Castor oil has been used in the past to treat epilepsy, to shrink hemorrhoids, and to combat joint pain and tumors. Years ago, castor oil was commonly used to cure stomach aches and constipation. There's no scientific proof the oil is effective for any of these conditions, however.
If you choose to take castor oil for constipation, be sure not to use it constantly. Habitual use of the oil causes your digestive tract to depend on the substance for proper functioning.
Although castor oil is enjoying widespread use again, chances are you won't find it in many bathroom medicine cabinets these days, reports this article from Cleveland's Plain Dealer. According to the article, you're much more likely to find castor oil in lipstick, ink, paper, crayons, soap, shampoo, antiperspirants, paint, or in engine lubricants.
"It is a very versatile substance," says Bill Massa, president of CasChem of Bayonne, N.J., a company that produces castor oil derivatives.
Castor oil is really just a vegetable oil. It is made by pressing the plant's seeds or beans under steel rollers. Interestingly, the beans are extremely toxic and can cause death.
