Risks and side effects | Castor oil

Risks and side effects

Castor oil is a herbal product, but this does not mean that it cannot cause side effects. When used for hair and eyelash care, it can cause local allergic reactions such as skin redness or itching. Otherwise, this type of application of castor oil is rather low-risk.

For the “external” application of castor oil on the skin, very few side effects are known. The first of these is a hypersensitivity reaction to the oil. These can also manifest themselves in allergic reactions of the skin.

A higher rate of side effects occurs with the “internal” intake of castor oil. In the course of its use as a laxative or as a contraction stimulant, side effects therefore occur more frequently.If castor oil is taken as a laxative, nausea, vomiting or stomach problems may occur as side effects. The patient may also experience unpleasant and severe cramps.

A further risk is also that the massive loss of fluid can lead to a shift in blood salts. Changes in the potassium concentration in particular can lead to severe side effects such as the occurrence of cardiac arrhythmia. For this reason, it is essential that you consult your doctor if you are taking this medicine for a longer period of time. If castor oil is used as a contraction stimulant, the same symptoms can occur as when it is taken as a laxative.