles (or warts) will start to shrink over a few weeks, and continued use will eventually remove the mole without any scarring. Complete removal may take 2-3 months, but this slow healing will also ensure there is no “hole” in your skin. (The surgical removal of moles will often leave a hole where the mole was. This indentation can often be permanent.)

10. Castor Oil will remove age spots (liver spots)

Rub castor oil into your age spots every night. The age spot will lighten over time, and continued use will eventually remove the age spot completely.

Castor Oil's many forgotten uses (Part 1 - Medicinal)

Last updated on 17th September 2009

castor_oil_jug

These days, castor oil, like many of mother nature’s gifts are at best dismissed as an “alternative” therapy. However, castor oil has been used and recommended for its powerful medicinal and curative effects for centuries by physicians.

But as science and cynicism has replaced the desire to heal sickness with the desire to protect pharmaceutical profits, most of these valuable information has now been forgotten.

What is Castor Oil?

Castor oil is extracted from the seeds of the castor oil plant (ricinus communis). The seeds produce 1/4 of their weight in oil. The extracted oil is pale yellow and transparent. It has little taste or smell, and causes a slight burning in the throat when swallowed on its own.

When handling castor oil, be sure to protect your clothing or bedding from drips as castor oil can stain fabric irreversibly (although Arm & Hammer washing soda may help remove castor oil stains).

In Spanish, castor oil is called Aceite de Ricino or Aceite de Castor. In India, where the plant is native, it is called Erand Oil. It is known as Kharwa in Arabic. In China, it is known as Ma Hong Liang. It is known as Minyak Jarak in Indonesia.

Castor Oil use through the ages

There is evidence that it was cultivated in England as early as 1562 but castor oil use goes back even further. In ancient Rome, the castor oil plant was also called the Palma Christi, or the hand of Christ. 4,000 year-old castor bean seeds have been discovered in Egyptian tombs. Historical documents reveal that castor oil was used medicinally in Egypt, India, and China as well as Persia, Africa, Greece and Rome.

The Healing Properties of Castor Oil

While the castor bean contains toxins that make it poisonous, the oil has only trace amounts of those toxins and instead of poisoning the body, causes purgative effects instead. When rubbed into the skin, castor oil penetrates deeper than any other essential plant oils. Rubbing castor oil on the skin relieves pain, reduces inflammation, detoxifies the body and boosts lymphatic circulation.

Castor oil also contains Ricinoleic Acid, a very unusual fatty acid that can be found only in castor beans and ergot (a fungus). Ricinoleic Acid inhibits the growth of many bacteria, viruses, molds and yeasts. This is why castor oil has been known to work well on acne as well as other skin conditions like ringworm, keratoses, scars, and fungal infections. Read more about castor oil’s uses for beautiful, healthy skin and hair.

Many ailments can be cured with Castor Oil – but skepticism abounds

Castor Oil has many medicinal uses, including constipation (when taken internally), relief from pain, inflammation and stomach problems. It also has cosmetic uses and has been said to restore a youthful glow, and maintain smooth and supple skin.

Unfortunately, castor oil’s humble nature and its long list of medicinal uses generally cause people to view it with skepticism. It is also virtually unknown within the medical community or dismissed as a poison, which is unfortunate because so many take their cue from those folks in white coats. I personally think it is far too long that we have equated skepticism and cynicism with intelligence. There is much more to healing than what science can adequately explain.

1. Castor Oil is a mild and effective laxative

A half ounce of castor oil taken internally will have a quick and mild laxative effect, giving relief for constipation. To improve the taste, take the oil by floating in a glass of warm milk or mixing it with a fresh egg yolk.

2. Castor Oil expels tape worms and other intestinal worms

Castor oil taken internally has been documented to discharge tape worms successfully. Take a tablespoon of castor oil in a glass of warm milk in the morning and at night. The worms will be passed out of your system.

3. Castor Oil relieves arthritis, back pain and muscle aches

Castor oil can give immense relief from arthritis, back pain and general muscle aches.

You can improve its effectiveness by applying a cloth soaked in castor oil over the painful joint and covering it with plastic. Place a hot water bottle over this (this method is also known as a ‘castor oil pack’). The heat will help the castor oil to penetrate your inflamed tissues and joints.

4. Castor oil cures sleeplessness and insomnia

If you suffer from insomnia, rub a little castor oil over your eyelids before going to bed. Castor oil applied this way will bring about a feeling of deep relaxation for a peaceful slumber without the use of drugs.

5. Castor Oil treats skin infections

To treat small skin infections, apply a few drops of castor oil onto a plaster or bandaid and apply it over the area you wish to treat each day. For a larger skin infection, use a piece of clean cloth soaked in castor oil instead.

