Of tropical origin, castor oil is a shrub with imposing leaves and whose seeds offer, through cold pressing, an excellent vegetable oil to nourish and strengthen hair, eyelashes and eyebrows. This forgotten vegetable oil also has many very interesting cosmetic and therapeutic properties. It is also used in synergy with essential oils for its very good tissue penetration despite its viscosity. Latin name: Ricinus communis L. Part used: seeds
This article was updated on 12/09/2023nourishing, strengthening :
particularly rich in ricinoleic acid, Castor oil is the vegetable oil par excellence for nourishing, strengthening and promoting the growth of skin appendages (hair, nails and body hair). Hair, nails, eyelashes and even beard become stronger, thicker and shinier.
anti-inflammatory, analgesic :
this vegetable oil calms skin inflammations and relieves pain. It thus relieves many skin conditions.
antiviral, antibacterial :
castor oil could help fight the flu, gastroenteritis or mycoses. It also cleanses the scalp and skin, which promotes an environment conducive to the growth of hair and beards, for example.
immunostimulant :
this vegetable oil helps strengthen immunity by increasing the body's natural defenses against pathogenic germs. It can be particularly interesting in preventing winter illnesses.
digestive, laxative, purgative :
castor vegetable oil stimulates intestinal motility and the production of digestive enzymes. Thus, it promotes digestion and intestinal transit, which will be useful to relieve occasional constipation. Castor oil is also used to purge the body of toxins thanks to its powerful purgative action.
Store preferably in a cool place, away from light and heat.
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Castor oil, among its first uses in India, would have been used to take care of nails, And it is not a hazard ! Its ricinoleic acid deeply nourishes and strengthens the nails. Result: nails are thicker and shiny following daily and long-term application of Castor oil. This vegetable oil is also known for the growth of skin appendages and in particular for that of nails. Indeed, it promotes nail growth while nourishing the cuticles, which are the thin layers of skin surrounding the nails.
apply 1 to 2 drops of Castor oil on each nail (without varnish), paying particular attention to the cuticles. Massage until complete penetration. Repeat the operation 2 to 3 times a week for better effectiveness.
to accelerate the strengthening of the nails, it is possible to add a few drops oflemon essential oil and D'green Myrtle essential oil with Castor oil.
castor oil is certainly the reference for nails, but it is also possible to use other vegetable oils. L'blackcurrant vegetable oil strengthens soft and brittle nails, as forhemp vegetable oil, it activates the production of keratin for harder and longer nails.
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The action of Castor oil on eyelashes and eyebrows results from the same phenomenon as on hair! This oil will strengthen the hair and stimulate the hair bulbs with a supply of nutrients. Thus, Castor oil helps strengthen eyelashes and eyebrows, densify them, and stimulate their growth to fill in the holes. In addition to this, it nourishes eyelashes and eyebrows to make them shinier, but also softer to the touch.
in the evening before bed, apply Castor oil to eyebrows and eyelashes using a cotton swab or a clean, dry eyelash brush. Be careful not to get it in your eyes. It is also possible to add a drop of Castor oil to your usual mascara.
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As on the hair, Castor oil will act on two levels on beard, both by nourishing it, but also by promoting its growth. Castor oil contains ricinoleic acid (80 to 92%) which nourishes the skin and the beard from the root of the hair. Thus, dry beard hairs are softer, shinier and stronger. Castor oil can also be used to densify and stimulate hair growth, particularly those of sparse or patchy beards. Indeed, the vitamin E contained in Castor oil acts on the microcirculation of the skin by providing all the necessary nutrients to the hair bulb. Thanks to its antibacterial and antifungal properties, it creates an environment favorable to the growth and densification of hair.
apply a few drops of Castor oil to the beard using circular movements until the oil is completely absorbed into the skin. Carry out this treatment in the evening and leave it on overnight for greater effectiveness. Rinse off excess oil the next morning if necessary. To be repeated 3 times a week. To facilitate application, it is possible to dilute Castor oil in another more fluid vegetable oil.
in combination with Castor oil, the addition ofhimalayan Spikenard essential oil helps boost hair growth. As for thepeppermint essential oil, it helps stimulate blood circulation, thus promoting the supply of nutrients to the hair.
