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Ayurvedic Perspective
Biocharacteristics & Herbal Actions
Similar foods and herbs
Impact: On tongue, nerves, elimination, etc.
Indications / Benefits
Contraindications / Aggravates
Comments and reviews
Castor Oil Herbal Oil (Ricinus communis) |
Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.
Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.
Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.
The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).
Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.
Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.
STRONG GENERAL-LAXATIVE Promotes a bowel movement. General laxative is an umbrella term that refers to several different types of laxatives.
STRONG STIMULANT-LAXATIVE Stimulant laxatives induce bowel movements by stimulating peristaltic movement (the contraction of smooth muscle in the intestines). They are effective when used on a short-term basis. On a long-term basis, they can create dependency. Aka irritant laxativ
In each study below, students from the Joyful Belly College of Ayurveda ate the selected food for 3 days and reported the effects. See other studies of food & herbs at Joyful Belly.
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect your temperature?
| 1 |
0 |
15 |
7 |
0 |
| Much colder | Slightly colder | Same | Slightly warmer | Much warmer |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect your ear temperature?
| 2 |
20 |
1 |
| Hotter | No Change | Cooler |
SweatHow did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect your sweat quantity?
| 0 |
0 |
21 |
2 |
0 |
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
SkinHow did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the tones / color of your skin?
| 0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
22 |
| Yellower/Greener | Paler | Redder | Grayer | No Change |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the color of your tongue body? *This question refers to the tongue itself, not the coating.
| 4 |
2 |
0 |
17 |
| Paler | Redder | Bluer | No Change |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the swelling or size of your tongue body?
| 0 |
3 |
20 |
| More Swelling (larger/fatter) | Less Swelling (smaller/thinner) | No Change |
DigestionFor help analyzing your digestion, see overview of Digestive Health How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon
| 2 |
6 |
12 |
3 |
0 |
| Much less hungry | Slightly less hungry | Same | Slightly hungrier | Much hungrier |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect your digestion speed? *This can be gauged by how quickly you feel hungry after eating and how quickly you eliminate your meal.
| 2 |
9 |
10 |
2 |
0 |
| Much faster | Slightly faster | Same | Slightly slower | Much slower |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the amount of your gas & bloating?
| 0 |
3 |
15 |
5 |
0 |
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the intensity of your stool smell?
| 0 |
1 |
17 |
5 |
0 |
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the thickness & size (surface area) of your tongue coating?
| 0 |
5 |
15 |
3 |
0 |
| Much smaller/thinner coating | Slightly less coating | Same | Slightly larger/thicker coating | Much larger coating |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the color of your tongue coating?
| 1 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
15 |
| Yellower | Browner | Grayer | Whiter | No Change |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect your throat soreness?
| 2 |
20 |
1 |
| More sore | No Change | Less sore |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the intensity of your urine smell?
| 0 |
0 |
23 |
0 |
0 |
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the amount of bubbles in your urine?
| 0 |
1 |
21 |
1 |
0 |
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Many more |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the intensity of your sweat smell?
| 0 |
0 |
21 |
2 |
0 |
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect your acne?
| 1 |
19 |
3 |
| More acne | No Change | Less acne |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the shade of your freckles/moles?
| 0 |
23 |
0 |
| Darker | No Change | Lighter |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the color of your sclera (white part of eye)?
| 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
| Redder/Bloodshot | Yellower | Grayer | Browner | Whiter |
| 19 | ||||
| No Change |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the shade / color of your lower eyelid?
| 0 |
1 |
20 |
2 |
| More green/dark green | More purple | No Change | Less green/purple |
UrineHow did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect your urine frequency/quantity?
| 0 |
0 |
20 |
3 |
0 |
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the dryness of your skin?
| 1 |
4 |
18 |
| Drier | Oilier | No Change |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the puffiness of your lower eyelid?
| 0 |
21 |
2 |
| Puffier | No Change | Less Puffy |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the cracks on your tongue?
| 0 |
2 |
14 |
4 |
3 |
| Much more/larger/longer cracks | Slightly more | Same | Slightly less | Much less/smaller/shorter cracks |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect your ear pressure?
| 0 |
22 |
1 |
| More pressure | No Change | Less pressure |
RespiratoryHow did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect your level of sinus congestion?
| 3 |
18 |
2 |
| More congestion | No Change | Less congestion |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the thickness of your mucous congestion?
| 3 |
19 |
1 |
| More thick | No Change | Less thick |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect your energy levels?
| 0 |
3 |
16 |
4 |
0 |
| Much less energy | Slightly less energy | Same | Slightly more energy | Much more energy |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect your muscle tension?
| 1 |
4 |
17 |
1 |
0 |
| Much less tension | Slightly less tension | Same | Slightly more tension | Much more tension |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect your anxiety levels?
| 1 |
5 |
17 |
0 |
0 |
| Much less anxiety | Slightly less anxiety | Same | Slightly more anxiety | Much more anxiety |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the movement or stillness of your tongue as you hold it out?
| 3 |
20 |
0 |
| More still | No Change | More Trembling / Jittery |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the amount of your gas & bloating?
| 0 |
3 |
15 |
5 |
0 |
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect burning sensations in your digestive tract (do not include acid reflux)?
| 0 |
4 |
16 |
3 |
0 |
| Much relief | Slight relief | Same | Slightly more burning | Much more burning |
DigestionFor help analyzing your digestion, see overview of Digestive Health How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon
| 2 |
6 |
12 |
3 |
0 |
| Much less hungry | Slightly less hungry | Same | Slightly hungrier | Much hungrier |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect your digestion speed? *This can be gauged by how quickly you feel hungry after eating and how quickly you eliminate your meal.
