Castor Oil: What Is It, How Is It Used & Why Is It So Popular?
Everyone seems to have an opinion about castor oil.
For some people, there is a family memory attached to it — a story about how castor oil helped them, their mum or their grandmother. Perhaps it's one of those bottles that has lived at the back of the kitchen cupboard for years, brought out when someone reaches for a traditional remedy.
For me, castor oil has been part of my wellbeing journey for decades.
My first introduction to natural oils actually started with cod liver oil.
As a young teenager, my knees would sometimes seize up, swell and become incredibly painful. At the time, the doctors couldn't give me an explanation for why it was happening. I remember wondering whether living in a seaside town, with all that damp air, had something to do with it.
I was told there wasn't scientific evidence that cod liver oil would help, but I decided to try it anyway.
And, for me, it made a noticeable difference to my knee pain.
That experience stayed with me. It sparked an interest in natural approaches to wellbeing and in exploring some of the traditional remedies people have used for generations.
Then came the period pain.
This was long before Google, ChatGPT, mobile phones or even the internet. If you wanted answers, you bought books and magazines, collected leaflets or visited a women's health clinic.
My monthly cramps could be excruciating, and I was constantly looking for ways to make them more manageable.
The advice was fairly predictable: eat a balanced, nutritious diet, drink plenty of water, reduce alcohol, sugar and caffeine, and try various herbal teas and natural oils. I experimented with things like geranium oil and different blends in the bath or massaged into my tummy.
Then a friend suggested I try a castor oil pack.
So I bought some castor oil and gave it a go.
Let's just say it wasn't exactly elegant.
I made my own pack using muslin cloth, added the castor oil, used cling film to keep everything in place and put a hot water bottle over the top.
It was messy.
My bed sheets and nightwear became oily, and getting the whole thing organised was more faff than I particularly enjoyed.
But I liked the ritual — lying still, using the warmth and taking some time out for myself.
And so castor oil stayed somewhere in the background of my wellbeing toolkit.
Fast forward several decades...
I'm now in my menopause years, and the aches and pains I experience are different.
I spend a lot of time working with my hands as a therapist, so I notice stiffness and muscle tension. My periods have changed too, bringing a whole different stage of women's health with it.
Then I discovered Castorvida.
The thing that caught my attention wasn't just the castor oil itself.
It was the ready-made castor oil pack.
After years of making my own rather messy version, having a proper reusable pack made the whole ritual considerably easier.
I've been using it as part of my own wellbeing routine ever since.
So, if you've been hearing more and more about castor oil, castor oil packs and all the things people claim they can do, you might be wondering:
What actually is castor oil — and is there anything behind all the claims?
Let's take a look.
What is castor oil?
Castor oil is a vegetable oil made from the seeds of the Ricinus communis plant, also known as the castor bean plant.
It is a thick, pale-yellow oil with a distinctive consistency and is widely used in cosmetics, personal care and pharmaceutical products.
One of the things that makes castor oil unusual is its fatty acid profile. It contains a very high proportion of ricinoleic acid, a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid that makes up roughly 90% of its fatty acid content.
Ricinoleic acid is one reason castor oil has attracted so much interest. Researchers have been investigating its properties and potential uses, particularly in skin and hair care.
It's worth remembering, though, that a promising ingredient isn't the same thing as a proven treatment for every condition you might see mentioned online.
And that distinction matters.
Why has castor oil become popular again?
Castor oil is certainly not new.
It has a long history of use in traditional medicine and cosmetics, and today it is experiencing something of a revival.
Part of this is connected to our growing interest in natural skincare, traditional remedies and slower, more ritualistic approaches to self-care.
You only have to spend a few minutes on social media to see castor oil being recommended for everything from skin and hair to digestion, hormones, inflammation and joint pain.
Some of these uses have a long history of traditional use.
Others are based on early research or laboratory findings.
And some of the claims circulating online simply haven't been properly established.
I think it's useful to be curious about traditional remedies without automatically believing every claim made about them.
What is a castor oil pack?
A castor oil pack is essentially a piece of absorbent material that is soaked with castor oil and placed against the skin.
The pack is usually positioned over the abdomen, although people use castor oil packs in other areas too.
Traditionally, people have used castor oil packs as part of various wellbeing rituals, often alongside warmth and rest.
For me, the appeal is partly the ritual itself.
You have to stop.
You have to lie down.
You have to allow yourself some time without rushing around doing something else.
