Castor oil is a light yellow vegetable oil that can be purchased at pharmacies without a prescription. It is extracted from the castor bean and is used for the production of detergents, wax, some medicines, and among the people also as a laxative.
The basis of this oil is triglycerides of ricinoleic, linoleic and oleic acids. A doctor can also recommend castor oil for constipation; it acts predictably and causes bowel movements a few hours after administration.
Compound
The laxative properties of castor oil are determined by the composition of the product. It is completely natural. The basis of the product is castor oil, which can improve intestinal motility. The biochemical composition of castor oil extract is represented by the following substances:
- acids – ricenoleic, palmitic, linoleic, oleic, stearic;
- vitamin E.
The drug can be purchased bottled in dark glass bottles - volume 25-100 ml - and in capsule form (dosage 1 ml). The active ingredient is ricinic acid, which ensures more active intestinal function. After castor oil enters the lumen of the small intestine, ricinic acid begins to break down.
The substances formed as a result of this reaction have an irritating effect on local receptors, enhancing reflex peristalsis. Increasing the frequency of contractions of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) provides the necessary laxative effect.
Important! Castor beans provide softening of hard fecal matter.
To enhance the healing effect, castor oil can be combined with freshly squeezed lemon juice or pumpkin seeds. In the first case, the mixture, in addition to a laxative effect, cleanses the body of the accumulation of waste and toxins. In the second, the combination of agents has an anthelmintic effect. Castor oil begins to “work” after two to six hours. The period depends on the individual characteristics of the body, age group, total weight of the person and other factors.
The urge to have a bowel movement occurs suddenly and is often accompanied by abdominal pain
Operating principle
When castor oil enters the small intestine, it is broken down by the enzyme lipase, resulting in the formation of ricinoleic acid - it irritates the intestinal receptors throughout and leads to increased peristalsis.
The oil works not only as an emollient, mechanically facilitating the passage of feces, like Vaseline, but also has a direct stimulating effect on the receptors of smooth muscle cells of the intestinal walls. That is why using it for more than seven days, like any other stimulant laxative, is strictly not recommended.
Recommendations for use
How to take castor oil so as not to harm the body? There are several rules that it is advisable to strictly follow. Before you start taking the drug, you must follow a diet. The basis of the diet should be easy to digest dishes. This will make the cleansing process easier. Before taking the castor oil, you need to warm it up a little using a water bath.
The product has a specific taste and aroma. To prevent the development of nausea and vomiting, it should be taken in large sips. You can drink castor oil to relieve constipation for no longer than three days. Colon cleansing should be done on weekends. It is prohibited to deviate from the instructions for use of the product, or to exceed the recommended doses. Before starting home therapy, it is advisable to establish the true cause of stool consolidation.
Interaction
Castor oil reduces the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D and K. The use of the drug in a dose of up to 4 grams per day increases the absorption of fat-soluble drugs - Mebendazole , Probucol , Griseofulvin , Dryopteris filix-mas (male fern) extract.
In combination with saline laxatives, the possibility of a sharp increase in the laxative effect cannot be ruled out.
M-cholinergic receptor blockers ( Pirenzepine , Platyfilin , Atropine sulfate ) and antispasmodics ( Drotaverine , Papaverine ) weaken the effect of the oil.
Glycerin and cholinesterase inhibitors ( Rivastigmine , Pyridostigmine , neostigmine ) potentiate the laxative effect of the drug.
The drug potentiates the effect of drugs that increase the contractile activity of the myometrium ( Oxytocin , Methylergometrine , prostaglandins , Ergometrine ). This combination increases the likelihood of uterine rupture during childbirth.
When applied topically, it increases the percutaneous absorption of drugs that are applied to the skin simultaneously.
Instructions
How to normalize bowel function with constipation
The use of castor oil for constipation should be carried out in accordance with certain recommendations.
- The dose and frequency of administration depend on the format used, weight, age group of the patient and duration of constipation.
- Use of the product for chronic constipation is prohibited. The product can only be used once to solve a sudden problem caused by dietary errors.
- To speed up the effect of the drug, you need to drink it in the morning after waking up or in the evening, three hours after your last meal.
Castor oil in bottles
The dosage of the product is calculated based on the person’s weight: 1 ml of product per 1 kg. You need to take it once a day. If we talk about how long to drink the oil, then it all depends on the duration of constipation: for long-term constipation - no longer than 3 days, for short-term - a single dose of 1 tbsp is enough. l. oils before bed. If there is no laxative effect, you should consult a doctor.
Capsules
Castor oil packaged in gelatin capsules has no unpleasant odor or taste. This makes taking the product much easier. The dosage depends on the patient's age:
- children need to take at least 10 capsules;
- adults – at least 30 capsules.
To make it easier to take the product, the number of capsules should be divided into several parts and drunk at short intervals.
