CASTOR OIL, ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT

What is castor oil made from. What is important to know before using castor oil.

INNA CODRU , SEPTEMBER 24, 2018

Surely many of you have heard of castor oil. In addition to its medicinal uses, this versatile oil and its derivatives are also an important ingredient in many of the products we use in our daily lives.

Castor oil is an ingredient in many lubricants, brake and hydraulic fluids, paints, soaps, inks, cold-resistant plastics, coatings, waxes, and more. Perhaps it's time to learn more about this oil and its origins.

Castor oil is obtained from the fruit of the castor bean. It is part of the Euphorbiaceae family, which includes the cassava plant, Barbados walnut, Hevea brazilian (a major source of natural rubber), and others. Currently, castor beans are grown all year round in almost all regions of the world, with the exception of cold regions. Depending on the climate in which it is grown, the plant may vary in size. In temperate zones, it reaches an average height of 2.5-3 meters. In the tropics, the plant can grow up to 12 meters in height. It should also be noted that the plant itself is toxic and precautions must be taken when handling it.

Castor oil, today, is part of traditional medicine in the treatment of many types of diseases. It has been used for generations as a laxative. The main component of the oil is ricinoleic acid, a higher fatty acid that has anti-inflammatory properties.

As stated earlier, castor oil can be toxic in large amounts. Therefore, it is important to exercise caution when using it. In addition, due to its toxicity, medical experts recommend that it be used only for external use.

CHARACTERISTICS OF CASTOR PLANTS

The plant can reproduce both through cross-pollination and through self-pollination, since male and female flowers are located on the same plant. Although it has a certain level of toxicity, such a plant is often used as an ornamental plant due to its beautiful appearance. But most often it is grown for seeds, from which castor oil is extracted.

Leaves . The leaves of the plant are large, and their length can reach from 12 to 35 centimeters. And in those plants that receive more attention, the leaves can grow up to almost 60 centimeters in length. The color of the leaves can be red or purple, or various shades of green.

Flowers . The flowers of the castor plant are arranged in spike-shaped inflorescences, and each can have a length of 10 to 50 centimeters. The plant, as we mentioned, can produce flowers of different sexes, which promotes self-pollination. Or it can expand its DNA base through cross-pollination.

The female flowers are at the top of the inflorescence and range in size from 1 to 2.5 cm. The flower ovary consists of three leaves with a protruding pistil designed to collect the pollen needed for fertilization. Male flowers are much larger and can be 25 to 30 cm long. They are located at the bottom of the inflorescence. The flower also has its own petals, which can be up to 12 centimeters long, as well as cups.

There is a misconception about why the plant was called Castor. Some think that this name comes from the Latin name for beavers (Castor). In fact, castor plants have nothing to do with these animals.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO USE CASTOR OIL

Castor oil has had its fair share of bad reviews mainly because it hasn't been used correctly. For example, recently castor oil has been used in some products to promote hair growth. For some, these procedures, for subjective reasons, went awry, resulting in them losing more hair on their head or eyebrows than before using the product. It was supposed to be a miracle cure, and the unpleasant side effects that came to light were partly due to a reaction to castor oil.

Castor oil may have its benefits, but it also comes with its own side effects. It is strongly recommended that you read the safety precautions before deciding to purchase and use such a product.

One can only sympathize with those who have used castor oil and experienced its side effects. Therefore, try to find out in advance the reaction of your body to castor oil, consult your doctor. But such cases should not prevent a person from resorting to natural remedies to improve the appearance of their hair or skin, as well as improve their health. Just remember that natural remedies are no doubt useful, but sometimes they can be very dangerous.

Due to the high viscosity of castor oil, its mass production was oriented more towards industrial purposes. This property also makes the oil a good moisturizer and emollient in many homemade masks, creams, and ointments. It is this ingredient that helps to gently soften and relax the skin. Sounds perfect, of course, but there are some potential risks associated with using this oil for healing (both short-term and long-term use).

Recent research findings related to castor oil are prompting many to investigate the risks associated with its use. There are many articles about such risks. Please read them before deciding to start using this product. Here are some facts that can help you make the right decision:

Use castor oil in short term treatment . The use of castor oil for treatment is only recommended for acute cases and never for chronic ones. A good example of such an acute or short term treatment is the use of tea tree oil in the treatment of acne. The antiseptic properties of this oil are very strong. But prolonged use of tea tree oil can cause severe dry skin.

The same goes for castor oil. The desire to get "immediately and more" benefits from the continuous use of castor oil can cause serious skin problems. The skin needs to get used to the castor oil. Gradually use this oil for about 7 days. The desire to resolve skin problems faster by applying too much castor oil can lead to poor results.

Any ingredient can become a possible irritant . There is one incorrect assumption that the use of natural ingredients cannot cause any harm to a person. On the contrary, many of them are considered strong allergens. In addition to castor oil, baking soda, lemon essential oil, tea tree oil, clove essential oil, and bee pollen can be added to this group. But nevertheless, most of them are used to treat acute, moderate or chronic diseases. A patch test on the inside of your arm will help determine if you will have any skin reaction to such ingredients. If there is no reaction, treatment can be started.

The combination of these substances can also cause a problem, meaning that the above ingredients that have already been excluded as allergens may react differently when used with another substance. To minimize all of these reactions, especially if there are any, be sure to dilute essential oils with a carrier oil, especially when used for skin treatments. If you do not know how to do this, consult a beautician or aromatherapist.

