A native of India, the plant Ricinus communis is responsible for giving us castor oil. The oil has been part of Indian herbal remedies aka Ayurveda for literally centuries, as well as an essential part of the Indian beauty regime. One of the most common uses of castor oil even today in India is for hair growth. But here’s the thing – not only does it make your hair look luscious and shiny, it also reduces inflammation, boosts metabolism, acts as a laxative and dun dun dunnnn…helps you lose weight! And seriously, what better way for you to get rid of those extra pounds than by doing it in a 100% natural way?
How Does Castor Oil Help to Lose Weight?
Before we begin with the castor oil benefits for weight loss, we will explain how exactly castor oil helps with that process. See, the oil helps your body become a fat burner by not only improving your metabolism, but also using reserve fat deposits in your body as a fuel for burning fat. Oh, and it alleviates the problem of water retention in your body, which again helps you lose the unnecessary weight that you’ve been carrying. So that’s a triple whammy for you, especially if you’ve reached a plateau and nothing you do seems to be working towards your fat loss journey.
Different Ways to Lose Weight Through Castor Oil
Here’s the thing about castor oil – it’s versatile. You can drink it, cook in it, apply it on your skin or even make body wraps to help get rid of those excess pounds!Needless to say, this isn’t a miracle cure, which means you will have to indulge in not only regular physical workouts, but manage a strict (but healthy) diet regimen as well.
1. Topical Application
Put a few teaspoons of castor oil inside a microwave proof container, and let it warm for 30 seconds or so. Don’t let it become hot, or you will end up burning your skin. Take it out of the microwave, and then slowly massage that oil on your problem area in circular motions. Apply it in a clockwise and anticlockwise direction (each) for 3-4 minutes. The oil will become cool during this period, so don’t hesitate to re-warm it.
In terms of castor oil benefits for weight loss, it will not only get rid of stubborn fat deposits, but it also rejuvenates and tightens your sagging skin. It’s an excellent solution for women who have delivered their babies and are now looking at ways to get back in shape naturally.
2. A Castor Oil Wrap
Sounds interesting, doesn’t it? And it’s quite an easy method too. All you need are the following easy to find items at home:
- A pillow
- Plastic wrap
- Hot water bag
- 3-4 tbsp. warm castor oil
- A piece of cloth (cotton of flannel)
Here’s what you have to do now:
- Sit on your bed in a comfortable position.
- Massage the warm oil on your problem area for 3-4 minutes.
- Keep massaging till your body temperature (on that spot) increases.
- Place the piece of cloth on the area.
- Wrap it with plastic wrap.
- Place the hot water bag on top of it and let it sit there for 8-10 minutes.
- Repeat the process 3-4 times a day for the best results.
3. Oral Consumption
You can consume 2 tsp. of castor oil every morning at least half an hour before eating your breakfast. If you can warm it up a little, that’s even better. Some people might find that they have to go to the bathroom immediately after consuming the oil, which is natural since castor oil is a natural laxative. However, don’t consume more than advised because this might have a detrimental effect on your health, like weakening of the colon or even chronic constipation.
If you feel the taste of castor oil is too bitter to be consumed by itself, then try replacing your cooking oil medium with castor oil. Sure, the difference in taste would be noticeable in the beginning but you will gradually get used to it. After all, the castor oil benefits for weight lossfar outweigh its con of its bitter taste.
4. Castor Oil & Ginger Tea
If using castor oil as a cooking medium sounds too drastic a change for you, then how about simply putting some in your fav cup of hot tea instead? Here are the ingredients you will need:
- You fav green tea bag
- A few slices of crushed ginger (aids in weight loss)
- Hot water
- 1 tbsp. castor oil
Make your tea like you normally would. Let it steep for 10 minutes or so, and during that period add the castor oil to it. Don’t forget to stir well before drinking. If the taste isn’t to your liking, simply add some stevia to the tea to sweeten its taste!
Other Benefits of Castor Oil
Did you know that apart from castor oil benefits for weight loss, there are several other ways in which castor oil benefits you? Here are some of the many advantages of incorporating castor oil in your lifestyle on a daily basis:
- Prevents premature graying
- Helps reduce acne
- Reduces pigmentation
- Treats scalp infections
- Boosts immunity
- Promotes hair growth
- Gives you stronger, shinier hair
- Gives you better skin
- Good for nail growth
- Fades blemishes
- Prevents stretch marks
- Treats ringworms
- Good for joints
- Helpful for back pain