by Kate Johns

Created on: August 13, 2009

Castor oil has so many health and household uses, that you should keep a bottle of this super inexpensive home remedy in the kitchen cupboard to use anytime Castor oil has been known to help get rid of constipation for many years, and was a staple of our Grandmother's household items for years. When a child had a problem going to the bathroom, a spoonful or two of Castor oil was recommended to be added to a child's favorite liquid to move things along.

Castor oil comes from the seeds in the plant called Ricinius comminis, also known as Castor beans. Castor oil is used in the production of plastics products, and other products such as soaps, textiles, cosmetics, inks, dyes, and adhesives. Castor oil also is known for helping to induce labor in pregnant women.

The Castor seeds have a residue that is about five percent ricin that is a toxic poison. This can be used in chemical warfare, when a country produces chemical weapons. Although this is not a happy thought, this is yet another use for Castor oil.

Native to Africa, Castor oil, has many other uses that are not diabolical in nature, such as helping people around the house, by lubricating your kitchen scissors. According to Reader's Digest you can get rid of those pesky moles that dig holes in the lawn and your garden by pouring some Castor oil down their mole holes. The oil won't kill the pesky rodents, but will send them packing to another town. Perhaps they will pack up their mole families and move to another garden, far, far away.

Castor oil will make your hair beautifully shiny, and silky. After washing your hair, put several drops of this oil on your hair, and rub it through with some glycerin. Wait several minutes and rinse in warm water. You will have a head full of soft, radiant hair.

A versatile oil,Castor oil can be used as a soothing massage oil, and helps with eczema, psoriasis, and can boost your immune system when you are going through menopause. This oil has been used for thousands of years for helping women with menstrual cramps, easing childbirth, and helping people get rid of their warts. Castor oil will also act as an inexpensive, skin softener.

Acting as a lubricant, Castor oil encourages bowel movement by coating the bowels and the stool with a waterproof film that keeps the moisture in the stool, so that it is easier to pass. We knew our Mothers and Grandmothers were smart. Doctors also sometimes recommend Castor oil to be used as preparation for surgery, and aid new mothers after successfully giving birth.

You may want to buy an inexpensive bottle of Castor oil to keep at home, just in case you need it for any number of reasons that aren't sinister in nature.

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