| 2 |
9 |
10 |
2 |
0 |
| Much faster | Slightly faster | Same | Slightly slower | Much slower |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the thickness & size (surface area) of your tongue coating?
| 0 |
5 |
15 |
3 |
0 |
| Much smaller/thinner coating | Slightly less coating | Same | Slightly larger/thicker coating | Much larger coating |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the movement or stillness of your tongue as you hold it out?
| 3 |
20 |
0 |
| More still | No Change | More Trembling / Jittery |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the cracks on your tongue?
| 0 |
2 |
14 |
4 |
3 |
| Much more/larger/longer cracks | Slightly more | Same | Slightly less | Much less/smaller/shorter cracks |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the color of your tongue coating?
| 1 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
15 |
| Yellower | Browner | Grayer | Whiter | No Change |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the color of your tongue body? *This question refers to the tongue itself, not the coating.
| 4 |
2 |
0 |
17 |
| Paler | Redder | Bluer | No Change |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the swelling or size of your tongue body?
| 0 |
3 |
20 |
| More Swelling (larger/fatter) | Less Swelling (smaller/thinner) | No Change |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the intensity of your stool smell?
| 0 |
1 |
17 |
5 |
0 |
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect your stool consistency?
| 8 |
13 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
| Much softer | Slightly softer | Same | Slightly harder | Much harder |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect your stool frequency/quantity?
| 0 |
1 |
9 |
9 |
4 |
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect your stool color?
| 3 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
16 |
| More yellow | More gray | More green | More orange | Same |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect your stool lightness?
| 0 |
5 |
13 |
4 |
1 |
| Much lighter | Slightly lighter | Same | Slightly darker | Much darker |
UrineHow did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect your urine frequency/quantity?
| 0 |
0 |
20 |
3 |
0 |
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect your urine clarity?
| 0 |
21 |
2 |
| More cloudy | Same | More clear |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the shade of your urine?
| 0 |
2 |
20 |
1 |
0 |
| Much lighter | Slightly lighter | Same | Slightly Darker | Much Darker |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the amount of bubbles in your urine?
| 0 |
1 |
21 |
1 |
0 |
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Many more |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the intensity of your urine smell?
| 0 |
0 |
23 |
0 |
0 |
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the intensity of your sweat smell?
| 0 |
0 |
21 |
2 |
0 |
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
SweatHow did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect your sweat quantity?
| 0 |
0 |
21 |
2 |
0 |
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect your acne?
| 1 |
19 |
3 |
| More acne | No Change | Less acne |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the shade of your freckles/moles?
| 0 |
23 |
0 |
| Darker | No Change | Lighter |
SkinHow did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the tones / color of your skin?
| 0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
22 |
| Yellower/Greener | Paler | Redder | Grayer | No Change |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the dryness of your skin?
| 1 |
4 |
18 |
| Drier | Oilier | No Change |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the shade / color of your lower eyelid?
| 0 |
1 |
20 |
2 |
| More green/dark green | More purple | No Change | Less green/purple |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the puffiness of your lower eyelid?
| 0 |
21 |
2 |
| Puffier | No Change | Less Puffy |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the color of your sclera (white part of eye)?
| 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
| Redder/Bloodshot | Yellower | Grayer | Browner | Whiter |
| 19 | ||||
| No Change |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect your ear temperature?
| 2 |
20 |
1 |
| Hotter | No Change | Cooler |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect your ear pressure?
| 0 |
22 |
1 |
| More pressure | No Change | Less pressure |
RespiratoryHow did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect your level of sinus congestion?
| 3 |
18 |
2 |
| More congestion | No Change | Less congestion |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect your throat soreness?
| 2 |
20 |
1 |
| More sore | No Change | Less sore |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect the thickness of your mucous congestion?
| 3 |
19 |
1 |
| More thick | No Change | Less thick |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect your heart rhythm?
| 0 |
21 |
2 |
| More palpitations | Same | Less palpitations |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect your heart pain/pressure/cramping?
| 0 |
3 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect your heart rate?
| 0 |
2 |
21 |
0 |
0 |
| Much slower | Slightly slower | Same | Slightly faster | Much faster |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect your temperature?
| 1 |
0 |
15 |
7 |
0 |
| Much colder | Slightly colder | Same | Slightly warmer | Much warmer |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect your muscle tension?
| 1 |
4 |
17 |
1 |
0 |
| Much less tension | Slightly less tension | Same | Slightly more tension | Much more tension |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect your energy levels?
| 0 |
3 |
16 |
4 |
0 |
| Much less energy | Slightly less energy | Same | Slightly more energy | Much more energy |
How did Castor Oil Half Tablespoon affect your anxiety levels?
| 1 |
5 |
17 |
0 |
0 |
| Much less anxiety | Slightly less anxiety | Same | Slightly more anxiety | Much more anxiety |
The dosage of castor oil (Ricinus communis) depends on the purpose of use. Below are general guidelines:
For Constipation (Laxative Use):
Castor Oil may be beneficial for these symptoms. The suitability of any herb supplement for a condition is highly dependent on the individual. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.
Castor Oil may be harmful or contraindicated for these symptoms. Note this is not a complete list of all possible contraindications. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.
Pregnancy: Not recommended as it can stimulate uterine contractions and potentially cause preterm labor or miscarriage.
Breastfeeding: Can pass into breast milk and may cause diarrhea in infants.
Gastrointestinal Disorders: Consult a qualified practitioner before using castor oil in the following conditions:
Chronic Constipation:Long-term use can cause dependence and weaken natural bowel function.
Herb/Drug Interactions:
Founder of Joyful Belly Ayurveda, John Immel, answers the question ‘What is Ayurveda?’
