Castor Oil
Ricinus communis
Powerful traditional oil used internally as a laxative and topically for hair, skin, and joints
About Castor Oil
Castor oil is pressed from the seeds of the castor bean plant. Its active compound, ricinoleic acid, makes up about 90% of the oil and is responsible for both its internal and topical effects. Internally, it is an FDA-approved over-the-counter stimulant laxative — ricinoleic acid binds to receptors in the gut wall and stimulates smooth muscle contraction. Topically, it is a thick, deeply moisturising oil that has been used for centuries to condition hair and lashes, and as the base for warm 'castor oil packs' — popularized by 20th-century herbalist Edgar Cayce — applied with a heating pad over inflamed joints or the abdomen. Always cold-pressed, hexane-free, and used with care: it is strong, fast-acting, and not suitable for daily internal use.
Key benefits
- FDA-recognised stimulant laxative for occasional constipation
- Deeply moisturising for hair, brows, lashes, and dry skin
- Castor oil packs are a traditional remedy for joint comfort
- Single active compound (ricinoleic acid) with both internal and topical effects
How to use
For constipation (single use only): 1–2 tablespoons of cold-pressed, hexane-free oil on an empty stomach; effects in 2–6 hours. Topically: massage warm oil into scalp, brows, or lashes overnight, or saturate a cotton flannel and apply over a joint with a heating pad for 45–60 minutes.
Did you know?
Castor oil was found in 4,000-year-old Egyptian tombs and listed in the Ebers Papyrus, one of the world's oldest medical texts. Today it sits on the same FDA OTC laxative monograph as senna — a rare example of a traditional remedy formally adopted by modern regulators.