6. Castor Oil relieves stomachaches and colic in babies

To relieve stomachaches, warm some castor oil by rubbing it between your palms and massage this gently over the abdomen and the bellybutton area (the navel). This relieves stomach pain and helps to expel trapped gas. Castor oil used this way also helps relieve colic in newborns and helps them sleep.

7. Castor Oil alleviates period pain and menstrual cramps

You can similarly massage some hand-warmed castor oil over the lower abdomen to relieve period pain and menstrual cramping. Using the castor oil pack method over the lower abdomen can also help reduce menstrual irregularities and uterine and ovarian cysts.

8. Castor Oil shrinks swollen lymph nodes

Rub castor oil over the swollen lymph nodes each day and it will gradually shrink in size. Castor oil works by speeding up the circulation of the lymphatic system.

9. Castor Oil cures vaginal infections and urinary tract infections

Apply castor oil directly to the skin, and cover with a warm washcloth or hot water bottle for half an hour to an hour.

10. Castor Oil shrinks hemorrhoids

Soak a cotton ball with castor oil and apply it to the hemorrhoid. Lie down to do this. However, if the cotton ball stays in place, you can also walk around with a towel wrapped around your waist.

11. Castor Oil relieves gallbladder pain

Pain from gallstones can be relieved by using hot castor oil packs. Place a castor oil pack over the area to relieve pain from gallbladder attacks.

12. Castor Oil gives relief from painful feet

If you have the type of job where you’re standing on your feet the whole day, you can use castor oil to soothe your tired and aching feet. At the end of the day, simply massage some hand-warmed castor oil over your feet. You should feel immediate relief.

For greater comfort during the day, rub a generous amount of castor oil over your feet and put on cotton socks before leaving the house. You will experience greater comfort while standing on your feet or walking all day.

For severe foot pain, apply castor oil and cover your feet with socks before going to bed. Your foot pain should be gone by morning. (Using castor oil like this will also get rid of corns and soften thick calluses.)

A 1923 ad for Squibb's Castor Oil. The text reads: "A vitally important place in every home". Click to enlarge.

Documented case of castor oil being used successfully to expel tapeworms in 1828. Click to enlarge.

Cure ear infections with garlic

Last updated on 9th January 2010

garlicbulbandcloves If you’ve ever had an ear infection, you know how annoying it can be. Ear infections are usually accompanied by a low-grade fever. You might experience pain in one or both ears. Depending on the severity of your ear infection, you might feel:

slight discomfort in the ear while swallowing
some pain when relieving air pressure within the ears (this happens whenever your altitude is changing, e.g. going down an elevator of a high-rise, in an airplane that’s ascending or descending, driving down a mountainous area, etc.)
the feeling of a “bubble” popping in your ear, particularly when you lie down. The popping is usually very painful.

Ear infections treated by a doctor will usually involve a round of powerful antibiotics and ear drops. It usually takes more than a week to resolve severe cases.

In the event that you don’t have access to a doctor, there is an incredibly effective home remedy you can try – the humble garlic. I have used garlic to treat my own ear infections in the past, with great success.

What you’ll need: One clove of fresh garlic. Thick tissues or some thin cloth (you can just cut up an old cotton hankerchief)

How to do it: Chop the garlic into tiny pieces. They should be small enough to fit into your ear. Wrap a pinch of the finely chopped garlic into some thick tissue or cloth. Twist the end so that the garlic is encased tightly. Place the wrapped garlic securely in your ear (with the twisted end sticking out of your ear). You don’t need to shove it in deep, just place it securely enough that it doesn’t fall out when you tilt your head. For this to work, you only need the fumes of the garlic, not the actual garlic itself.

It’s best to do this right before you go to bed, so that the garlic fumes will work throughout the night while you sleep. It’s also a good idea to do it while you sleep for social reasons (people may not understand why you have stuck garlic in your ears!). This method works fairly quickly, and you should feel a lot less pain after a night with the garlic in your ears. For more severe cases, continue using the garlic a couple more nights to thoroughly kill the infection.

Why it works: Garlic is a powerful anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal ingredient. The power of garlic is such that even its fumes have been clinically proven to kill bacteria including Shigella flexneri (causes diarrhea), Salmonella typhi (causes typhoid), Shigella sonnei (causes bacillary dysentery), Aeromonas hydrophila (causes gastroenteritis, is very resistant and hard to kill) , Branhamella catarrhalis (causes bronchitis, sinusitis, and laryngitis) and Staphylococcus aureus (causes a wide a range of illnesses).