Castor oil is a vegetable oil that is refined from the castor bean and the oil produces is colorless with a mild oily odor. Most of us the older generation will remember that parents used to force it down their throats to clean out stuffed bowels. Almost every parent used to buy castor oil and keep a bottle stocked in their pantry for this use. The oil had a nasty taste that was guaranteed to cause nausea and a bout of vomiting. However, parents did have it right. The oil has a very high triglyceride content of fatty acids that makes it very nutritious as well as being a very useful oil.
Uses of Castor Oil
Castor oil is traditionally used in holistic medicine to treat skin problems, sun burns, skin cuts and other skin problems. The oil has been used for centuries to treat gastrointestinal problems like constipation, abdominal pains, cramps etc. The oil is used traditionally to induce labor too but the actual actions of the oil have not been substantiated by medical research. This action is attributed to the cramps caused by oil when it is ingested resulting in an earlier labor and relief from constipation.
In modern medicine, the castor oil is combined with medications to make carriers for the medications in the form of ointments etc. For example, modern drugs like miconazole, paclitaxel, tacrolimus are extremely effective modern medicines that are combined with different forms of the medications.
Castor oil is commonly used in cosmetics, chocolate and other food items in the food processing industry.
Castor oil has a very strong anti-mold component. It may also be used as mold inhibitor during the preservation process of packaged goods. .
Where can I buy castor oil?
Castor oil is generally sold at pharmacies and chemists. You can purchase the oil in bulk or you can buy castor oil bottles in 10ml of 20ml. Buy smaller quantities for home use. Industries buy castor oil for lubrication of large machines and as ingredients in cosmetics, textiles, brake fluids, dyes, pigments etc. If you require large amounts of castor oil especially for cosmetic use, it is recommended that you buy castor oil from reputable chemist sites online that will offer you industrial grade pure castor oil at reasonable rates. Make sure that buy castor oil that is diluted as the potent form is very irritating to skin and eyes.
How to buy castor oil?
Make sure that you buy castor oil that is cold pressed. Most companies collect the beans and then process them to produce the oil. However, it is possible that mold covered beans might be processed resulting ni contaminated castor oil. Another point to be very careful of is that castor beans contain a natural toxin called ricin. This toxin is very dangerous to humans. Castor beans have to be culled, cleaned and then cold pressed to collect the oil. Make sure that you buy castor oil that is cold pressed as ricin is a liquid that cannot dissolve in the oil during the cold pressing process.