Castor Oil
Health Benefits

Unlock Castor Oil Benefits: Guide to Hair Growth, Pain Relief, & More!

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.

Beautiful Skin

14 User Reviews
5 star (14) 
  100%

Posted by Olivia (Brooklyn, New York) on 06/23/2008
★★★★★

I had hated castor oil for many years because growing up in South America it was a quarterly cleansing ritual by my mother and many others. This website has helped me to see castor oil in a new way. I have been applying it occasionally to my face at night. Every time I do so, I absolutely love the way I look in the morning. My skin looks toned and fresh. Yesterday I attended a function and saw a woman whom I had not seen for about two years. She kept saying "you have to tell me what you are doing, you look ten years younger. I have also been doing facial exercises. She asked her daughter for my number because she said she is determined to find out what I had done to my face. Many people were in the room and she was quite vocal so I just replied that I had been taking care of myself. I will tell her privately. I think the castor oil definitely helped my skin plus the facial exercises helped tone the muscles under the skin. I used to hate the mirror, now I glance at it ever so often. Thanks for the castor oil tip.

Replied by Christelle
(Windhoek, Namibia)
10/05/2010

Will this caster oil not give you blackheads?

Replied by Len
(Seattle, Wa)
06/11/2011
★★★★★

No--the castor oil will not clog your pores. In fact, it has made my pores clearer and smaller. I was very leery about using an oil on my face (I thought I'd break out terribly) but after the first application, I realized that it helped get rid of any blemishes or inflammations not caused them. And I have less clogged pores.

Replied by Mary
(Saskatchewan, Canada)
02/27/2014

To Mama To Many: Hi, does the castor oil make you break out? Do you mix it with anything? Thanks

Replied by Mama To Many
(Tennessee, Usa)
02/28/2014
★★★★★

Dear Mary,

I have not had trouble with castor oil causing any type of skin outbreak on me or my family members. We have used it on faces, necks, backs, feet, etc, with no problem. When I use it on my face, sometimes I put a few drops of Rosemary Essential Oil into it (a few drops in an ounce of Castor Oil.) But lately I have just used it plain. (At first I had added the Rosemary because I didn't care for the smell of castor oil, but I guess now I am used to it.) Sometimes I mix castor oil into homemade salves or oil blends for various purposes...I have mixed it with olive oil, coconut oil, and/or almond oil. I have always been happy with castor oil however I have used it.

I hope it will work well for what you need, as well.

~Mama to Many~

Replied by Katzie
(Calgary)
02/07/2016

Castor Oil will not give you blackheads. I regularly use it when I have pimples that have not come to a head yet. I simply rub a dab of the oil into it and then it stops the pimple from forming and it goes away. I never use the oil on a pimple with a head, however, as it causes the pimple to collapse and leaves a small red mark, like the pimple was squeezed or popped. However, on big, red and sore "erupting volcano" zits, Castor Oil stops them dead in their tracks, every time.

Replied by Nic
(Wisconsin, USA)
01/02/2021

I realize you posted many years ago. I'm hoping you subscribe to comments and will see this. What facial exercises do you use? Thanks :)


Beautiful Skin
Posted by Brooke (Montgomery, TX) on 03/02/2008
★★★★★

I have religiously used castor oil for over 22 years on my face. About three times per week, I put it on my face and neck and go to sleep! It has continually given me a fresh look, and I have no wrinkles. I also rub it on my elbows and knees. I wash my face with Dr. Bronners Castile Almond soap. The castor oil is a little thick, but keep on trying it. You will get used to it.


Beautiful Skin
Posted by Evita (Chiba City, Japan) on 09/07/2007
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Castor Oil removes crows feet and wrinkles on the forehead. Mine is not about illness or disease being cured by the castor oil packs. Mine is more of a mundane matter that concerns women about their facial beauty. The tale tell signs (wrinkles) that gives a woman sleepiness nights, avoids facing the mirrors yet counting out the crows feet and how many more lines crisscrossing the forehead. i advise my facial rituals to anybody who is interested to try and apply this very simple application.

Firstly....wash your face with lukewarm water. gently soap the forehead and around the eyes area. Wipe the face with clean towel and let it dry for a few minute. second... into your palm pour a little amount of castor oil. Dab a little amount of oil into the forehead enough to cover the whole area and massage. repeat the ritual around your eyes and be sure the crow's feet get enough of the ointment. If after the massage , you skin is still oily, just press the area with a soft facial tissue. Do not wipe off the ointment.

