Castor oil, extracted from the beans of the castor plant -Ricinus communis- has been used for centuries for its naturally medicinal properties. Its unique fatty acid composition, primarily ricinoleic acid, gives it such a wide variety of health benefits.
I’ve heard so many good things recently about castor oil being a suitable at home natural remedy to alleviate the symptoms of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) which I suffer from terribly. So let’s take a closer look and see if it lives up to the hype…
Historical Use:
- Ancient Egyptians: Used castor oil for skin conditions and constipation, as well as a purgative.
- Ayurvedic Medicine: Employed for various ailments, including arthritis, skin disorders, and digestive problems.
- Traditional Chinese Medicine: Used to treat constipation, rheumatism, and gynecological issues.
Health Benefits:
- Digestive Health:
- Laxative: Castor oil is a natural laxative that can help relieve constipation.
- Stimulates Bowel Movements: It stimulates the smooth muscle contractions in the intestines, promoting bowel movements.
- Digestive Disorders: May be helpful for conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and bloating.
- Skin Health:
- Moisturises: Can help hydrate and nourish dry skin.
- Reduces Inflammation: May reduce inflammation associated with skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
- Promotes Hair Growth: Some people use castor oil as a hair mask to promote hair growth and thickness.
- Pain Relief:
- Muscle and Joint Pain: Applied topically, it may help alleviate muscle and joint pain.
- Headaches: Some people use it as a massage oil for headaches.
- Other Benefits:
- Induces Labour: In some cases, castor oil is used to induce labour in late pregnancy.
- Antibacterial Properties: It also has antibacterial properties that can help to prevent infections.
How To Use Castor Oil:
- Oral Use: For digestive health you can take castor oil orally as directed by a healthcare professional.
- Topical Use: You can apply castor oil to the skin or hair, massaging it in gently or wearing it on a compress.
- Hair Mask: You can leave a castor oil hair mask on for several hours or overnight before washing. I like to wrap my hair in cling film when oiled to prevent it from getting on my bedding.
Guardian Angel 500ml Organic Castor Oil 2 Piece Pack With Bamboo Butterfly Body Wrap
I came across Guardian Angel’s Castor Oil 2 Piece Pack online whilst purposely searching for a castor oil pack for my IBS. This beautiful bamboo and cotton butterfly wrap fits up to a 40″ waist and measures 56cm x 24cm x 18cm. With adjustable straps, this washable wrap can be applied directly to the skin, on any part of the body to alleviate symptoms of insomnia, constipation, gastric discomfort, liver detoxification, joint and muscle pain.
You simply lay the body wrap on a flat surface and pour the fresh organic cold pressed castor Seed oil -which has been bottled by Guardian Angel Naturals- directly onto the cotton surface of the wrap. You can massage it in to ensure that it doesn’t spill, before pressing it against your bare skin and adjusting the velcro straps for a secure and comfortable fit. It also features a zipper front pocket where you can insert a heat or ice pack for extra comfort.
The castor oil is available in 250ml or 500ml bottles for which I chose 500ml which comes with its own hand written batch number and best before date listed as two years from now. The Hexane free castor oil, which originates in India, is lovingly bottled in a premium amber glass bottle and extremely high in ricinoleic acid which is responsible for its health promoting benefits. Being antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-fungal, this healing oil can be used to clear obstructions from the body and stimulate the liver to detoxify poisons held within the system.
Free from chemicals, soft and hypoallergenic, the outer layer of the pack is made of TPU cotton that stops any leakage whilst insulating any heat or ice packs used. Castor oil contains high amounts of natural fatty-acids and Vitamin E, making it a popular moisturiser and skin softener and can be used on dry or flaky scalps and brittle hair as well as eyelashes and eyebrows.
Castor oil is most notably used to naturally treat digestive issues, as it is broken down into ricinoleic acid in the small intestine, which speeds up the process of digestion whilst also treating various skin conditions such as dermatosis, psoriasis, and acne.
My castor oil pack takes less than a minute to prepare and put on, allowing me to enhance my liver detoxification and colon cleansing, assist with digestion and constipation, improve blood circulation which in turn improves sleep quality and physical condition. It’s also a natural form of pain relief and reduces inflammation without the side effects caused by modern medicines. It’s recommended that you wear it for 45-60mins at a time whilst resting up or sleeping, spreading 5-6 tablespoons of oil into the centre of the wrap. You can wash the pack gently in a washing machine after two weeks of use across any are of the body, with neck and breast packs also available.
Any excess castor oil at the end of treatment can either be massaged into the skin or washed off with warm water. Between washes, the pack can be topped up with 3-4 tablespoons of oil for use every two days. Since using my pack my IBS symptoms have noticeably reduced and I’m having far fewer and lighter stomach cramps and aches because of it. It’s so comforting feeling my pack against my skin, as it’s soft and warm, replacing my hot water bottle which I’d usually wear to tackle cramps, often at the cost of burning my skin from the heat. This gentle, natural remedy is far kinder to the skin, and internal organs, and is now a key part of my self-care and wellbeing routine.
Castor oil, with its rich history and diverse health benefits, continues to be a valuable natural remedy to this day. Always ensure that you purchase a high-quality, cold-pressed castor oil if you’re considering incorporating it into your wellness routine. Guardian Angel Castor Oil Pack
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