Castor oil: description and use

About castor oil, probably, is known to all. This is a cheap but very effective remedy that has found wide application in anti-aging cosmetology, trichology, and medicine. This product helps to fight many diseases, and in addition, it is indispensable for cleansing the human body and getting rid of excess weight.

This may seem strange, but the nourishing and healthy oil is extracted from the most dangerous in the opinion of the Guinness Book of Records in the world of the plant - castor beans. This culture got its name due to the similarity of seeds with a dangerous parasite - tick. Castor bean grows all over the world, and in hot tropical climates it grows for many years, remaining evergreen. In our latitudes, this is an annual plant that does not tolerate low temperatures.

The castor is cultivated by man for more than four thousand years, in ancient chronicles it is often referred to as “the palms of Christ” because the leaves look like a fully open palm of an adult, and the sap of this plant contributes to the fastest possible healing of ulcerations and purulent wounds on the skin.

In the seeds of the plant there is the strongest poison - ricin, but you should not be afraid of it. - during the processing of raw materials all the poisons remain after pressing in the cake, and the oil itself becomes completely harmless.

Since ancient times, castor oil has been used as a healing and cosmetic highly effective agent. So, back in the 5th c. BC e. its medicinal properties were described by Herodotus, and also the mention of the plant is contained in the most ancient medical “document” - Papyrus Ebers.

Oil was widely used even in ancient Egypt - there was fried food on it, and besides, they consecrated temples. By the way, in the provinces of China it is now often used in cooking.

Castor oil is a clear yellowish liquid or completely colorless. It is a non-drying product that begins to thicken on contact with air, but, nevertheless, does not form a film on the surface. Its density is 691 kg / m3, which determines the exceptional viscosity of the product. Get the product by the method of cold or hot pressing, the first option is preferable, because it allows you to fully preserve all the healing properties of the plant. In therapy and pharmaceuticals use refined composition, and the lighter the oil, the higher its quality.

Castor can be mixed with absolute alcohol, acetic acid, ether and chloroform. It dissolves well in ethanol, does not oxidize when interacting with oxygen, and solidification occurs only at a temperature of 16 degrees Celsius - in this case, the viscous liquid turns into a pasty mass of whitish color.

Hydrogenated oil is prone to rancidity, its shelf life does not exceed 24 months, and it should be stored in a tightly closed container in a dry and cool place, where ultraviolet rays do not penetrate.

After opening the oil, it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 6 months.

It should be borne in mind that cosmetic oil can not be consumed inside, it can cause poisoning, vomiting and indigestion.

Both types of oils are most often produced in China, Brazil and India, with America becoming the main consumer according to statistics.

In the pharmacy network and large retailers Castor oil is available in several forms.

1. Oils for internal use - in this case, it is sold in dark-colored glass containers packed in 30 or 50 ml. The cost of such a product according to the data of 2017 was about 75-85 rubles.
2. Cosmetic oil - sold in glass bottles of 30 or 50 ml. Its cost is slightly lower - about 50-60 rubles.
3. Capsule form - in this case, each capsule includes 500 or 1000 mg of castor oil, while the average cost of the product varies greatly depending on the brand and manufacturer. The minimum check is 250 rubles.

Castor seed, as we have already mentioned, contains ricin, which is a highly toxic substance, therefore, the collection and processing of castor bean often carries risks for the life and health of collectors, which often suffer from unpleasant side effects. That is why science is tirelessly trying to find another source of all these essential for the body acids, but so far no alternative has been found.

Some researchers tried to grow a genetically modified plant, but this search was also unsuccessful.

To avoid the risk of poisoning, the composition of produced castor oil is strictly regulated by regulations, in particular, GOST 6757-96.

80-95% of castor oil consists of ricinolic acid, due to which the product is considered to be a particularly valuable chemical raw material. The content of other acids is minimal. So, oleic is only 2%, linoleic - 1%, and the share of stearic and palmitic accounts for no more than 0.5%.

In addition, the product contains high concentration of oil vitamins A and E.

In an adult, castorca is exposed to enzymes and is broken down into acid and fat-soluble glycerin. It is these substances that stimulate the nervous receptors of the stomach and intestines, thereby stimulating its enhanced peristalsis. This is the reason for the well-known laxative effect of oil consumption.

Castor oil is commonly used in the appointment of diets, because the product has the ability to effectively clean the digestive tractand also to remove from the body all slags and toxins accumulated there over the years, as well as the stool that has stagnated inside the intestine. Together with them, the organism is left by pathogenic microorganisms, and in addition, the general well-being of the person using it is normalized.