Do this ritual every night before bedtime, once a day only. It makes you look 15 years younger and you can save money by avoiding botox implants.


Bells Palsy

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Virginia (Cushing, OK) on 08/08/2007
★★★★★

I successfully used castor oil packs for Bells Palsy which my co- worker contracted. I was beginning to have double vision and my eyes were inflamed. I used the pack on both eyes one hour nightly for 3 nights but the directions called for 4 nights. Well, I got busy and didn't do the 4th night and the symptoms returned until I completed the 4 nights in a row...No more problem at all.

Also, for me the packs are a great pain reliever. I used just the castor oil right on my cheek when I had an infected tooth. Still had to go to a dentist but CO stopped the pain immediately!

Also, used it to remove a wart on my son's toe. Each night applied CO put a sock on him until the wart was gone which was less than a week.


Burns, Serious

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Sharon (Redding, California) on 08/26/2008
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

My daughter sunburned the shins on both legs. They had 3rd-degree burns. Big yellow blisters. She could walk for about 3 days. I was told by an elderly man to soak gauze in Castor Oil and wrap her legs with the gauze and leave it for 3 days. The next day my daughter was able to walk. The 3rd day I removed the gauze and she was healed. Blisters gone. Her legs we just a shade pink. It left no scars. Awesome stuff.


Calcified Bursa

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by K.C. (Portland, Oregon) on 06/25/2007
★★★★★

I had a calcified bursa on my right shoulder that had become so painful that, after six months of physical therapy, it was no better and I was scheduled for cortisone shots. I did not want them because of the immuno-suppressant tendency of cortisone. One night I had the impression to try a castor oil pack on it, just out of the blue. So I did. I wrapped my shoulder and underarm (after washing it) and left the pack on all night. In the morning the problem was 95% better. I did it four more nights and have not had the problem since. About five years now.

Replied by Marisa
(San Diego)
11/19/2017

Do you think this post from 2007 used a heating pad with it all night?

Replied by Ali
(Wales)
03/01/2018

Heat can help, but most people are pretty snuggly warm in bed at night so it is not strictly necessary.


Candida

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Mandandi (Gaborone, Botswana) on 05/08/2015
★★★★★

I have been fighting candida overgrowth since Jan 2014. Tough battle, but I believe I am now winning it.

I have blended two bundles (not cloves, whole thing) with various green vegetables, used apple cider vinegar mixed with aloe vera juice(1 cup of each) on my skin, taken 1/4 of each of these twice a day: borax, bicarbonate of soda and Epsom salts.

I also did the herbal enemas adding a tablespoon to half a cup of these: apple cider vinegar and aloe vera juice; 10 drops of hydrogen peroxide as well as a cup of whey liquid to repopulate bacteria in my gut.

All these have worked, albeit with severe die-off effects. That's not discouraging tho. I noticed that the soda gives me high blood pressure, so I drank ginger tea or other herbs that lower blood pressure available locally, once or twice a day to lower the blood pressure.

Lately, I have added castor oil to the regime, applying it on the skin and taking it orally ( 3 tablespoons castor oil plus one teaspoon of either coconut or olive oil once a week). Candida is definitely going away now. I feel so much better. My tongue has finally been pink for the whole afternoon since I was in my teens! I have more energy, less pain in my body though the die-off is still there mildly. Castor oil is very strong against candida. Even applying it on the skin diluted with coconut and lavender oils produced die-off symptoms(Mixed 50ml of each into a separate bottle). I used the latter two for a year with no die-off symptoms at all. I apply the mixed oils on the skin in the morning, and apply castor oil on its own each evening.

I use all these at the moment. I know there is candida protocol suggested by Ted, but I could not find some of the suggested ingredients so I used what I could find locally since cash flow is not so good. These ingredients are relatively cheap locally. I used tap water due to cash flow problems, but also collected rain water now and then for use.

Replied by Nicole
(Chantilly, Va)
06/29/2016

Hi ...great post and I will try what worked for you for candida. I was just wondering what you meant by "I have blended two bundles (not cloves, whole thing).., ". Are you saying you blended 2 bundles of whole cloves ...?


