What Are the Benefits of Drinking Castor Oil?
Medically reviewed by Kayla Girgen, RD
Drinking castor oil has several benefits, including constipation relief. Castor oil is a vegetable oil that's extracted from the seeds of the castor oil plant (Ricinus communis L.). Castor seeds contain between 30% and 50% oil. The oil is extracted from the beans by several methods, including mechanical pressing, solvent extraction, or a combination of the two.
Castor oil is also an effective natural moisturizer, an additive for wound dressings, and a vehicle for certain medications. The oil is commonly used as an ingredient in paints, coatings, inks, and lubricants.
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Acts as a Laxative
Castor oil has been used as a natural medicine since ancient times. The oil is still used worldwide in folk medicine to treat conditions such as wounds, eye diseases, and rheumatic diseases. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only approved castor oil for use in the United States as a stimulant laxative.
Stimulant laxatives work by enabling nerves in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which increases motility and intestinal secretions. This speeds up the movement of material through the intestines, helping clear the bowel of stool.
Stimulant laxatives are effective, but they are powerful and only meant to be used for short periods to relieve temporary constipation. People can use stimulant laxatives to clear the bowel before medical procedures, such as a colonoscopy.
Digestive enzymes break down castor oil into ricinoleic acid. This acid activates certain receptors in intestinal smooth muscle cells to create movement in the intestines.
Some evidence suggests that castor oil is more likely to cause adverse side effects like abdominal cramping, bloating, vomiting, and dizziness compared to another type of stimulant laxative called senna. Castor oil isn't commonly recommended for constipation as a result.
A review published in 2022 found that the pooled capsule excretion rate in people who received castor oil was 19% higher than in those who didn't receive castor oil. Other laxatives are typically used for bowel cleansing because of castor oil side effects.
Has Moisturising Properties
Castor oil is rich in fatty acids that effectively soften the skin, which is why it's used in natural beauty products like skin moisturizers. The oil is also considered an occlusive moisturizer. This moisturizer prevents the evaporation of water from the skin and reduces water loss by forming a protective barrier.
Castor oil traps moisture inside the skin, replenishing the deeper layers. The oil is thick and sticky, so it's usually mixed with other oils, such as coconut oil, jojoba oil, and sweet almond oil. These mixtures create hydrating and natural skin treatments.
Castor oil also has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, so it may benefit people with inflammatory skin conditions. There are no clinical studies investigating the effectiveness of castor oil as a skin moisturizer or in treating inflammatory skin diseases.
May Promote Wound Healing
Castor oil may also be helpful in wound treatment when combined with other ingredients. The oil helps create a moist environment that promotes healing and prevents wound cracking.
Castor oil is a main ingredient in Venelex, a topical dressing used to treat acute and chronic wounds and pressure ulcers. Venelex also contains Peru balsam (a balm derived from the Myroxylon tree) and additives, such as glycerol monostearate.
The ricinoleic acid in castor oil has also been shown to have pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties, which also makes it an effective wound treatment. Castor oil is used in certain wound treatments, but it’s not recommended for home use in treating wounds like cuts and burns.
May Treat Certain Eye Conditions
Some evidence suggests that castor oil may be an effective treatment for certain eye conditions, such as blepharitis. Blepharitis causes your eyelids to become red, itchy, swollen, and irritated. Symptoms are often uncomfortable and can cause dandruff-like skin flakes to form on the eyelashes.
A study published in 2021 found that castor oil can supplement deficient physiological tear film lipids. Participants were able to see a reduction in tear evaporation and improvements in blepharitis symptoms as a result.
Another study published in 2021 had people with blepharitis apply 100% cold-pressed castor oil to one eyelid twice daily for four weeks. The researchers found that those who were treated with castor oil had significant improvements in ocular surface signs and blepharitis symptoms.
Castor oil is also an ingredient in eye drops that treat dry eyes, such as Restasis (cyclosporine). Do not put castor oil directly into your eye. Only use the oil as prescribed by a healthcare provider.