Enema
The use of castor oil as a cleansing enema is permitted only in exceptional cases. These include prolonged constipation, causing obvious discomfort in a person, before certain medical procedures related to examination/examination of the intestines. To prepare a cleaning solution, you need to dissolve a few drops of castor oil in cooled boiled water. The procedure is carried out once.
Important! Regular use of castor oil enemas can cause an imbalance in the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT).
Castor oil price. Where is castor oil sold?
How much does castor oil cost? The cost of this miracle product for hair and eyelashes depends on the manufacturer’s pricing policy, transportation costs, release form, volume of the bottle or number of capsules in the package, and method of production (cold-pressed oil is considered to be of higher quality).
The price of castor oil in Ukrainian pharmacies is from 5.8 UAH per 30 ml bottle. You can buy a 100 ml bottle for an average of 15-17 UAH. In Moscow and pharmacies in other Russian cities, a 30 ml bottle costs from 12 to 50 rubles, and a 100 ml bottle costs from 80 rubles. The price for castor oil in capsules in Ukrainian pharmacies is 29-56 UAH, in Russian pharmacies - an average of 250 rubles.
People who regularly use castor oil sometimes prefer to purchase Indian castor oil, which comes in 1 liter bottles. The price of the product produced by Amee Castor & Derivatives Ltd is from 800 rubles.
Where to buy castor oil? Castor oil can be purchased at any pharmacy, as well as through online stores.
- Online pharmacies in RussiaRussia
- Online pharmacies in UkraineUkraine
- Online pharmacies in KazakhstanKazakhstan
ZdravCity
- Castor oil for oral administration 30mlKirovskaya f.f.
109 rub. order - Hair shampoo Birch buds and castor oil Green pharmacy Elfa/Elfa 1lNPO Elfa
RUB 331 order
- Hair balm-conditioner Birch buds and castor oil Green pharmacy Elfa/Elfa 300mlNPO Elfa
184 RUR order
- Shampoo castor oil and almonds Garnier botanic therapy 250 ml Branch of JSC L'Oreal
RUB 246 order
- Balm castor oil and almonds Botanic therapy Garnier 200 ml Branch of JSC L'Oreal
RUB 246 order
Pharmacy Dialogue
- Castor oil (bottle 30ml)Aromasintez LLC
36 RUR order
- Castor oil (30ml bottle) Tverskaya FF
36 RUR order
show more
PaniPharmacy
- Castor oil capsule Castor oil capsule.
500 mg No. 50 Ukraine, Harmony 53 UAH. order - Castor oil liquid Castor oil 100ml Ukraine, Viola FF CJSC
18 UAH order
- Castor oil 100ml Ukraine, Brovafarma
23 UAH order
- CASTOR OIL liquid Castor oil 100ml Ukraine, Lubnyfarm PJSC
16 UAH order
- Castor oil liquid Castor oil 100ml Ukraine, Fitofarm ChAO
18 UAH order
show more
Recipes
To enhance the effect of taking castor oil, the product can be mixed with additional components.
Castor oil with lemon juice
You need to take a mixture of castor oil and lemon juice once. The best time is in the evening before going to bed. Ingredients: castor oil, lemon juice - it can be replaced with grapefruit juice. Application scheme:
- It is necessary to calculate the dosage of castor oil based on the patient’s weight.
- Prepare juice. Its volume should be exactly 2 times the volume of oil.
- Mix the ingredients and heat the mixture slightly in a water bath.
- Drink the mixture in one go. To eliminate the unpleasant aftertaste, you are allowed to eat several dried fruits after drinking the drink.
Cleansing the gastrointestinal tract in this way can be done no more than once a month. With more frequent procedures, it is possible that intestinal dysbiosis and digestive disorders may develop.
Frequent cleansing of the gastrointestinal tract with a mixture of castor oil and lemon juice can lead to disruption of the intestinal microflora
Castor oil with pumpkin seeds
This method of using castor oil simultaneously solves the problem of constipation and helps remove parasites, if any. During the entire period of taking the drug, you need to eat easy-to-digest dishes and foods. Ingredients: castor oil – 1 tbsp. l., pumpkin seeds - 100 pieces. Application scheme:
- Pumpkin seeds must be freed from the shell. Divide into several parts.
- During the day you need to eat pumpkin seeds. In the evening before bed, take 1 tbsp. l. preheated castor oil.
Duration of treatment – 3 days. You can use the technique once a month. The use of an antiparasitic mixture is permissible only if helminth infection is confirmed by tests. A potential sign of infection may be itching in the anal area.
Use in children, the elderly and pregnant women
The use of castor oil in these groups has its own characteristics. The drug is completely prohibited for use while pregnant. The drug can increase the contractility of the uterus, which leads to bleeding and the onset of miscarriage. The use of castor oil should be avoided during breastfeeding. Castor bean oil penetrates into milk and can cause severe colic in an infant.
