Castor oil is a vegetable oil that is obtained from the seeds of the castor plant (Ricinus communis). It is used in natural cosmetics for its nourishing properties useful for skin and hair and in industrial production, especially as a lubricating ingredient. It is best known for its ability to strengthen lashes, nails and hair.
Don't store avocado like this: it's dangerous
THEcastor oil is a vegetable oil that is obtained from the seeds of the castor plant (Ricinus communis). It is used in the natural cosmetics for its nourishing properties useful for skin and hair and in industrial production, especially as a lubricating ingredient. It is particularly known for its ability to strengthen lashes, nails and hair.
Properties and benefits
Castor oil has the characteristic of coming easily absorbed by the skin and hair. Helps to provide nourishment and hydration. It serves to prevent split ends. It has interesting softening properties which make it advisable to use it in case of dry, brittle and broken hair.
It has a rather dense consistency and a straw yellow color. It does not smell pleasant, nor does its taste. It is considered useful for skin problems, which can include itching, acne and dermatitis. It also has a antifungal power, which could be useful in case of fungal infections. For its strengthening properties castor oil is used for prevent hair loss.
Ha the feature to be able to rebalance the right oiliness of the hair, to prevent it from breaking and drying out too much. Castor oil has strong laxative properties (nowadays the use in case of constipation is not recommended) and it is emetic, that is it induces vomiting. Castor oil protects eyelashes and hair and helps make them more robust.
Uses of castor oil
Castor oil for personal care is used in the form of compresses to strengthen the nails, alternatively or in combination with extra virgin olive oil. It is also used in hair wraps, especially in the presence of split ends. For a long time it has been used to prevent the formation of dark circles, almost as if it were an eye contour serum.
You can distribute the castor oil on the hair for one pre-shampoo pack, especially useful in case of very dry hair or in view of a beach holiday. To massage your nails you can mix castor oil with extra virgin olive oil, or sweet almond oil, adding a few drops of lemon juice.
It is usually recommended to mix castor oil with a little extra virgin olive oil or sweet almond oil to rebalance the pH. Castor oil is also often used for strengthen lashes and brows.
In this case it can be useful to apply the castor oil with a clean mascara brush. Outside the realm of health and body care, castor oil is used in the manufacture of automotive lubricants and fluids.
Controindicazioni
The use of castor oil is known as powerful natural purge in the past decades. The abuse of castor oil in this sense can cause side effects, so much so that historically it would have been used as a tool of "persuasion" of political prisoners during Fascism. Given its too drastic action, castor oil nowadays it is no longer used as a laxative.
It can be replaced with the more delicate sweet almond oil suitable for food use to facilitate the work of the intestine. In case of constipation, however, it is always good to contact your doctor or herbalist, to identify the causes of the problem and the best remedies to solve it.
Marta Albè
Read also:
15 precious vegetable oils for health and beauty
Rapeseed oil: a much debated vegetable oil, is it healthy or harmful?
