You may be surprised at how many castor oil uses there are, both outside and inside your home! With its chemical makeup of ricinoleic acid, castor oil acts as an anti-inflammatory agent and can provide pain relief from everything from arthritis to muscle soreness to menstrual cramps. But that’s not all it can do! Read on to discover how castor oil can be used to help you sleep better, clean your house, hydrate your hair, and boost the potency of your essential oils!
What is castor oil?
Castor oil is a pale yellow liquid that is extracted from castor beans. It has been used for centuries in folk medicine and is now gaining popularity as a natural remedy. Proponents of castor oil claim that it can be used to treat a variety of ailments, including constipation, skin conditions, and joint pain.
Cure cold sores
If you’ve ever had a cold sore, you know they’re no fun. But did you know that castor oil can help? Here’s how Apply the oil to the affected area and cover with a bandage or plastic wrap; do this twice daily until the cold sore is gone. To speed up healing time, use it along with Vitamin E capsules applied directly on the wound.
Use as lip balm: The oils in castor oil can be used as a natural alternative to petroleum jelly for dry lips. Put some on your finger and apply sparingly. Rejuvenate feet: You may have heard of foot soaks using peppermint essential oil, but if you don’t have any around then try adding some castor oil! Not only will your feet feel much softer, but the smell of peppermint will also leave them smelling fresh too!
Get rid of boils
If you’ve ever had a boil, you know how painful and gross they can be. But did you know that castor oil can help get rid of them? Here’s how Apply the castor oil to the area using a cotton ball or gauze pad, then place a hot compress on top. Repeat this process twice daily until the boil goes away. You can also use castor oil in lieu of an antibiotic ointment for boils. Prevent ingrown hairs: After shaving your body hair, apply a thin layer of castor oil over the shaved areas to prevent ingrown hairs from forming.
Not only will it work as a preventative measure, but it will also moisturize your skin. In fact, many men shave their face with castor oil! Clean your earrings: Rinse off all dirt and grime on your earrings with warm water, then drop a few drops of castor oil onto each one. Rub together with cotton balls or wipe down with cloths. The result is squeaky-clean jewelry without any residue left behind! Eliminate head lice: Mix 2 tablespoons of pure jojoba oil with 1 tablespoon of pure castor oil in a small bowl.
Get rid of warts
Castor oil is a natural remedy that has been used for centuries to treat a variety of ailments. One lesser-known use for castor oil is to get rid of warts. Here’s how it works Soak a cotton ball in castor oil and apply the cotton ball directly on the wart. Wrap with bandage or tape, and remove every day. Repeat this process until the wart is gone, which can take up to one month. The key is to not remove the cotton ball until you notice some significant changes.
Next time you have a wart breakout, give this trick a try! Apply castor oil as an overnight treatment before bedtime, then wrap your finger with a medical wrap or cling film. In the morning, wash off the excess castor oil and repeat nightly until all warts are gone. And if you want to know more about other uses for castor oil at home, be sure to read this blog post!