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Castor oil is recognized, but also widely used for the growth of hair thanks to its exceptional molecule: ricinoleic acid. This fatty acid stimulates hair growth and strengthens the hair fiber while nourishing it. Its action is reinforced by its vitamin E composition, which promotes microcirculation of the scalp and thus stimulates the supply of nutrients to the hair bulb. According to several studies, ricinoleic acid is also seen as a potential target in the management of baldness in bald men. This ricinoleic acid would block the production of prostaglandin D2 synthase, which is the synthesis product of prostaglandin D2 responsible for the miniaturization of hair follicles and the inhibition of hair growth.
carry out an oil bath with Castor oil on dry and previously detangled hair. Apply a few drops of Castor oil starting from the ends and going up to the roots of the hair. Gently massage the scalp to activate hair growth. Leave it on for at least 1 hour, or overnight before rinsing and shampooing. To facilitate its application, Castor oil can be diluted to 50% in another more fluid vegetable oil.
to promote hair growth or fight against baldness,himalayan Spikenard essential oil, l'ginger essential oil or thepeppermint essential oil can be added to Castor oil.
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Rich in ricinoleic acid, this bioactive compound present in Castor oil ensures the attenuation, even depigmentation of brown stains skin. It also helps prevent their appearance thanks to the antioxidant properties of the oil.
massage a few drops of Castor oil onto brown spots, morning and evening.
for a better depigmenting action, thecelery essential oil and thecarrot essential oil will be combined with Castor oil.
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A stimulating laxative, Castor oil immediately relieves constipation occasional 4 to 8 hours after ingestion. Indeed, the ricinoleic acid contained in Castor oil stimulates intestinal motility as well as digestive enzymes thanks to its irritant action on the intestinal mucosa. In addition to accelerating intestinal transit, it "cleans" the intestine thanks to its violent purgative action. Studies even report the effects of Castor oil in cases of poisoning. On the other hand, Castor oil taken orally has many side effects: vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, etc. This is why this route of use is reserved for medical prescription, and should not be used by children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, people with sensitive or fragile intestines as well as people allergic or intolerant to natural laxatives.
slightly irritating to the intestine,sweet Almond vegetable oil gently stimulates intestinal transit and softens hard stools. It is also more suitable for babies over 3 months as well as pregnant women.
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Thanks to its richness in ricinoleic acid, Castor oil deeply nourishes and repairs the hair fiber by closing the hair scales. hair. It also helps strengthen and coat the hair fiber. Dull, dry and damaged hair regains its shine, softness and natural beauty. At the same time, the presence of vitamin E (natural antioxidant) in its composition protects the hair from external aggressions and helps hair growth. Antibacterial and antifungal, Castor oil cleanses the scalp for healthy hair.
make a hair mask on dry, detangled hair, applying the necessary quantity. Insist on the ends, and gently massage the scalp. Leave it on for at least an hour, or overnight, then shampoo. Very viscous, Castor oil can be diluted in another vegetable oil (depending on your hair type) to 50% for example.
against dull, dry or damaged hair,complete Ylang Ylang essential oil is the flagship essential oil for hair. It is both hair tonic, sebum regulator, but also calming.
for dull hair,mustard vegetable oil gives tone and vitality to the hair thanks to its specific composition in allyl isothiocyanate. Many other vegetable oils can be used to care for frizzy or dry hair such ascoconut vegetable oil.
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Castor oil has interesting therapeutic properties to fight against winter illnesses and other microbiological infections. It is antibacterial and antiviral, acts against flu, warts and even gastroenteritis. In addition to this, Castor oil is immunostimulating. It will increase the body's defenses against pathogenic germs. According to the American doctor William A. Mc Garey, Castor oil improves the functioning of the thymus and other organs of the immune system. In particular, he demonstrated via two separate studies that patients using hot Castor poultices showed a significant increase in lymphocytes, compared to patients who used a placebo.
make a hot castor oil poultice, to apply on the stomach for at least 1 hour. Warm the oil in a bain-marie. Soak a clean cloth or compress in the oil and place on the stomach. It is possible to add a hot water bottle to the poultice to keep the area warm.
to stimulate immunity, the reference essential oil is Ravintsara.
the oil of Nigella, due to its very particular composition, also helps stimulate immunity.
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Castor oil nourishes and strengthens the skin's natural barrier thanks to the ricinoleic acid it contains. It also has anti-inflammatory skin and analgesic properties, allowing it to soothe the discomfort of dry to very dry skin such as tightness, itching or redness. It also facilitates skin repair and accelerates the healing process. With its vitamin E composition, it protects the skin from multiple external attacks (cold, pollution, sun rays, etc.) that it faces on a daily basis.
apply a few drops of Castor oil to dry and damaged areas of the skin. Preferably dilute to 50% in another vegetable oil.
to nourish dry and damaged skin, it is also possible to use themoringa vegetable oil, l'avocado vegetable oil where the shea Butter for example.
