Castor oil is categorised by the United States Food and Drug Administration (with field offices and laboratories worldwide including the United Kingdom) as “recognised as safe and effective” for over-the-counter use as: Excessive oral usage of castor oil can produce an adverse effect on the mucosal membrane of the intestine. The effect has been shown in rabbit ileum to be similar to that produced by fatty acids, indicating that excessive use of castor oil (as with all fats) can potentially cause damage and create a similar environment in the intestine as with steatorrheal disease. 17 Walker SC, Trotter PD, Swaney WT, et al. C-tactile afferents: Cutaneous mediators of oxytocin release during affiliative tactile interactions? Neuropeptides. 2017;64:27-38.

Badaró MM, Salles MM, Leite VMF, et al. Clinical trial for evaluation of Ricinus communis and sodium hypochlorite as denture cleanser. J Appl Oral Sci. 2017;25(3):324-334.

Pharmacognosy of Castor Oil

Confused about whether Organic Castor Oil in Glass Bottle is Better or in Plastic Bottle? Here’s a guide to help you out! Glass is a non-reactive material, meaning it won’t leach chemicals into the oil, maintaining the oil’s purity. Here are the advantages of storing castor oil in a glass bottle:

van Erp H, Bates PD, Burgal J, et al. Castor phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferase facilitates efficient metabolism of hydroxy fatty acids in transgenic Arabidopsis. Plant Physiol. 2011;155(2):683-693. Andrade IM, Andrade KM, Pisani MX, et al. Trial of an experimental castor oil solution for cleaning dentures. Braz Dent J. 2014;25(1):43-47. While plastic bottles offer certain conveniences, they also raise concerns that cannot be ignored. Let’s look into it in detail. Pros: Kim H, Oh S, Gye MC, Shin I. Comparative toxicological evaluation of nonylphenol and nonylphenol polyethoxylates using human keratinocytes. Drug Chem Toxicol. 2018;41(4):486-491.Light Exposure: Most plastic bottles don’t provide adequate protection against UV light, which can degrade the quality of castor oil. Amar SK, Goyal S, Srivastav AK, et al. Combined effect of Benzophenone-2 and ultraviolet radiation promote photogenotoxicity and photocytotoxicity in human keratinocytes. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2018;95:298-306. Castor oil is the master carrier oil, due to its structure and the MW of ricinoleic acid. Because of this amazing capability to transport and transfer substances into the body, it is of the utmost importance to only use a high-quality oil that is organic. Gaginella TS, Phillips SF. Ricinoleic acid (castor oil) alters intestinal surface structure. A scanning electronmiscroscopic study. Mayo Clin Proc. 1976;51(1):6-12. I strongly suggest you read a book entitled “The Oil that Heals” to learn of its many holistic uses.

Plastic bottles are lightweight and shatter-proof, making them a popular choice for many manufacturers. However, there are concerns when using them for oil storage: Castor Oil is a vegetable oil extracted from the seed of the castor plant Ricinus communis. Castor oil is colourless or very light yellow in colour and is either mild or odourless in taste and smell. Ninety percent (90%) of it’s fatty acid chains are ricinoleic acid – an unsaturated omega-9 fatty acid which is well known medically for it’s “ remarkable analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects“ [1] Chemical Leaching: Some plastics can leach chemicals, such as BPA (Bisphenol A), into the oil over time, especially when exposed to heat. This contamination can affect the oil’s quality and safety.Holm T, Brøgger-Jensen MR, Johnson L, Kessel L. Glutathione preservation during storage of rat lenses in optisol-GS and castor oil. PLoS One. 2013;8(11):e79620. Since my hair has become extremely dry, fly away, lifeless, and dull resulting in hair breakage, I decided to try a hot oil treatment to resolve my problem. I chose castor oil for this purpose because it’s what my mother used on her hair when I was a child (She also administered it to us as a “spring” tonic every spring stating it would cleanse our liver – and boy, did it work!). Gaginella TS, Stewart JJ, Olsen WA, Bass P. Actions of ricinoleic acid and structurally related fatty acids on the gastrointestinal tract. II. Effects on water and electrolyte absorption in vitro. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1975;195(2):355-361.