The use of castorca causes an improvement in the metabolic processes in the body, which most favorably affects the appearance of a person. All dangerous stagnant substances go away, and this affects the general well-being quite strongly, as well as the work of all internal systems and organs.

For a long time, castor oil was prescribed for the treatment of purulent wounds, severe burns and ulcers.because it stimulates tissue regeneration and nourishes the skin. That is why the product often becomes a key component of healing ointments, in particular, the well-known Vishnevsky ointment. In addition, the product is used to treat places of insect bites - the oil effectively relieves itching and pain.

The minimum dosage of castor oil is often prescribed for the treatment of bronchopulmonary diseases, it is buried in the eye to improve visual acuity, with the appearance of cuttings and redness.

Athletes often take castor oil because it helps them build muscle.

Castor oil is often used for cosmetic purposes in case of serious problems with the skin of the face, hands, head, as well as overweight.

The remedy derived from castor helps to successfully deal with a variety of skin problems, it is especially effective for such unpleasant phenomena as the formation of papillomas, the appearance of black spots and acne, but especially often it is recommended for pronounced age-related skin changes.

Castor has the ability to suspend the aging process - this effect is due to the unique combination of acids in the composition of the funds that penetrate deep into the epidermis, nourish the tissues and cells, stimulating tissue regeneration and the appearance of radiance and youthful skin. According to reviews, the constant use of masks from castor oil allows you to stop the skin wilting for the next 5-9 years.

Castor oil is very successful in fighting acne.To clean the pores and improve the appearance and condition of the skin, it is necessary to steam out the face, and after the pores have fully opened, you need to apply castor oil on the face, paying special attention to the problem areas. After a few hours, remove the remaining oil and rinse your face with cold water to reduce pores.

Treatment of papillomas with castor oil avoids surgery. To carry out the necessary procedures is quite simple - you just need to put the product on the papilloma or wart and gently massage it for a quarter of an hour. The procedure is repeated daily until the complete disappearance of the formation.

Women especially appreciate castor oil for the effect its use has on hair. The product stimulates the awakening of hair follicles, which emit new hairs, and in addition, the oil reduces the segmentation of the hair, improves their color and structure, making the hairstyle more radiant and silky.

To activate hair growth, as a rule, use a mixture of castor and burdock oils. It is noticed that before the procedure and after the hair looks completely different. In order to notice the transformation, it is necessary to mix 20 g each of the products, heat and rub into the scalp, and then leave it under a warming cap for a couple of hours.

Castor oil is often used to improve the growth of eyebrows and eyelashes. In this case, it is applied in its pure form.

Castor oil for future mothers is irreplaceable and simply necessary. It is no secret that in late pregnancy many women face difficulties in defecation, since the intestines are squeezed with the growth of the fetus, which leads to the oppression of its motility. In this situation, conventional drugs are not recommended, because they can be a danger to the future of the crumbs, which is why preference should be given to such a product as castor oil. Gynecologists recommend using the product in the form of capsules. Castor helps gently adjust the work of the intestines, however, the use of the drug is allowed only by appointment of the observing gynecologist and in strict accordance with the prescribed dosages.

Castor oil is considered to be a good preparation that allows for deep cleaning of the body, it saves blood vessels from salt deposits, and also helps the intestine get rid of all the accumulated food processing products.

The high effectiveness of the oil can be seen in the treatment of arthritis. With this pathology, it causes a strong anesthetic and anti-inflammatory effect. The tool is often recommended also for problems with joints and ligaments.

Obviously, the drug belongs to the means with a wide spectrum of action, so it must be constantly present in the home medicine chest.

Castor oil therapy is prohibited for children under 12 years of age. It is also not recommended to use castorca as a laxative in cases where the causes of constipation are not known, since sometimes the pathology can be too severe and require serious treatment up to surgical intervention. That is why, with frequent pains in the intestines and severe constipation, it is necessary to start to go to a medical institution for a full examination, and only then decide on the use of certain medicines, and, in particular, castor oil.

It is not recommended to use oil in case of poisoning with antiparasitic and fat-soluble drugs.

Expectant mothers can use castor oil only in the third trimester, in earlier periods, it can provoke preterm labor.