The product can only be taken if the child is completely weaned. Castor oil should not be used to treat constipation in children under 12 years of age. Admission is possible only after consultation with a pediatrician. Dosage – 1 tsp. oils once. Castor oil should be used with extreme caution in older people. Single dose – 1 tsp. before bedtime. The duration of the course is no more than three days.
Castor oil during pregnancy
Castor oil during pregnancy is contraindicated due to the fact that it can cause early termination. In the last trimester, use is possible for health reasons.
Sometimes you can find advice on using castor oil to stimulate labor. Some midwives recommend that a woman approaching her due date drink 110-120 ml of castor oil mixed with orange juice and a teaspoon of baking soda.
The drug causes contractions of the myometrium , which in turn can speed up labor: according to statistics, after taking 60 ml of castor oil , contractions begin in more than 55% of women at 40 weeks or more.
However, extensive and controlled studies have not been conducted on this subject, and extreme caution should be used when inducing labor with castor oil , since the product can cause severe dehydration.
If it is necessary to use during lactation, breastfeeding must be stopped for the entire period of treatment.
Side effects and contraindications
The prohibition against using castor oil is:
- allergy to castor oil or its food form;
- period of pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- chronic constipation;
- inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, accompanied by the formation of erosions and ulcers;
- pain in the intestines;
- uterine bleeding;
- nephritis;
- children under 12 years of age;
- obstruction of any part of the gastrointestinal tract.
Against the background of castor therapy, pathological symptoms sometimes develop:
- attacks of nausea ending in vomiting;
- pain in the intestines caused by increased peristalsis;
- bloating as a result of active gas formation;
- frequent urge to defecate, accompanied by pain in the intestines;
- addiction - because of this, using castor oil for more than three days is prohibited;
- increased uterine tone in expectant mothers, which can cause spontaneous abortion or premature labor.
Castor oil is good for constipation
The use of castor oil to relieve constipation is unacceptable in case of poisoning with fat-soluble poisons. A contraindication is also the period of treatment with drugs that contain rosehip extract, or drinking alcohol-containing drinks. The drug cannot be combined with other laxative medications.
Possible complications
Failure to comply with recommendations for taking castor oil is accompanied by the development of unpleasant conditions: disturbances in the functioning of the digestive tract, prolonged stool upset, deviations in water-salt metabolism, expressed in the development of swelling and symptoms of dehydration, the onset of premature labor, miscarriages in early gestational stages, difficulty urinating and kidney function.
If the recommended doses are not observed, the development of nausea, vomiting, and general weakness cannot be ruled out.
Analogs
Level 4 ATX code matches:
Slabicap
Kafiol
Guttasil
Senadexin
Laxigal
Senna leaves
Herbion Laksana
Dulcolax
Bisacodyl
Regulax Picosulfate
Regulax
Weak
Mukofalk
Senade
Guttalax
Ricinova oliya-Viola , Agiolax , Bisacodyl , Glaxenna , Dulcolax , Guttalax , Laxigal , Mucofalk , Izafenin , Regulax , Slabilen , Slabicap , Senade , Tisasen , Picoprep , Fibralax .
Reviews
Reviews from doctors about the use of castor oil are mixed. Doctors are reluctant to recommend this folk remedy to their patients for the treatment of stool retention, since errors in dosages can lead to serious complications.
Stagnation of feces, accompanied by a prolonged absence of stool, can occur for various reasons. To determine the true factor of stool retention, a medical examination is necessary. However, castor oil is regularly used to relieve constipation.
Elena, 56 years old: I rarely encounter problems with constipation. But if there is no stool, then I use my mother’s recipe - I take a little castor oil. It works very gently, I have never had stomach pain, as many people write. But I only drink it on weekends so that I can safely go to the toilet when the oil takes effect.
Alena, 32 years old: Recently, problems with bowel movements have begun to appear very often. Vegetables solve the problem poorly. I decided to try drinking castor oil. I take it in the morning and always wash it down with water and lemon. There is almost no nasty taste, and the product helps very well.
Castor oil is a good remedy for constipation caused by poor nutrition. But if you have frequent problems with stool, you need to seek help from specialists and undergo a full medical examination.
Overdose
An overdose occurs when taking a dose exceeding 7 grams per kilogram of weight. Characteristic symptoms of overdose are:
- sharp cramps in the abdomen ;
- diarrhea;
- kidney dysfunction;
- hallucinations;
- dizziness;
- loss of consciousness.
Antidotes for castor oil are Loperamide and Atropine sulfate . Treatment is aimed at:
- replenishment of electrolyte and fluid losses (as a rule, the patient is prescribed a combined intravenous and oral administration of rehydration agents );
- elimination of violations caused by an overdose on the part of various systems and organs.
If neurotoxic effects , 5 to 10 mg of diazepam .