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Even if Castor oil is far from being the most famous for stretch marks, it has interesting molecules to prevent and attenuate them. Rich in ricinoleic acid, Castor oil nourishes and consolidates the skin's hydrolipidic film for more supple and elastic skin. It also prevents the degradation of collagen and elastin fibers thanks to its vitamin E content.
apply some Castor oil on the areas affected by stretch marks morning and evening. Massage for a long time until the oil is completely absorbed. For better application to the skin, dilute Castor oil with a thinner oil.
against stretch marks,geranium Rosat essential oil is THE reference for stretch marks thanks to its excellent toning and healing properties.
l'rosehip vegetable oil and the Shea Butter prove to be more effective in reducing stretch marks that have already been established.
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Castor oil prevents premature aging of the skin and wrinkles thanks to its antioxidant molecule, vitamin E. In fact, it protects the skin from external aggressions as well as the degradation of collagen and elastin fibers present in the dermis of the skin. Castor oil also helps strengthen the skin's hydrolipidic film. Thus, the skin is hydrated, but also more supple and elastic.
on clean, dry skin, massage a few drops of Castor oil onto the face, morning and evening. Very viscous and not very penetrating, it is recommended to dilute Castor oil in a more fluid vegetable oil.
against wrinkles,damask Rose essential oil or thegeranium Rosat essential oil can be added to vegetable oil.
in case of wrinkles, favor theprickly Pear Seed Vegetable Oil which is the anti-aging par excellence orrosehip vegetable oil.
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Antibacterial, Castor oil acts against the development of bacteria which are responsible foracne. In addition to this, it relieves inflammatory acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Low comedogenic, it is suitable for all skin types, including acne-prone skin. Castor oil has the particularity of not clogging the pores of the skin. Consequently, it does not contribute to the formation of comedones (blackheads, pimples, or even microcysts) in acne-prone skin.
massage a few drops of Castor oil onto clean, dry skin. To facilitate its application and penetration into the skin, it is recommended to dilute Castor oil in a more fluid oil such as Jojoba vegetable oil.
for a complete action against acne, it is possible to add a few drops oftea Tree essential oil and D'fine Lavender essential oil. This synergistic duo helps with healing and regeneration of the skin. In addition to this, these two essential oils together eliminate the bacteria that causes acne.
against acne,jojoba vegetable oil can be used to regulate the secretion of sebum in acne-prone skin in association withnigella vegetable oil which has a bactericidal action on Propionibacterium which causes acne.
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Castor oil can reduce dark circles only if these are linked to skin aging thanks to its vitamin E content. On the other hand, Castor oil is not the vegetable oil to prioritize against dark circles. It does not have circulatory and fluidifying properties which are nevertheless useful for restoring good blood circulation below the eyes.
renowned as the anti-dark circles oil, hessential oil of Italian Helichrysum reactivates blood circulation under the eyes thanks to its venous and circulatory decongestant action in particular.
l'prickly Pear Seed Oil and thecalophyll Inophyl vegetable oil are effective circulatory oils to reduce dark circles in the long term!
Castor oil is commonly called “castor oil” by our Anglo-Saxon friends. By direct translation, Castor oil is often called “castor oil”. What does this have to do with rodents? For the English, nothing, since beaver is called beaver! The beaver (the rodent this time) is in fact capable of secreting an oily substance, called castoreum, known since Antiquity for its virtues. It turns out that the two products, castoreum and castor oil, have similar uses. They are used in particular as a lubricant (mainly for engines) and for medicinal uses. It was following certain confusions that Castor Oil was given the name Castor Oil!
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Publication: Beubler, E., & Juan, H. (1979). Effect of ricinoleic acid and other laxatives on net water flux and prostaglandin E release by the rat colon†. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 31(1), 681–685. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-7158.1979.tb13628.x
Publication: Dumeignil, F. (2012). Properties and uses of castor oil. Oilseeds, Fats, Lipids, 19(1), 10–15. https://doi.org/10.1051/ocl.2012.0427
Work : de la Charie, T. (2019). Treat yourself with essential oils. Why and how does it work? Editions du Rocher.
Work : Clergaud, C. (2003). Vegetable oils: health and beauty oils. Amyris.
Website : EMA, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (2016). Assessment report on Ricinus communis L., oleum. https://www.ema.europa.eu/documents/herbal-report/final-assessment-report-ricinus-communis-l-oleum_en.pdf
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