Castor Oil: history, uses and cleanses — from Cleopatra to my cabin in Portugal

Some plants don't try to stand out. And then there's castor.

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Palmate leaves like a giant hand, red flowers that light up along roadsides in summer, spiky capsules that look like sea urchins — it's a striking plant from Portuguese roadsides, and probably one of the most powerful too.

I have it in my garden. And I've had it in my naturo toolkit for years — as oil, and as a flower essence I make myself.

Here is its story. And mine with it.

Castor and its oil — what are they?

Ricinus communis. The Euphorbiaceae family. A plant that can reach several metres in height in warm climates, found wild in Portugal — along roadsides, in gardens, at the edge of fields.

Its Latin name comes from the word ricinus — meaning tick. Its seeds, oval and mottled, do indeed resemble these small arachnids, imitating their hump and characteristic markings. Communis simply means 'common' — and for a plant you encounter at every turn in the Algarve, that's well deserved.

Its leaves recall the great hands of a tropical tree. Its flowers? Castor is a monoecious plant — it carries both male and female flowers on the same stem. The male flowers, with yellow stamens, are at the base. The female flowers, with vivid red pistils, crown the top. That's why the plant is so ornamental — those red flowers you can see from afar are actually the female flowers.

And its seeds? They look like mottled beans.

They are what contain the oil. They also contain ricin, an extremely toxic substance — which is why the plant deserves to be known and respected, not feared.

The cold-pressed oil from the seeds does not contain ricin. This is what we use in naturopathy.

Attention, les graines de ricin sont toxiques. Il ne faut pas les laissez traîner et jamais les consommer. Grande vigilance requise avec les enfants qui pourraient jouer avec ou aux animaux de compagnie qui pourraient essayer d’en avaler. La plante contient un poison, la ricine. La concentration de ricine est maximale dans la graine. Mais la ricine n'est pas soluble dans l'huile, c'est pourquoi l'huile n'est pas toxique.

There is another toxic substance, ricinine, in the leaves.

The plant is beautiful, inedible and dangerous.

A gardener's tip: if you have a vegetable garden, plant a castor plant between your potatoes. It naturally repels Colorado potato beetles. A decorative, purifying and insect-repelling plant — the complete package.

A history spanning 4,000 years — at least

Here's what I love about castor oil: it's been used for millennia. And it still works.

Castor seeds have been found in Egyptian tombs dating back more than 4,000 years BC. They were already used to fuel oil lamps — and to heal. The famous Ebers Papyrus, written around 1550 BC, mentions its laxative properties. Cleopatra used it to brighten the whites of her eyes and as a make-up remover.

In India, Ayurvedic medicine calls it eranda and considers it the king of medicines for joint pain. It has been used for at least 2,000 years BC. In China, doctors recognised its virtues against muscle pain and rheumatism.

In Rome, it was given another name: Palma Christi. The Palm of Christ. Some say it was for its ability to heal wounds — in reference to the wounds inflicted on Jesus. Others, more pragmatic, explain that this name simply comes from the shape of its leaves. In any case, its healing properties seemed so profound they inspired the sacred.

In sub-Saharan Africa — Sudan, Tanzania, Kenya — it was more precious than sesame oil. More precious even than olive oil.

In Europe, the plant was first considered a magical remedy for hair regrowth. No cleanse, no lymph: just vanity, which is very human. It wasn't until the 18th century that science took a serious interest in its digestive properties. And then, generations of children will remember: throughout the 19th and well into the 20th century, castor oil was the family purge — prescribed by doctors, given by parents as part of an annual deworming, swallowed with a grimace by millions of children across Europe and the Americas. The obligatory annual maintenance. Some remember it with dread. Others with a certain nostalgia.

Traditional midwives also used castor oil to help trigger labour in cases of overdue pregnancies or difficult births. This practice was passed down from generation to generation, well beyond geographical or cultural boundaries.

And its English name, castor oil? It probably comes from the fact that it was used to replace castoreum — the secretions from a beaver's glands. Nature recycles its recipes.

In 1687, Africans brought castor seeds to America. The plant has travelled with people, everywhere, since always.

A story that always makes me smile: in the Tom Sawyer cartoon, there is an entire episode dedicated to the castor oil purge! "Tom Sawyer and the Castor Oil", episode 9 (1980)

Which castor oil to choose?

An important point, and often a source of confusion.

In France and most European countries, it is almost impossible to find food-grade castor oil in shops. It is almost systematically labelled 'cosmetic use'.

No panic: this isn't a problem. What matters is the quality of the oil itself. Choose an organic, cold-pressed castor oil with no additives — and the fact that it's labelled cosmetic doesn't change much for its use as a cleanse, as long as the composition is pure.

A few tips for choosing: a single line of ingredients: Ricinus communis seed oil. No fragrance, no preservatives, no added mineral oil. Organic preferred, to limit pesticide residues. It should be thick, slightly golden, with a neutral to slightly nutty smell.