Castor Oil Application Tips

2 User Reviews
5 star (2) 
  100%

Posted by Medbear (Martinez, Ca/USA) on 05/24/2012
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I use absorbant pads which have an absorbant side & a non-absorbant plastic other side. Apply oil directly to area or to absorbant pad, then place pad on area & heat pad to plastic non-absorb side. I treated a leg problem & wrapped the pad & taped edges. Then applied pad & secured it with rubber band or string. I buy the pads from the dog store or dog supply area of a store as I assume the pads for humans are more expensive. They are usually called indoor training pads & come in various sizes. Price for 50 is about $10US. I don't like wasting the oil, so I keep it refrigerated which thickens it up, then apply directly to skin area. They make perfect wraps for those areas needing a wrap versus a flat application for which they are also good.

Replied by Katzie
(Calgary)
05/21/2021
★★★★★

I just wanted to chime in and say this idea was brilliant! I was on vacation and used this emergency remedy - and it works! Thanks so much for sharing that tip.


Castor Oil Pack Use During Pregnancy

Posted by Robyn (Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada) on 09/24/2013

I'm wondering if it's safe to use a castor oil pack on my face to relieve Bell's Palsy symptoms, also, I'm 18 weeks pregnant. I read on this site not to use castor oil during pregnancy, or did they mean not to ingest it during pregnancy?

Replied by Mama To Many
(Tennessee, Usa)
09/24/2013

Dear Robyn,

Correct, you wouldn't want to ingest castor oil in pregnancy. Some ladies who are overdue use it to induce labor, which is why it isn't recommended in pregnancy. It gets the bowels going and I guess everything else! Also, later in pregnancy, you wouldn't want to use a castor oil pack anywhere near the baby (like over your liver or gall bladder) because apparently, the castor oil soaks in and could even soak in to the baby, causing it to release meconium, which is not safe for baby. It is also not recommended to use it to detox the liver (using packs on the liver) because no detox is considered wise during pregnancy or breastfeeding, because you are releasing toxins, which could get to the baby.

But, you are talking about using a castor oil pack on your face. This is external and not near the baby. I am assuming it would be for pain relief and inflammation reduction. Personally, I would be okay with that for myself, but not sure I would recommend it to someone else. Castor oil used to be in make-up, might still be, and is in some hair treatments. To my knowledge, these things are not contraindicated during pregnancy.

Hope that gives you some information to make a wise decision.

Another thing you could try for your Bell's Palsy is Peppermint/St. John's Wort, externally. You could make a strong tea of equal parts of both and soak a cloth in it and put on your face for 15 minute intervals. Both are good herbs for healing the nerves and peppermint has been helpful to others with Bell's Palsy.

Hydrotherapy is another safe option for you. You would alternate warm and cool packs on your face. The warm brings circulation to the spot and the cool reduces inflammation. It is a surprisingly helpful therapy. You would alternate a cool cloth and a warm cloth (not to the point of uncomfortable, though) Warm for a few minutes, cold for 1. Alternate several times, ending with cool.

I hope you find relief soon! Congratulations on your baby!

~Mama to Many~

Replied by Maria
(Germany)
10/25/2016

Hello Dear Mama to Many,

One of my friends is 8 week pregnant. Her left breast was very sore and painful before getting pregnant but now is more painful and hurting. She is also feeling pain underarm and neck.I thought she has clogged lymph system advised her to massage castor oil on neck, underarm and on breast. She has gotten big relief and all her pain has gone away but now I read castor oil is not safe during pregnancy. So far I have stopped her further use of castor oil on her breast but she is afraid if pain starts again what she will do. Please tell us what she should do in this condition.

Replied by Mama To Many
(Tennessee)
10/25/2016

Dear Maria,

My understanding is that castor oil is not to be used internally during pregnancy, because of its laxative effect (which can also cause contractions) or as a pack over the abdomen in pregnancy because it can cause the baby to have a bowel movement (though that would only be late in pregnancy) and because detoxing the liver in pregnancy is not a good idea.

All that said, at 8 weeks pregnant and on the breast, I don't know of a reason it would be contraindicated. For me, I would consider castor oil to be one of the safest treatments for the swollen lymph nodes in that area, even in pregnancy.