Might Induce Labor in Clinical Settings
Castor oil has long been used as a natural way to induce labor. The oil stimulates the cervix by increasing the production of prostaglandins. These compounds play a central role in pregnancy and the induction of labor. Prostaglandins mediate cervical ripening and stimulate uterine contractions.
A review published in 2022 found that oral castor oil is effective for cervical ripening and labor induction in pregnant people. The use of castor oil may improve the chances of a healthy vaginal delivery and reduce the need for Cesarean sections (C-sections).
Healthcare providers may use castor oil to induce labor. It's best for pregnant people who aren't under medical care to avoid use since the oil can lead to dangerous pregnancy complications.
How To Use Castor Oil
Castor oil is only recommended for oral use to treat constipation. It's best to take castor oil under the supervision of a healthcare provider, as it could cause side effects if misused. You can also use castor oil topically as a natural moisturizer by blending it with other oils, such as coconut and sweet almond oil.
The oil may also be a helpful addition to denture storage solutions. Brushing and soaking dentures in castor oil solutions has been shown to help reduce levels of Candida fungi, which commonly grow on dentures. Candida can trigger a condition called denture stomatitis, an infection that causes irritation, inflammation, and redness in the mouth. Talk to the healthcare provider about how to use castor oil to clean your dentures appropriately and safely.
Some people use castor oil as a moisturizing treatment for their hair. Castor oil is used in hair care in many areas of the world. Its sticky and thick texture could lead to a condition called acute hair felting in people with long, thick hair. Acute hair felting causes the hair to become matted. You may have to cut off the hair if acute hair felting is severe.
Dosage
Castor oil is only approved for oral use as a laxative and should ideally be taken under medical supervision to ensure safety. The oil is sometimes used orally for other purposes in medical settings, but it's important to avoid consuming castor oil to treat any other health condition.
The typical dose for constipation treatment in medical settings is 1–4 tablespoons in a single daily dose. Never give castor oil to children younger than 2.
Is Castor Oil Safe?
Castor beans contain a toxic enzyme called ricin. The extraction process deactivates ricin, so castor oil is safe to consume when used correctly. The oil is a type of vegetable oil, but it's not a culinary oil. Castor oil has a very thick and sticky texture and is high in compounds that make it unsafe to consume in high doses.
Castor oil can lead to serious health issues if you ingest too much. You may develop digestive issues, such as diarrhea and vomiting, or severe electrolyte and acid-base imbalances. It's also unsafe for pregnant people to ingest any amount of castor oil unless it's prescribed and monitored by a healthcare provider since it can induce labor.
Topical castor oil may cause allergic reactions in some people. It's important to test the oil on a small area of your skin to see how you react if you're interested in using it as a natural skin treatment.
Potential Drug Interactions
Take castor oil for laxative purposes two or more hours before or after taking any medications. Laxatives may affect how other drugs work.
Castor oil is a powerful laxative, so taking it alongside other laxatives could lead to significant GI discomfort and severe health issues such as dehydration.
Where To Find
You can purchase castor oil products, such as capsules and liquids, online and at natural food stores or pharmacies. Healthcare providers prescribe medications that contain castor oil, such as bowel preparations and medications to treat dry eye.
Can You Take Too Much Castor Oil?
Castor oil can lead to unpleasant side effects, such as vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and stomach pain if you take more than the recommended 1–4 tablespoons to treat constipation. The oil can cause side effects in high doses, so make sure to follow the advice of a healthcare provider if you’re using it orally.
Side Effects
Topical castor oil could cause allergic reactions and may cause acute hair felting in people with thick hair. Castor oil could lead to the following side effects when administered orally:
Cramping
Diarrhea
Dizziness
Vomiting
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A Quick Review
Castor oil is a vegetable oil derived from castor beans. The oil has various uses in folk and traditional medicine systems, but the FDA has only approved it for use as a stimulant laxative. Castor oil is generally considered safe, but it's recommended to use it only orally under medical supervision due to its side effects.
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