Castor oil (often spelled incorrectly as caster oil), the oil extracted from the seeds of the Ricinus communis plant, is an ancient natural remedy for a variety of conditions and complaints, including constipation, skin care, and shingles or herpes zoster (for the latter, try mixing it with tea-tree essential oil for enhanced antiviral action)..
One of the better known purported benefits of castor oil is promoting new and healthier growth of hair, eyelashes and eyebrows. It is also said to darken them.
Does Castor Oil Work?
The results of clinical studies - and there haven't been very many of those - are ambiguous. So is anecdotal evidence. For some, it seems to work wonders; for others, it seems not to work at all.
There is, however, a solid body of personal experiences (including this author's personal experience) that show definite improvement of hair growth, including eyelashes and eyebrows, after having applied castor oil for a few days, weeks or, in some cases, months.
Most astoundingly, there have been cases where the hair treated with castor oil turned dark; in some cases new, dark hair growth appeared where there had been none, or where grey hair had been growing.
Castor oil has no dark pigment of its own, so this could not be the effect of pigment transfer. In other words, castor oil has no colour that could "rub off" on the hairs.
How To Apply Castor Oil
Before applying castor oil take precautions to protect your clothes because it stains them yellowish, and the stains are very difficult to remove.
To promote hair growth on the scalp, warm the oil ever so slightly, to improve its penetration. Then apply it with your fingertips on the area of the scalp where you want to boost hair growth. Spread the residue left on your fingers over the hair, or rub it into your hands. (It may even make dark or "liver" spots disappear.) You can improve the penetration of the oil by wrapping a towel around your head, or using a bathing cap.
Leave the oil on for two hours or overnight, if possible, then wash the hair.
Repeat the procedure once or twice a week.
As an additional bonus, you may find that you do not need to use a conditioner, as castor oil is a wonderful hair-conditioner itself.
To combat acute hair loss, especially, but not exclusively, in cases of telogen effluvium, as well as chronic thinning of the hair, it could prove useful to add two or three drops of the purest essential oil of rosemary and/or ylang ylang. (There are other hair growth-boosting essential oils.)
Because of its low molecular mass, castor oil has an extraordinary capacity for transdermal penetration, which means that it will drive the essential oil deeper into the scalp than it would normally reach.
For the same reason it is a good idea to mix castor oil with an equal part of virgin coconut oil and/or argan oil, which provide great nourishment to the hair and the skin in and by themselves. (To get a recipe for a fabulous DIY castor-coconut oil cream, see here.)
For use on eyelashes and eyebrows the simplest way to apply castor oil is to wash your hands and put a drop of castor oil on the tip of a finger, then gently smear the eyelashes (along the rim) and/or eyebrows. You can also use an old, well cleaned mascara applicator. Some use Q-tips, but this method often has the unpleasant effect of leaving small fibres of cotton in the eye.
If the oil comes in contact with the eyeball, you may experience temporarily blurry vision, which is simply due to the oil spreading over the surface of the eyeball. It is nothing to be concerned about, and it should pass in a minute or so.
Is Castor Oil Dangerous for the Eyes?
Pure castor oil is not known to be dangerous to the eye. In fact, certain folk traditions use it against dry eyes and even against incipient cataracts. (To this author's knowledge, the efficacy of this remedy has not been corroborated by scientific research yet.) Also, it should be noted that castor oil is widely used in all sorts of commercially produced cosmetic preparations, including mascaras and skin care products.
Avoid Dangerous Confusion
Castor oil is a clear, slightly yellowish, very dense and sticky substance, with a faint "greasy" smell. It is typically sold in small, dark bottles, usually with its Latin name - Ricinus communis - listed as well.
It is sold in most health stores and pharmacies.
(It is not unusual for pharmacies to sell refined castor oil only. Due to the complex interaction of natural substances, it is much better to play it safe and buy unrefined oil that hasn't been stripped of beneficial natural components.)
However, there is evidence that some people tend to confuse castor oil with "Castrol oil", which is a brand of motor oils, lubricants and greases. It is a mistake that could cause very serious and permanent damage; if ingested, it could be fatal.
DISCLAIMER: The information included in this article is intended for educational purposes only and is no substitute for professional medical advice.
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