You can find it in organic shops and specialist websites. As always, if you're unsure about the choice or dosage — that's exactly what we talk about in consultation.

Castor oil is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids. It is a very stable oil that doesn't go rancid quickly and keeps well.

How does castor oil work in the body?

Ricinoleic acid — the engine of the cleanse

Castor oil contains more than 90% of a very particular fatty acid: ricinoleic acid. This is what does all the work.

Once ingested, ricinoleic acid binds to EP3 prostaglandin receptors in the smooth muscles of the intestine. When activated, these receptors trigger intestinal contractions and accelerate motility: the intestine gets moving, intestinal secretions increase, and everything that had been stagnating in the walls ends up being eliminated. Mucus, waste deposits accumulated over sometimes years — all of it can come out, and the colour or smell of the eliminations is often a surprise.

The 'dry' logic — why no water

This is where castor oil sets itself apart from all other cleanses.

Saline cleanses — Epsom salts, magnesia, chlorumagene — work by osmosis: they draw water towards the intestine and are accompanied by plenty of liquid to drain and eliminate. Their main target: the liver, gallbladder, transit.

Castor oil is taken without water. And that's precisely why it reaches into the lymph.

When the body contains less water at the time of the cleanse, it mobilises its internal fluids to support the action of the oil — and it's the lymph that is called upon first. This deep fluid that circulates between cells, carries toxins, mucus, cellular waste — and which saline cleanses don't really touch.

Ricinoleic acid also locally stimulates the recruitment of lymphocytes — immune cells of the lymphatic system. The action on the lymph is not anecdotal: it is at the heart of how this cleanse works.

Internally: the lymph cleanse

Castor oil is a dry cleanse.

In practice: there are many ways to take it and I support you in consultation to find the formula that works for you. Morning or evening, from 1 teaspoon up to several tablespoons.

The oil is thick, viscous, with a distinctive taste that some find tolerable and even compare to hazelnut oil — and others... like much less.

To swallow it more easily, you can mix it with juice or warm drinks. I always look for the formula that goes down best for each person.

My own story with castor oil.

When I was diagnosed with a brain tumour, I took a few days to take in the news. My husband brought me vegetable juices in hospital every day. With the best of intentions, he had the idea of trying garlic juice. Horrible. I forgive him!

I had already had naturopathy in my life for a long time. But I had gone through one pregnancy and breastfeeding after another — I hadn't yet experimented much with fasting and cleanses. Just a little.

The decision didn't take long. I undertook an extremely intense process — which I don't particularly recommend, especially if there's no very urgent need: 16 cleanses in one month of extended fasting. Including 15 castor oil cleanses.

The benefits were incredible — physical, emotional, mental.

And a side effect: a profound aversion to castor oil that lasted months. My body didn't want it at all. I could barely smell the bottle.

It faded and today I can use it — but sparingly, and with great respect for what it is: a powerful tool, not a trivial maintenance routine.

In my consultations, I support many people through the castor oil cleanse. Effects vary from person to person — but they are often impressive.

And always: preparation is key. A few days, sometimes a few weeks, sometimes several months beforehand depending on the vital terrain. The dosage, how to take it, the time of day, the exit from the cleanse, the return to eating — everything must be personalised. This is a step that changes everything.

Benefits of castor oil on four levels

On the physical level

Cleansing of the intestinal walls, elimination of mucus, lymph drainage, relief of water retention. Some people also notice an impact on the genital and pelvic area — decongestion, lightness. Note: the first signs of effectiveness can be visible from the next day, and sometimes progressively over months of protocol.

On the emotional level

The gut and emotions are connected — this isn't a metaphor, it's neurology. A cleansed intestine, drained lymph: many of my clients describe in the following days an emotional lightness, a more stable mood, renewed resilience. What the body was carrying, the body releases.

On the mental level

Mental clarity after a cleanse is one of the most consistent responses. The 'fog' lifting, ideas organising better, decisions becoming simpler. I've been through this myself — and I regularly receive it as testimony from my clients: you see more clearly, and sometimes you see yourself more clearly too.

On the energetic and spiritual level

In many traditions around the world, internal cleansing is an act as symbolic as it is physical. Cleansing means saying to the body: I hear you, I'm making room. It's also one of the reasons many spiritual practices — fasting, yogic cleanses, retreats — include bodily cleansing as a prerequisite for deeper inner work. When the body is less cluttered, internalisation often comes more easily. Inner silence too.

Externally: an ally for skin, hair and pain

This is perhaps where castor oil surprises the most.

Because it's often imagined as a brutal cleanse — and it can be — but externally, it has a surprising gentleness and versatility.

I use it on the scalp, skin problems, cysts, fibroids, haemorrhoids, scars. In gynaecological use. In detox wraps. As intestinal support applied to the abdomen. Alone, or combined with essential oils, vegetable oils, clay or other plants according to need.

