Posted by Les Mauvaises Herbes
Less popular than olive oil, more affordable than argan oil, and unknown to most people, castor oil is nevertheless a natural beauty ally.
Here is its fascinating history (in the voice of Charles Tisseyre) and its precious... or dangerous uses. Yes, really!
A bit of history
Before the castor bean, the beaver...
Castor oil is obtained by pressing the seeds of the... castor plant (duh!), or Ricinus communis in Latin.
This shrub with beautiful, large palmate leaves can reach several meters in height, especially in warmer regions of the globe. Today, the majority of the oil available on the market comes from India.
In English, it is called castor oil. But be aware that no beavers are used in its production!
The fact is that castor oil has since replaced the therapeutic uses of castoreum, which had been used since antiquity to treat various ailments, ranging from wounds to migraines.
Castore-what?
It is a highly odorous oily secretion that actually comes from Canada's iconic animal, more specifically from glands located near the anus. Trappers used it for hunting, and for a long time it was a choice ingredient in perfumery, due to its fruity and musky notes reminiscent of leather. #coldsweats
If I told you that castoreum is also used to imitate vanilla flavoring in desserts, would you believe me? Yet it's true! And not very appetizing...
Don't panic, however: the use of castoreum as a food additive is said to be extremely rare nowadays, particularly because of its cost and the fact that it involves the death of the animal.
To get back to castor oil, rest assured, all that remains of the beaver in castor oil is its etymology.
Our rodents can go build their dams in peace!
Castor oil as a weapon of war
Dense and viscous, it is very popular in cosmetics, but not recommended for internal use due to its laxative effect.
Unfortunately, this aspect did not escape the cruelty of many. In 1930s Italy, while the country was under the grip of dictator Mussolini, the fascist Blackshirt militias humiliated their communist adversaries by forcing them to drink castor oil, thus causing dehydration and violent diarrhea.
In a less horrific, but still worrying vein, a nurse friend told me recently that many women ingested castor oil on their due date to stimulate contractions. Do I need to clarify that it's not a good idea?
It is better to keep it for external use to limit stretch marks on the belly!
It is also dangerous to consume the seeds of the castor plant due to their content of ricin, a deadly poison more toxic than cyanide.
The various topical uses of castor oil
1. For full lashes
Castor oil is best known for strengthening hair, nails, and eyelashes.
Since mine are fragile and fall out at the slightest breeze, I was determined to try this oil with its supposedly miraculous virtues.
So I filled an empty mascara tube and with the brush, I applied it to my lashes at night before going to bed.
Observation: I had to be careful not to get it directly in my eyes. Which happened more often than not, it goes without saying. After a few weeks, I actually felt that my lashes were fuller. I gave up this practice afterwards due to laziness.
I prefer to do as Cleopatra did and use it in my makeup remover now!
Rose and lavender eye make-up remover
This recipe is a super simple combination of hydrosol and vegetable oil, resulting in a bi-phase make-up remover. The oil's richness dislodges makeup and leaves a protective film on the skin, while the hydrosol hydrates and soothes it. The perfect cocktail, really!
Préparation
10 min
Conservation
6 mois
Rendement
60 ml
Aloe and chamomile cleansing gel
A beautiful, simple, and gentle recipe for the sensitive skin of this world. With its macerate of fresh chamomile flowers, it's pure bliss for delicate facial skin!
Préparation
5 min
Conservation
6 mois
Rendement
50 ml
2. For healthy nails
In the same vein, you can apply pure castor oil, or mix it with another vegetable oil, to give your nails a little health treatment! Let it work for about thirty minutes before cleaning with soap.
If you tend to wear nail polish often, your nails will thank you for this attention.
3. For muscle and joint pain
Castor oil is traditionally used in a poultice to soothe muscle or joint pain and accelerate the healing of sports injuries. It helps reduce swelling by promoting blood and lymphatic circulation.
4. For silky… and more numerous hair
Castor oil adds shine to hair and stimulates growth.
You can use it alone or in combination with another vegetable oil in a hair mask, ideal for damaged, dry, or curly manes. Start with a tablespoon, because it is an oil that is difficult to remove, even after a shampoo. Here is my little quick recipe:
Simply apply it from roots to ends on previously wet hair, massage the scalp, and let it rest for at least 30 minutes before washing. Repeat once or twice a week (or as often as you like, I'm not here to check!).
Several weeks are often necessary before seeing results.
Pssst: it supposedly also works for beards and baldness!
You can also add castor oil to a nourishing hair mask recipe, in shampoo, or in conditioner.
Mango, castor, and hemp whipped butter for hair (and body)
Is your mane looking sad? You're not alone. When my hair is particularly dry, I like to turn to more nourishing treatments to give it a boost: hot oil treatments, clay masks, or whipped vegetable butter masks. I'm sharing a recipe for a hair nourishing butter that is creamy, super nourishing, and simple.
- Marie
Préparation
20 min
Conservation
12 mois
Rendement
120 ml
Solid shampoo with burdock and lavandin - sensitive scalp/oily hair
Are there any fine, oily hair types and sensitive scalps in the room? That perfectly describes my mane. This recipe was therefore designed with lavandin and burdock, two allies for the famous sensitive skin + oily hair combo. I've selected gentle and balancing ingredients to tame my fire-breathing sebum-producing scalp.
- Audrey
Préparation
15 min
Conservation
indéfinie
Rendement
100 g
Nettle "one-pot" liquid revitalizer
While we're obsessed with solid conditioners, we know they're not for everyone. We absolutely adore this lightweight liquid version, especially how simple it is to make with the famous "one-pot" method. Yes, really! Like those fantastic recipes where you put all the ingredients in a pot and 30 minutes later, it's ready! Thank you, good night.
Préparation
15 min
Conservation
3 mois
Rendement
200 g
Solid marshmallow and cocoa conditioner - dry, frizzy and coily hair
Once you get to know our conditioner bar recipes, you’ll have no trouble saying goodbye to the many commercial conditioner bottles you collect. Here’s a super simple, eco-friendly, economical recipe (the bar lasts for months!) designed for curly, coily, or dry hair. Make this recipe! It’s a life changer.
Préparation
20 min
Conservation
12 mois
Rendement
100 g
Solid conditioner mango and hemp - normal hair
Our solid conditioner will make you want to relegate your commercial cream conditioner to oblivion! A simple recipe, highly adaptable to your specific needs, that lasts a looooonnnggg time (so super economical!), but above all: SO EFFECTIVE! Yes, we're shouting.
Préparation
20 min
Conservation
12 mois
Rendement
100 g
For foaming soaps
Have you ever thought about making your own artisanal soaps? In the world of artisanal soap making, castor oil has a fabulous reputation: that of giving soaps a rich and creamy lather.
Personally, I put it in all of mine. Paired with coconut oil, it's a dynamic duo that makes beautiful bubbles in the shower.
Wishing you Rapunzel hair and Bambi lashes!
Stéphanie
Sources
Hélène Tierchant. Ces plantes qui ont marqué l'histoire. Ulmer, 2016
www.strangehistory.net/2014/11/03/mussolinis-secret-weapon-castor-oil/
http://huile-de-ricin.net/guide/questions/accouchement/
https://www.aroma-zone.com/info/fiche-technique/huile-vegetale-ricin-bio-aroma-zone?page=library
www.jardinierparesseux.com/2016/05/04/comment-semer-le-ricin/
www.guide-huiledericin.fr/quest-ce-que-lhuile-de-castor/
www.snopes.com/food/ingredient/castoreum.asp
