Castor oil has become popular on social media for a variety of uses, from hair growth to weight loss.
There are millions of posts about the oil on TikTok, with many creators sharing how they use it to improve their health.
More controversially, some creators apply castor oil directly to their belly buttons, and now that the FDA has approved it as a natural laxative, some people even drink it as a detox and weight loss method.
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Although some people online have reported positive results, experts warn that consuming castor oil can be dangerous to your overall health.
“I’ve never heard of castor oil being used outside of its traditional uses,” registered dietitian Ilana Murstein told Fox News Digital.
According to the National Institutes of Health, castor oil is a vegetable oil extracted from the castor bean (Ricinus communis) plant, which is commonly found in eastern regions of the world. (iStock)
The Los Angeles-based expert speculated that because castor oil acts as a laxative, its primary use is for short-term, mild weight loss.
“Laxatives can cause dehydration and lead to addiction,” she says. “There are safer alternatives.”
She added: “If you’re having trouble going to the bathroom, try increasing your fluid intake, adding fiber to your diet and getting more exercise. If you have any questions, speak to your doctor or dietitian.”
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Katrina Mattingly, MD, chief medical officer at Options Medical Weight Loss in Chicago, said castor oil is a “time-tested, old-fashioned laxative.”
“The first thing that comes to mind is diarrhea,” she said in an email to Fox News Digital.
Castor oil is a “time-tested, time-honored laxative” with a “unique taste,” one doctor told Fox News Digital, but doctors warn against using it for weight loss. (iStock)
“I remember my 97-year-old grandmother giving it to me with prune juice when I was a child and needed help with my digestive system,” Mattingly said.
Castor oil “speeds up the excretion of solid waste products from the body and also removes essential fluids from the body,” experts said.
This can cause weight loss, but it can also lead to deficiencies because “along with the solid waste and essential water that goes down the toilet, essential vitamins and minerals like potassium and chlorine are also going down the toilet,” Mattingly said.
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While castor oil can help relieve occasional constipation, overuse of it as a laxative can make your intestines dependent on it and “make it harder to have a bowel movement naturally,” Mattingly warned.
Obesity specialists stressed that they do not recommend castor oil in any form for weight loss.
Some doctors recommend taking small amounts of castor oil only if you experience occasional constipation. (iStock)
“Castor oil has been used for centuries for a variety of reasons, from detoxifying the body to vision problems to inducing labor, but there is no safety data to recommend its routine use for any of these conditions, except for constipation,” she said.
Current scientific studies and research do not support its use for the sole purpose of weight loss, the doctor noted.
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Mattingly said if castor oil has helped you in the past, he recommends taking it “in small amounts” and only for occasional constipation.
“Remember to drink fluids to replace lost fluids. If you have long-term or chronic constipation, you should see a doctor.”
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Women’s health expert Dr. Mindy Peltz advocates using castor oil packs to regulate organ function and flush toxins from the body.
The California-based doctor claimed that castor oil is absorbed through the skin and passes “very easily” into the organs.
Applying castor oil can trigger a “powerful detox,” one doctor said. (iStock)
“When castor oil enters the body, it causes expansion,” Peltz told Fox News Digital. “It’s very simple, very inexpensive. You just put it on your liver and gallbladder. You have to leave it there for two hours for the castor oil to expand those organs.”
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Peltz recommended applying castor oil at night up to three times a week for a “powerful full-body detox.”
The FDA has approved castor oil as a natural laxative. (iStock)
But Mattingly countered that castor oil “is not expected to have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial or antioxidant properties.”
Mattingly also noted that claims circulating on social media are often based on personal experiences, but particular apps don’t have the same effect on everyone.
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“When it comes to medical weight loss, leave it to the professionals to make sure they’re following a safe and effective plan that won’t put you in pain or require a dreaded emergency room visit,” she advised.
Other Uses for Castor Oil
Muehlstein said castor oil has several traditional uses, including applying it to the scalp and eyelashes to promote hair growth and to the belly button to improve sleep quality.
“Some people say it can reduce muscle tension and promote deeper sleep,” she says, “but I’ve heard that overuse can also make you feel lethargic, so be careful,” she adds.
“Perhaps with future research, [castor oil] “Nothing happens except constipation,” one doctor said. (iStock)
Another potential use for castor oil is as a topical treatment for skin inflammation and scars, Muhlstein added.
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“People have reported positive results,” she says, “so if you have skin problems that are bothering you, it might be worth a try, but be sure to consult a dermatologist for anything more serious.”
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Mattingly recommends applying castor oil to the stomach and skin only as a moisturizer, not for weight loss.
“Also, castor oil can have an unpleasant smell,” she warned. “So keep this in mind, especially if you use it on your face or hair.”
