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.
Eye Wrinkles
Posted by Citygirl27 (Richardson, Tx, Usa) on 03/20/2013
★★★★★

I use castor oil around my eyes, mixed 50/50 with organic coconut oil as per Bill's remedy. I don't get puffiness or any irritation. Also make sure you are using castor oil labelled as hexane-free.


Warts
Posted by Becky From Ohio (Ashtabula, Ohio, Usa) on 12/18/2010
★★★★★

I had great success with castor oil and baking soda. I believe it is an old Edgar Cayce remedy? You add enough castor oil to baking soda so that it makes a thick paste (to where you can roll it into a little ball like gum) and put it on the wart. Cover with bandaid. It took me probably a month or so for it to work, but I was not religious about appplying it every day. Sometimes I would forget for a few days.

About the last week (when I could see that it seemed to be dying) I got serious and applied it every day. I think if I had applied it around the clock (instead of just for 8 or 12 hours) it would have disappeared much quicker. I had had that wart for about 10 years (between my toes). I had tried just about everything- over the counter and a foot doctor. I thought that wart and I were going to grow old and die together! After 10 years I was so thrilled to finally be rid of it!

Broad Benefits
Posted by Dfc1 (Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Usa) on 07/23/2010
★★★★★

I thought I would comment on my use of Castor Oil. I had a small cyst under my skin beside my left eye for about a year. A few weeks ago I started rubbing one drop of the oil on the cyst. Sometimes it would get in my eye, but it didn't hurt or anything. Within two weeks I noticed that the cyst was gone. I couldn't believe it. I had read on this site about Castor Oil being good for sleep, so every time I put it on my eyelids I sleep better that night. I have also read that Castor Oil is good for cataracts. My 12 year old peek-a-poo has cataracts so I'm going to try the oil in his eyes, if I can get him to hold still long enough. I love Castor Oil and I love this site.


Shingles
Posted by Junglegirl (Haiku, Hawaii) on 08/11/2009
★★★★★

Shingles treatment: My mother used a high quality pure castor oil slathered on the worst spots. She applied it most heavily at night and wore old pajamas because it's messy, but it worked immediately for her. We found the remedy somewhere online, years ago, so I can't reference it. But it worked.


Broad Benefits
Posted by Cassandra (Dundas, Ontario, Canada) on 09/19/2008
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I have been on a castor oil patch on my back where I had surgery (4 years ago this past August 18th) for my ruptured disc for over 1 1/2 years now. I have found it very benefitial for my back and most excellent for keeping the toxins out of my body. I tend to wake up in the morning with loose or liquid stools if I eat processed or "bad for me" foods the day before.

At the beginning of this year I decided to increase the times I put the patch on to every night. The damp and cold weather plays havoc with my back. The pain, decreased mobility, increased sciatic problems, etc. are enhanced by the cold, damp weather (basically the end of August to May). Thus why I hate 8 months of the year here.

Using the castor oil patch (cotton flannel swatch with a piece of plastic between the cotton and a hot water bottle, with a quarter size drop of castor oil on the flannel - flannel soaked with castor oil is the best - laying the castor oil against my scar area) has helped reduce the pain, increase my flexibility and mobility (when I first wake up and throughout the day), which is a BIG YAY for me!

But this summer I have found it has helped in other areas, too!

1) I have been working in my parents garden quite a bit (for me) seeing as this would be year 3 that my mother hasn't been out there working in it due to her Alzheimers. The mosquitos have been horrendous and I have been bitten like crazy. Normally I end up with tons of mosquito bites from head to toe and I scratch them like a raving lunitic. This year I think I have had less than 10 bites stay, with only a couple getting even the least bit itchy. I've even rubbed a bit of the castor oil on the ones that do itch and they stop itching!

2) I have had etopic eczema since I was a youngster. Doing dishes has had to been done with rubber gloves on. Leaking rubber gloves causes a burning feeling on my hands, then itchiness, followed with my hands either going raw, cracking, loosing their finger prints, or a combination of all. Sometimes I get lazy, forgetful or I don't have any to put on but I need to do the dishes and end up with this within minutes of my hands being submersed into the dish water or touching the soapy cleaning cloth or sponge. Well, I was at the Community Centre where I work and no gloves were to be found, so I went ahead and washed, anxiously anticipating the outcome but nothing happend! Hours later I still didn't have any repercussions!!! I now sometimes wash dishes without gloves, but I try to make sure I still use them because I am so concerned that the spell will break! lol!

3) For the last while... long while... I have had yeast infection after ever period cycle I get. Monostat, etc., etc. doesn't do a thing for me. I've tried putting yogurt up there. I've tried changing my diet. I've tried adding cottage cheese to my diet. Nothing helps. So one day I decided to use some castor oil up there. Within 2 to 4 days later it's gone!

