Say Yes To Castor Oil To Improve Your Skin And Hair

All you need to know about this wonder oil in five simple points

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All you need to know about this wonder oil in five simple points

 

An age-old household remedy, castor oil is one of the secrets passed through generations since centuries. It is coveted for its incredible beauty benefits, but today, it stands the risk of getting lost in the crowd of fancier-sounding formulations, although its properties have not waned one bit. If you haven’t heard of the benefits of this miracle worker, here’s everything you need to know in five quick points.

1. Castor oil is produced from the beans of Ricinus communis, one of the world’s oldest cultivated crops. India is the largest producer and exporter of castor oil in the world, accounting for over 90 per cent of the global share. Its production is concentrated primarily in Gujarat, followed by Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan.

2. With a distinct flavour and smell, this dense, yellow-coloured oil is commercially used to manufacture soaps, lubricants, brake fluids, inks, cold-resistant plastics, waxes and polishes. However, it is also known for its use in beauty routines—for hair, skin and even nails.

3. When consumed in the right quantity, the ricinoleic acid(a kind of fatty acid) in castor oil helps relieve constipation by acting as a laxative. “It works by increasing the movement of the intestines to help stool come out,” says Felice Schnoll-Sussman, MD, a gastroenterologist at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in a Good Housekeeping article. “Due to its laxative properties, it can cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and electrolyte disturbances.” she adds. However, it is not recommended to pregnant women as it can induce early labour.

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