~Mama to Many~

Replied by Maria Khan
(Germany)
10/26/2016

Dear Mama to many,

Thank you so much for your early reply. Now I am in peace. I told my friend that she can use castor oil only topically during pregnancy she is also very happy because she got such a tremendous relief by applying castor oil she did not want to stop its application. God bless you and your family.I am a regular reader of Earth clinic and a great fan of you and your home remedies.Thank you once again for all your contributions and precious time.

Replied by Cathy
(Tennessee)
11/15/2016

I paint iodine on breasts when they are sore or cystic..by the next morning pain is gone. I would think this is safe. Most pregnant women are deficient in iodine and it helps baby also. Always good to check with doctor though. Ask if its safe to use iodine externally on skin. I buy it for $3 at any pharmacy ..or Walmart etc. Do not buy decolorized iodine, it doesnt work as well. Wear an old tshirt, in case it stains clothing. I pain wherever it hurts, or even all over. This is great for fibrocystic breasts also.


Cataracts

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Brooke (Montgomery, TX) on 01/03/2009
★★★★★

A couple of drops of Castor Oil (cold pressed only) put into the eyes right before you go to sleep will also get rid of cataracts.


Caution: Risks of Spontaneous Combustion with Castor Oil

1 User Review
(1) 
  100%

Posted by Cindy (Illinois, USA) on 03/30/2023 528 posts

WARNING!

Double bag and seal up your castor oil pack when not in use. It CAN ignite/spontaneously combust - no spark or heat source required - if left out and folded to oxidize in the air and light. You will smell it before it actually ignites but only IF you're at home, awake and in the same part of the house. And, no, I didn't set my house on fire. It just occurred to me as I was pricing "oily waste" cans

Anyone who does woodworking or refinishes furniture using linseed oil probably already knows this. The furniture doesn't catch fire, but the rags used to apply oil can.

Also, if you ever feel a sense of warmth in some spot in your kitchen that you can't identify or figure out, check for oil. A rag or paper towel with oil on it, spilt oil and whatnot.

You may also want to double-check and clean the electrical outlets and light switches around your kitchen as they can be a heat and/or spark source. Being careful not to shock or electrocute yourself, obviously.

Chances are, you don't leave stuff like that laying around but just be aware.


Cold Feet

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Sara (southern USA) on 11/13/2019
★★★★★

Castor oil is great for SO many things - including my most recent discovery - a cure for cold feet! As a child my mother forced castor oil down me for every illness so I shunned it for years. But thanks to the Earth Clinic community, I've returned to castor oil using it on my face with great results. And on nasal polyps which seems to be helping.

But the biggy for me was this: I finally decided to try a castor oil pack. Made a small pack (4”x6”) using cotton cloth I had available, soaked the cloth with castor oil (wet but not dripping), placed it just below my right rib cage (liver area), plastic wrap over the top, covered with a heating pad on low. After an hour, I felt better - can't quite describe the feeling - surely a combination of being still, quieting my mind and the castor oil. BUT THEN I got ready for bed. I ALWAYS always wear socks to bed because my feet are cold. To my amazement - my feet were warm!!!! Thought it was a fluke. Tried it again the next night. Yes, warm feet!!! Thank you, Earth Clinic community!


Cold-Pressed Castor Oil

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Stacey (Berlin, Germany) on 09/14/2009
★★★★★

Cold-pressed oil is considered superior to other methods of oil extraction because heat and solvent based processing often destroys the active ingredients in beneficial oils. You can find cold-pressed oils at a healthfood store. They are often organic as well, so expect to pay more. The are better than regular oil, but regular castor oil is better than nothing.


Cysticerci

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Lhyn (Dubai, UAE) on 03/11/2007
★★★★★

I had cysticerci in my upper abdomen (left and right) in my calculation it is almost 60 cyst with the size of mung beans each of the cyst. After I zapped it with hulda clark zapper and put castor oil pack and the heating pad, some of the cyst was gone... i'll continue zapping and castor oil packs.


Deep Sleep

7 User Reviews
5 star (7) 
  100%

Posted by Brenda (Miami, Florida) on 02/18/2011
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Well I must say I was a bit hesitant to try castor oil on the eyelids, but to my surprise it worked! I've used sleeping pills for years, now I'm cutting back on all the chemicals in my body and I never felt better. Thank you EC for all this great info.



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