Introduction
Castor oil belongs to the group of vegetable oils and is extracted from the seeds of the so-called miracle tree. Castor oil has various properties. It is colorless to yellowish and has a typical smell.
Its consistency is rather viscous and does not harden in air. The largest quantities of castor oil are obtained in areas such as China, Brazil and India. It has been used as a remedy in the past and is used in many different areas.
The oil is used in the medical sector, in the cosmetics industry and in the industrial sector, among others. Castor oil consists of different glycerides. The main component is the triglyceride of ricinoleic acid.
The gentlest method of extracting the oil from the seeds is the so-called cold pressing. This keeps the oil in its natural form without any additives. Another way of obtaining castor oil is the so-called refining.
In this process, however, numerous ingredients are lost from the oil. The refined oil is cheaper than the cold-pressed castor oil. The refined oil is mainly used in industry for the production of various substances.
Due to the high concentration of glycerides, castor oil also has a laxative effect on the body. This effect is maintained during the refining of the oil. In the cosmetic field, castor oil is used to treat dandruff and cracks of the skin.
In addition, it can be found as a component of many creams, care products and also in bath oils. For cosmetics the cold-pressed oil is of special importance. The effect of castor oil is also used in obstetrics.
Here, it is mainly used to induce labor pains and is administered as a so-called “labor cocktail”. It develops its effect by promoting uterine contraction. Castor oil lasts about half a year.
It should be noted that it is stored at room temperature. In addition, it should be filled into light-protected containers. It is available in pharmacies in the form of brown glass jars.
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