Despite the wide range of therapeutic effects, castor oil can be strictly metered, otherwise you can face such consequences as diarrhea, dehydration, imbalance of salts and minerals. In addition, castorca can cause addiction to the tool and weaken the effectiveness of other laxative drugs.

Regular external use of castor oil can not only improve the condition of the skin of the face, but also effectively deal with stretch marks on the skin, which has sagged after losing weight. Means relieves scars and age spots. To achieve the desired effect, it is necessary to rub the castor oil into problem areas every night or make warm compresses. To prepare them, pour a spoonful of castorca into a glass of water and place cotton cloth there, waiting for it to completely soak. Rag squeeze and put on face for half an hour. The effect is not noticeable immediately, but after a month you can see that wrinkles are reduced, and the complexion becomes more aligned.

Effective joint use of castor oil with kefir, yogurt, and for hair it is often used with pepper.

For internal use use special types of castor oil, intended for reception with food. If you drink cosmetic castor oil, then most often it causes nausea and severe vomiting.

Adults are encouraged to give preference to the product in gelatin capsules, while the daily dose should not exceed 20-30 g.

If you plan to clean up with the help of castor oil, then you need to establish a castor diet for yourself for a couple of weeks. - for this, the oil is taken at the rate of 1 ml per kilogram of human weight, warmed up and quickly drunk in one gulp, if desired, you can drink the product with a mixture of water and lemon juice. In this case, the laxative and cleansing effect will be felt no sooner than a couple of hours after ingestion.

But to get rid of extra pounds use a slightly different recipe - to do this, prepare a drink from the oil with the addition of fresh juice from lemon or orange juice, with 1.5 ml of oil and 2 ml of fresh juice being taken for each kg of body weight.

If you take castor oil to get rid of extra pounds, then to prepare a fat-burning agent, the oil is mixed with orange juice or grapefruit, so that for every kilogram of body weight there is 2 ml of juice and 1 ml of oil. They drink this drink in the evening, at 18-19 hours, and after that they do not eat anything.

As a laxative take 20-30 ml of castor oil or 15-20 capsules at a time. Write them better milk or tea with ginger.

For burns, the oil is mixed with soda and the damaged area is treated 3-4 times a day.

To get rid of corns, you should steam your feet and brush with oil, then put on warm socks and do not take off all night.

Oil perfectly heals the umbilical wound in newborns, they process the anus for cracks and hemorrhoids, and it also relieves scars.

Kleshcheveina well established itself in the fight against colds.

With a strong cough, oil is mixed with turpentine and rub the chest area, as well as the area between the shoulder blades. When otitis, castor oil is instilled into the ears 1 drop twice a day, and with sinus 3 drops in each nostril. If you are too carried away with vasoconstrictor drugs and have over-dried the nasal mucosa, you can lubricate the inner area near the wings with oil, and after a few minutes you will feel a noticeable relief. Keep in mind that treating children younger than 3 years old in this way is not recommended.

For cosmetic purposes, castor oil is mixed with burdock and sea buckthorn oil in equal volumes and applied to cleansed skin for half an hour, after which the remnants are washed off and rinsed with warm water.This composition is great for removing signs of fatigue on the face.

At the first age changes, you can use a different composition: a little oatmeal is poured with warm milk, honey and castor oil are added and the whole mask is applied on the face for 40 minutes. The procedure is repeated every 3 days with a course of at least one month.

Castor oil has always been present in the first-aid kit of our mothers and grandmothers, but now the tool is undeservedly forgotten, but in vain. Everyone who used them for cosmetic purposes, gives only the most positive reviews. Castor oil has the most favorable effect on the body - it perfectly strengthens hair, as well as eyebrows and eyelashes. Oil in the composition of the masks helps to even out the complexion, improve skin condition and remove small wrinkles. Many put castor oil on her hands, she removes all peeling and irritations well, makes skin tender, softening even the area on the elbows.

Castor oil can be used to heal wounds. - even the deepest damage is delayed quickly and without such unpleasant consequences as suppuration and inflammation. Indian castorca is especially popular - it is believed that it is much more effective than all the others.

As for domestic use, when eating edible oil, some note discomfort in the intestine. This is quite understandable - the drug is very active, because when it is taken it is allowed only on doctor's prescription, strictly in the indicated dosages and in accordance with the instructions for use. Castor has a number of serious contraindications, so any thoughtless therapy can lead to poisoning and significantly worsen the course of the disease.

If castor oil gets into your eyes, rinse with plenty of running water.

How to apply castor oil, see the next video.