My daughters make cosmetics with it. Balm, gloss, soap, cream, mask — it slips in easily.

Castor oil is also very useful for hair care, nail care and eyelash care.

And children? I use it for babies and children to relieve certain specific minor ailments. I've done it with my own children, many times.

Castor oil application protocol:

Concretely, you can apply a few tablespoons of oil to the abdomen (or another area), cover with a dedicated cloth, cling film (food plastic) or dedicated compresses. You can prepare a container with a reserve of oil in which you soak a cloth or cotton gauze and apply to the skin before covering with a towel, plastic wrap, a wool belt or a tight-fitting wrap. Be careful to use clothes you don't mind getting stained, wear an old pyjama you don't care about, a towel to protect the sheets, and let the castor oil penetrate gently. You can apply heat with a hot water bottle to optimise and support the absorption of the oil through the skin.

This is a base. In consultation, I give you personalised guidance for your situation to optimise the poultice or wrap.

What I see in consultation

I support many people with castor oil. Profiles are very different — and so are the effects.

There are those for whom it goes very easily: a few more evacuating trips to the bathroom — and that's it. Simple, effective, no drama.

There are those who observe surprising eliminations: mucus, discharge like a heavy cold coming out from below, unusual smells, sometimes very dark colours. This is not worrying — it's exactly what we're looking for. The body eliminates what it has accumulated, sometimes over a long time.

And then there are the effects you don't always expect, which appear after some time as part of a complete protocol. Fibroids that resorb. Skin problems that disappear. Cycles that regulate. Moods that improve durably. Water retention that releases. I refuse to make an exhaustive list because it might seem exaggerated — but if you've never tried it, try it.

What I also observe: the paramount importance of preparation. A well-prepared person experiences a smooth, effective and often surprisingly light cleanse. An unprepared person may experience something much more uncomfortable — nausea, fatigue, violent eliminations. It's not the cleanse that's problematic. It's the lack of preparation or a too-burdened vital terrain.

That's why I don't give a universal protocol. A teaspoon or a tablespoon? Evening or morning? Alone or combined with other plants? For how many days? It all depends on you — your vital terrain, your objectives, your vitality at the time, what your body is ready to go through. We determine this together in consultation.

Castor in Portugal — a plant you find everywhere

I love coming across this plant along a dirt path here in the Algarve.

Castor grows everywhere here. Along roadsides, on embankments, in overgrown gardens. With its vivid red flowers lighting up at the end of summer, it's a plant you can't miss.

I grow it in my garden.

The castor flower essence — when the plant works gently

Castor oil works in depth on the physical body.

The flower essence works on a different register — more subtle, more emotional, more energetic.

L'élixir floral de Ricinus communis — que je prépare moi-même à partir des fleurs de mon terrain  avec la méthode du Dr Bach — est utilisé en thérapie florale pour aider à surmonter les blocages énergétiques et favoriser le lâcher-prise. Il s'adresse particulièrement aux personnes qui ont du mal à sortir de schémas mentaux rigides, qui fonctionnent beaucoup dans le contrôle, la résistance, la tension vers la maîtrise de tout. Il encourage la souplesse d'esprit, la fluidité — là où quelque chose s'est durci.

It's no coincidence that the same plant, in two such different forms, always works in the same direction: emptying what clutters, freeing what stagnates, letting flow.

I am in the process of finalising this essence to offer to my clients.

Everything is personalised, everything adapts

As always in hygienic naturopathy, there is no universal recipe.

Preparation before the cleanse — a few days, a few weeks, sometimes months depending on the vital terrain. The dosage. How to take it. The time of day. And above all, the exit from the cleanse and the return to eating. This is often the step we rush, and it conditions a large part of the benefits. It's important to prepare well to avoid eating anything and everything right after the cleanse.

In consultation, this is exactly what we build together: a protocol that suits you, adapted to your history, your vital terrain, your objectives.

Castor oil: precautions and contraindications

Like all cleanses, castor oil is not for everyone or for any time.

We check together in consultation that everything is well aligned so that you can cleanse safely.

A few situations that require particular attention or are contraindicated: pregnancy, certain inflammatory intestinal pathologies, certain medications, a very fragile vital terrain or too low vitality. For children and babies, I use it in my paediatric naturopathy practice — primarily externally — but always in a targeted and adapted way.

The rule that doesn't change: no cleanse without preparation, and no cleanse without support if it's your first time or if your vital terrain is particular.

To go further

To explore the subject of cleanses, fasting and detox further, don't hesitate to follow my Naturo au fil des mois online training: 10 workshops to understand everything about cleanses, detox and modern holistic hygienic naturopathy.

See the online workshops → https://www.fannynaturo.com/ateliers-en-ligne

Want to see more clearly about your vital terrain, your detox objectives, or simply try the castor oil cleanse safely? In consultation, we build together the protocol that suits you.

Book a consultation → https://www.fannynaturo.com/consultation