A couple of weeks ago I told one of my friends I see at our Senior Centre about castor oil patches as he as M.S. and it causes him a great deal of back pain. He used it for 4 days (without the hot water bottle because being hot is something M.S. patients find hard to handle), but couldn't use it any longer because with M.S. he tends to get loose bowels, and the castor oil was cleansing the toxins out of him so much (he smokes) he couldn't handle it! He said the pain was easing, though, before he stopped using it.

Tonight I am going to use it on my throat as my throat is raw and I have laryngitis. I am praying it works well!

This stuff is AMAZING!


Diabetic Feet
Posted by Diabetesguy (London, United Kingdom) on 12/26/2011
★★★★★

Castor Oil really works on Sore Feet and Burning Feet - I am diabetic and I massage Castor Oil into the bottom of my feet when sore after walking or exercise.

I also massage Castor Oil at nights to stop BURNING feet - It really works- Hope this helps.


Knee Pain
Posted by Al (Collinsville, IL) on 06/13/2008
★★★★★

Call it what you wish, Voodoo, Witchcraft, "BS", whatever, but it DID work for me.

Having recently torn the cartilage in my left knee, simultaneously diagnosed "with a little arthritis" in the same, and swelling behind the knee. My Sport's Ortho said that the swelling was common with the torn cartilage but should go down in time. I began searching on the Web for a magical pain relief remedy (other than my already supplementation of Glucosamine Sulfate, Chondroitin, Taurine, Collagen, HA, Cats Claw, Bromelain, MSM, etc., etc., etc - .all of which I have been taking for years due to 27 yrs of cycling but at almost 68yo, something had to give).

One subject that kept surfacing on the Searches was an old time remedy of Castor Oil. I'm not in terrible pain, but it is a 24/7 aggravation, as anyone who has similar discomforts can attest to.

I decided to give it a try; purchased a package of ladies' cosmetic, cleansing pads (~3"x4") and a small bottle of Castor Oil (CO), I placed a pad on a saucer, saturated the pad with CO (not dripping) and popped it into the microwave for about 35 secs. I, then placed the (105F) warm pad on my knee; wrapped my knee-pad with plastic wrap (to keep the CO from staining the heating pad) and then applied a heating pad, set to Med. heat. I left it on for about 1 hour and when I removed everything,

I did a "test walk" -not only was my knee not stiff, and the swelling was 95% GONE!! I could walk with 100% less discomfort and this was 10x more effective than the Cortisone or three Hydraluronic Acid injections I had received in a two months period. The other nice thing is that you don't have to throw the saturated pad away; place in a Ziploc bag for the next application and just add a little more CO.

I generally apply this treatment daily, each time the knee feels better - I know it's not going to remedy the situation 100%, but has made my life much better.

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

I have had gut problems for years. (I have an extra-long colon, like twice normal length.) General inflammation, sometimes burning an inch or two below my sternum ( a good remedy for that is pancreatic enzymes), a pointed ache in the gall bladder area (just below right ribs) whenever I ate anything with fat, and a pain in the left lower corner of the abdomen aftter eating. I did an all night castor oil pack and all of these symptoms have disappeared and have not come back.

Emergency Castor Oil Packs
Posted by Katzie (Calgary) on 08/29/2022
★★★★★

On vacation? Don't have any flannel, plastic wrap, maybe you don't have a hot water bottle? If you cannot make up a castor oil pack in the usual manner, I know of an alternate method.

While on vacay in Mexico, I got some sort of rash on the inside elbow of my right arm. After 3 days of throwing everything I had at it, the darn thing was still there. I also did not have my usual supplies with me - so I improvised.

I used my dog's "pee pads", y'know, those blue & wavy cotton pressed sheets. I cut out an area to cover the area, added a bunch of castor oil, put it on the rash, and since I did not have plastic wrap or a hot water bottle, I simply used my left hand as a heat source and left it there for 20 mins (the plastic wrap is purely for messiness reasons and is not strictly necessary). A few hours later that rash was gone!

So in short, your dog's pee-pads WILL work just fine!! I so glad I remembered that tip and so wanted to share!

Health & healing, everyone!!

Urinary Incontinence
Posted by Cindy (Illinois, USA) on 05/27/2021 523 posts
★★★★★

Thought it might be a fluke but, day 5 and still NORMAL!!! The Belly Rub of Happiness!! Yeah!!


General Feedback
Posted by Cindy (Illinois, USA) on 05/22/2021 523 posts
★★★★★

The author of the book, The Oil That Heals - Dr. William McGarey - writes, "Our six children have had castor oil applied to various parts of their anatomy so often over the years that they have reminded us that they will put on our tombstones when we die, "Here they lie in spite of castor oil! "


Plantar Wart
Posted by Shauna With A 'u' (Clearwater, British Columbia) on 12/03/2017
★★★★★

A year ago I started using Castor Oil (organic and cold-pressed) on my planters warts on my feet. Just rubbed a little right on them once a day. By three months they were all gone and haven't returned.

