Castor Oil: A Closer Look

Castor oil plant



Proponents of social media believe it may enhance vision, decrease wrinkles, increase hair growth, and other benefits. But can it truly achieve all of that?

The health of the eyes:

TikTok videos show people rubbing castor oil over their eyelids in the hopes of enhancing their eyesight, eliminating eye floaters, or even treating cataracts or glaucoma. What if you get oil in your eyes? Some argue that it is even better.

However, there is no high-quality evidence that castor oil can enhance eye health, particularly in terms of curing cataracts or improving vision, according to Dr Yvonne Ou, an ophthalmologist at U.C.S.F. Health.

Some eye drops do contain castor oil as a lubricant, which can assist with dry eyes and, as a result, may lessen hazy vision, according to Dr Brissette. However, rather than the pure castor oil that individuals would acquire online, such products are produced with particular formulas intended for use in the eye.

And, if the oil isn't sterile, getting it in your eyes can lead to an infection, which can lead to a corneal ulcer (an open sore on the eye) or possibly blindness, she says.

If you get castor oil in your eyes and they are hot or painful, or your eyesight abruptly changes, she recommends seeking medical assistance.

Castor Oil effects on eyes and eyelashes


Tumours:

Some claim that castor oil may penetrate deep into the epidermis and that applying an oil-soaked compress to the location of a cyst or tumour (such as one caused by breast cancer) will help break it up.

However, Dr Jun Mao, chairman of integrative medicine at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, said he is unaware of any scientific data to support those assertions.

According to Dr Anna Shannahan, a family care specialist at Northwestern Care, using castor oil straight to your skin would most likely cause irritation. But don't expect castor oil to cure cancer, she warns.

"Assuming that was the situation, we'd likely be suggesting it significantly more," Dr Shannahan explained.

Labour:

The decades-old idea that ingesting castor oil might cause labour in pregnant women has some – albeit limited – proof. For example, in a modest 2022 review of papers, researchers determined that drinking roughly four tablespoons of castor oil efficiently softened and opened the cervix and induced labour.

However, most of the hype around castor oil and labour is based on anecdotal reports, as per Dr Monica Woll Rosen, an OB-GYN at the College of Michigan Clinical School. While it's plausible that it might induce labour in some people, physicians don't suggest it, she says, in part because drinking too much can produce intense nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea, which can lead to dehydration.




Castor oil

Constipation:

Castor oil is a liquid that is taken orally. Because it works swiftly, it is usually taken throughout the day.

Adults should take 15 millilitres of castor oil to relieve constipation. To conceal the flavour, place the castor oil in the cooler for essentially an hour to chill.

After that, combine it with a full glass of fruit juice. Flavoured castor oil formulations are also available.

Castor oil is really effective. Results should be visible within two to six hours of taking it. Since castor oil works so rapidly, it's anything but smart to take it before night like different purgatives. Castor oil, like any stimulating laxative, should not be used long-term. It can cause persistent constipation by lowering muscular tone in your intestines over time. Consult your doctor if your constipation persists.

Concerns about safety:

Castor oil is not suitable for everyone. It is not advised for pregnant women or persons with certain medical issues.

Castor oil is not suggested during pregnancy since it might cause the uterus to contract.

It is also not recommended for frequent usage in youngsters under the age of 12. If you want to offer castor oil to your child, consult with their paediatrician first.

Castor oil may aggravate gastrointestinal issues in persons over the age of 60 if consumed for an extended length of time. It can also cause a decrease in the quantity of potassium in your body.

If you take any of the following medications, you should avoid using castor oil:

antibiotics, especially tetracycline bone medications, diuretics, which can also reduce potassium levels in the body, blood thinners and cardiac medications.

Castor oil has a few adverse effects in addition to what many people believe to be a disagreeable taste. It can produce cramps and diarrhoea, just like other stimulant laxatives. It can also impair nutritional absorption in your intestines.

Hair and lash development:

Many proponents of castor oil claim that putting it on your eyelids or massaging it into your hair and scalp will promote eyelash and hair development, but no solid data supports this, according to Dr Angela Lamb, a dermatologist at Mount Sinai.

Dr Sheep accepts that castor oil might give dampness to the hair, making it less inclined to break and assisting it with developing longer, yet it's hard to say for sure without conclusive tests. "You would rather not say that since something hasn't been examined and demonstrated that it's not useful," she made sense of. Is castor oil good for hair growth?

According to Kunin, there is no proof that using castor oil on the scalp or hair can directly aid boost hair growth. Rather, castor oil can assist with hair improvement by implication, as Gaunitz indicates."It has numerous calming properties, including elevated degrees of omega 6 and 9s and vitamin E," he says. As a consequence, consistent use—especially when combined with other proven treatments accessible through a dermatologist or trichologist—can result in excellent hair growth outcomes, according to Gaunitz. However, it should not be depended on in every situation. While castor oil can aid with hair regeneration in persons suffering from inflammatory hair loss, it has little to no effect on severe male or female pattern hair loss or nutritional hair loss, he says.

Skincare:

Similarly, some people use castor oil on their skin to prevent and decrease wrinkles and dark circles under their eyes. According to Dr Shoshana Marmon, an associate professor of dermatology at New York Medical College, while it can help moisturise your skin, there is no evidence that it is an effective anti-ageing tool.

She also said it might have the unexpected impact of blocking your pores and aggravating acne.

According to Dr Marmon, navigating the various health and beauty claims flowing around the internet may take a lot of work. However, "sometimes," she said, "the science just isn't there."

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