Topical use of castor oil is unlikely to cause indigestion . When a person ingests castor oil, it is likely to cause side effects, the most notable of which is irritation of the small intestine. When applied topically, castor oil will not have the same effect, although some argue that topical ointments can affect the human digestive system, as the oil must penetrate deep into the protective layers of the skin. Again, most doctors doubt this claim because many of those who have applied castor oil topically directly to their stomachs claim that they have had no bowel problems.

Some castor oil seeds may contain a toxin that is fatal . Many people think this is true. The seeds contain a very strong toxin known as ricin . You may have heard of this poison because it is a military ingredient. There is still a discussion about the continuous presence of ricin in castor oil seeds. Some sources report that once the oil has been extracted from the seed, the toxin remains in the bean pulp and not in the oil. Moreover, the toxin is deactivated in the process of heat release.

It depends on the manufacturer of castor oil how your body reacts to this oil . Be careful when buying castor oil. It is recommended to choose a reliable brand. Remember the cases listed above, when the hair on the head and on the eyebrows fell out badly? It may not have been caused by the castor oil itself, but by some of the additives or preservatives the manufacturer used (such as grape seed extract) that caused the reaction.

Castor oil does not have a strong aroma, and in order to overcome this "flaw", many brands tend to add additives and flavors to make their product more attractive. It can be assumed that the use of just such low-quality castor oil causes a negative reaction. Always check the product label to make sure the product you are buying is castor oil and nothing more, unflavored. If you need additional product safety insurance, look online for reviews.

Many people claim that cold pressed castor oil is the best . When buying castor oil, make sure it's labeled "cold pressed". Many of these oils may have a label, but some manufacturers tend to heat the oil multiple times. Performing this process reduces the beneficial properties of the oil, but at the same time kills all the dangerous toxins present in the oil. When heated, the oil loses its toxicity. If this is the case, then it is better to use modern methods of heat treatment. In addition, choosing GMO-free or organic oils will reduce any possible adverse skin reactions that such additives and pesticides can cause.

Negative skin reactions are usually subjective . There are many reviews about the benefits of using castor oils. Some are good, some are bad. For example, there are some benefits to using castor oil for hair, but using castor oil on the skin is something that requires separate research. There are currently no serious studies on the topical benefits of this oil. If that were the case, those who lost their eyebrows 😃 could avoid it. When using homemade cosmetic products, a person can control what he plans to apply to his body. Before using any prescriptions, be sure to read the correct instructions to avoid any serious consequences.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT CASTOR OIL

People can search the internet for all the information they need about the castor bean plant, its seeds, and castor oil. Include in this search - the benefits the oil has to offer, as well as any side effects from using it. Also learn about the precautions to be taken when using castor oil. Here are the most frequently asked questions about castor oil:

What is castor oil?

Castor oil itself is composed of triglycerides, and the main acid it contains is ricinoleic acid. It is a type of monounsaturated fatty acid that has anti-inflammatory properties. Other acids found in castor oil are linoleic and oleic acids.

Which countries produce the best castor oil?

The main producers of castor oil, which occupy the bulk of the market, are Brazil, China and India.

Do castor oil masks have any side effects?

The answer is no, even if there are, they are almost invisible, compared to when the oil gets inside. Ingestion of castor oil is primarily used to relieve inflammation, detoxify the liver, and stimulate the thyroid gland, and may benefit those suffering from hypothyroidism. The process of creating a mask is quite simple. One can start by soaking a piece of cloth, usually flannel, in castor oil, placing a heating pad on it, and applying this remedy directly to the affected area for one hour. It's simple!

Is castor oil safe for the eyes?

According to some estheticians, applying castor oil around the eyes can cause minor discomfort, although exposure to such areas is usually not harmful. When used correctly, this oil is very good for the skin around the eyes . But if it is abused, it can dry out the skin too much, since the skin around the eyes is considered delicate. One of the benefits of castor oil is that it is great for improving the condition of eyelashes and eyebrows.

What is the shelf life of castor oil?

It has a certain expiration date and a great way to find out if your oil is still usable is a visual inspection. When the oil is in good condition, it is usually clean without any cloudiness. It has color variations from golden to light straw color. However, if it has already turned dark brown, then it's time to get rid of it. Another feature of quality oil, it should have only a very faint smell.

Can castor-zinc ointments cause side effects?

Castor oil and its derivatives are one of the most popular medicines due to their antiseptic properties, and are used in preparations to combat rashes in young children. However, such an ointment should not be used for people with peanut allergies. The same goes for those who suffer from soy allergies.

What is hydrogenated castor oil and what is it used for?

Hydrogenated castor oil is formed by bubbling hydrogen into the oil. We also refer to this product as castor wax. Derived from castor oil, this product is mainly used as an ingredient in cosmetics, polishes, coatings, petrochemicals, and lubricants.

How does castor oil work to relieve itching?

Castor oil has antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties. They can help treat an itchy scalp. Making an ointment that will help get rid of the problem is quite simple. Just mix a tablespoon of castor oil and olive oil, plus the juice squeezed from half a lemon. Apply this to your hair, then wash off after an hour. As an added bonus, the mixture can also cure dandruff.