Application Tips
Posted by Rsw (Oh) on 04/25/2017
★★★★★

I have used the castor oil packs occasionally, and bought my products in a pack. The material for the castor oil pack came with one side as an absorbent, cotton-type material, with an attached waterproof, plastic type backing on the other side. I cut mine with scissors to fit the area to be covered. Add the castor oil to the cotton side fairly liberally, and place that wet side against your bare skin. The attached plastic backing is facing outward. The castor oil does not turn into a paste on mine but remains an oil. Wrap plastic wrap around your body, covering the cotton and plastic pack so that the oil doesn't leak out the sides. Maybe wrap a towel or shirt over this, or an elastic bandage to keep it in place and catch any leaks. Place a heating pad over all this, and let the castor oil warm up on your skin. I would leave the heating pad on for at least a half hour or more (several hours would probably be OK). When you are finished, you can put the used castor oil cotton/plastic pad in a plastic bag and keep it in the refrigerator to use again. You might have to add a little more castor oil when you re-use it. I hope this helps. Best wishes!

Longer, Thicker Eyelashes
Posted by Thelady (Port Of Spain, Trinidad ) on 01/16/2010
★★★★★

Re: Castor Oil for eyelashes

Tried and true. i used an old mascara brush (cleansed properly) and i apply some castor oil to the brush. Right before bedtime i apply it like you would apply mascara from root to tip of lashes. Be consistent and it works. I saw a minor change/improvement in about 2 weeks and i kept doing it for more results.


Application Tips
Posted by Merilee (Guelph, Ontario, Canada) on 07/03/2009
★★★★★

I have a Castor Oil application idea that I would like to share:

I have suffered from pain for years - first endometriosis, and now full-blown fibromyalgia, neck (both muscle and lymph), gall, and kidney pain (which I now know all stems from Lyme infection of 15 years...). Ever since using a heating pad for the debilitating monthly cramps in my teens, I have found heat to be an aid. In addition to the over-used hot water bottle, I also use an infrared heat lamp that a Chinese Medicine Practitioner gave me, which I place over whichever organ/area I wish to treat (he uses one to increase the effectiveness of acupuncture). It's about 8-10" in diameter and has a swing-arm stand, which holds the light about 8-12" from my body, resulting in an approx. 12" treatment area.

This has been very helpful to me. Apparently, the infrared wavelength of light penetrates a couple of inches into the body, vibrating at a wavelength that resonates with fat cells (the water in them?), and can cause them to mobilize and excrete toxins (much of our toxic load is attached to fat cells, and hard to remove). It has a greater impact on my pain than the water bottle (greater muscle relaxation, I think), and I find it soothing, especially as it does not have to be particularly hot to work (it works because of its particular wavelength of light, not just the heat).

The reason for my post:

I have recently been using the lamp as a means of Castor Oil application, with the thought that it might produce deeper penetration (and much less mess) than simple Castor Oil packs. I just slap some on my skin and apply the light for 20min-1hr, then wipe/wash it off. I have nothing to compare its effectiveness to (I never tried castor oil packs after a few messy, unhelpful PMS cramp-releif attempts in my teens), but it does seem to ease my uterine and gall bladder pain, and my sore/swollen groin-area glands.

As both therapies are purported to mobilize toxins, I'd like to think they potentiate each other, and together pull out some of the stuff that is giving me trouble.

I would be interested in hearing what someone with more Castor Oil know-how thinks of my practice, and perhaps other infrared lamp owners could give it a try.


Broad Benefits
Posted by Mike (Detroit, MI) on 02/13/2009
★★★★★

Castor oil for genital warts: For the last 3 years I have tired everything possible (including everything on this site) to get rid of these things and they would either come right back, or leave scars. I was about to just bite the bullet and get them laser removed until I came across CASTOR OIL. I didn't think it would work because it's actually used as a laxative, but I decided it couldn't hurt to try.

Some people just use plain castor oil, and say it works great, but I found a mix of things that seemed to speed up the process. Mix: 1 oz castor oil, 1 tbsp of tea tree oil, 80 drops of vitamin E oil (or break open 30 vitamin E gel tabs). You can also add a tbsp of thunga if you can find it. All of the others can be found at any pharmacy store, Cvs, Walgreens, etc.

Apply this mix 3 to 4 times a day; basically try to keep the oil on as much as you can throughout the day. Some people wrap up the area to keep the oil from rubbing off, but I didn't do that and it still worked. Just allow a few min. for the oil to soak in. The oil started working within a week for me, with no pain what so ever, and I am almost back to normal after 2 1/2 weeks. I had close to 50 sm. and large warts, so the process may go quicker for you.

Also be sure to stay healthy. Get a lot of sleep, drink a lot of water, work out, take a multivitamin, and other immune system building vitamins (Echinacea, Zinc, vitamin B and C). Good luck!


Deep Sleep
Posted by A (Chennai, India) on 07/25/2009
★★★★★

You are falling asleep immediately because castor oil has a cooling relaxing effect on the body. In India, it is very common for people (especially in South) to massage scalp with it (along with other oils) and also to put a few drops on eyelashes and eyes. Helps internally cool the body.



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