And sometimes that is exactly what self-care needs to be.
How do you use a castor oil pack?
This is where having a purpose-made reusable pack makes life considerably easier.
With my Castor Vida pack, I add approximately a tablespoon of castor oil to the centre of the pack and allow it to absorb into the fleece.
I then place it over my abdomen and secure the ties around my waist.
It's simple, compact and considerably less messy than the homemade version I used years ago.
Afterwards, I rinse the pack and allow it to dry. When I use it again, I generally need less oil because there is still some oil remaining in the pack.
Always follow the instructions supplied with the particular castor oil pack you are using, as products and recommended usage can vary.
And one important point: my own routine is my personal experience, not a recommendation that everyone should copy.
How long should you leave a castor oil pack on?
There isn't one universal answer that applies to every castor oil pack.
Different products may have different instructions, so follow the manufacturer's guidance for the pack you are using.
Personally, I see my castor oil pack as a wellbeing ritual rather than a treatment.
It's an opportunity to slow down, get warm and comfortable and spend a little time doing absolutely nothing.
And honestly, that may be one of the reasons I keep coming back to it.
Castor oil for skin
Castor oil has a long history in cosmetics and skincare.
It is used as a skin-conditioning ingredient and its properties have made it particularly interesting for formulations designed to moisturise and soften the skin.
More recently, researchers have been looking at possible applications involving hydration, elasticity, signs of skin ageing, cleansing and other dermatological uses. A 2026 review found some promising evidence, but also highlighted the need for further clinical research.
For me, there is also a very simple practical use.
I work with my hands all day.
A couple of times a week, I like to massage a little castor oil into my hands as part of my own skincare and self-care routine.
It feels nourishing and comforting, and I enjoy the ritual.
That's different from claiming that castor oil can treat a particular skin condition — and I think that distinction is important.
What about castor oil for joint stiffness and muscle aches?
This is an area where you will find a lot of claims online.
People use castor oil packs or massage castor oil onto areas of the body where they experience stiffness, tension or discomfort.
I have personally noticed that using castor oil as part of my own self-care routine feels soothing, particularly when my hands and muscles are tired from working.
But personal experience isn't the same as clinical evidence.
There is currently much more enthusiasm online for castor oil packs than there is strong clinical evidence proving that they treat joint pain, inflammation or underlying health conditions.
So I would treat a castor oil pack as a complementary wellbeing ritual, rather than a replacement for proper medical advice or treatment.
Castor oil for hair and eyelashes
Castor oil has also become popular in beauty routines for hair, brows and eyelashes.
I've experimented with Castor Vida's eyelash wand myself.
After using it approximately once a week, I have noticed what seems to be a small improvement in the appearance and thickness of my lashes.
But again, I'm careful about how I describe this.
That's my personal experience — not a guarantee that castor oil will make everyone's eyelashes grow.
Research into castor oil and hair is developing, but the evidence is still limited compared with the number of claims you'll find on social media.
For me, the enjoyable part is also the ritual.
Sometimes a wellbeing practice doesn't have to promise a dramatic transformation to earn its place in your routine.
What does the evidence actually say?
This is probably the most important section of this article.
Castor oil has been around for a very long time, and there is genuine scientific interest in its properties.
But traditional use, personal experience and scientific evidence are three different things.
Current research suggests that castor oil has interesting properties and potential applications in dermatology, particularly around skin conditioning, hydration and hair care. However, researchers also point out that much of the evidence is limited, based on smaller studies, laboratory research, case reports or traditional use. More research is needed before many of the claims made online can be considered established.
That doesn't mean castor oil is useless.
It simply means we need to be sensible about what we expect it to do.
I think that's a much healthier way to approach natural wellbeing.
Be curious.
Try things safely.
Notice how they make you feel.
And don't believe every wellness claim you see on Instagram.
Is castor oil safe?
Castor oil has a long history of use in cosmetics and personal care, and a 2025 Cosmetic Ingredient Review assessment concluded that castor seed oil and several related ingredients are safe for use in cosmetics under the conditions assessed.
That doesn't mean everyone will tolerate it perfectly.
Skin irritation or allergic contact dermatitis can occur, although reported reactions are uncommon.
If you're using castor oil on your skin for the first time, a small patch test is sensible.
And castor oil should not be put into the eyes.
If you are pregnant, taking medication or have a medical condition, particularly if you are considering using castor oil orally or for a specific health problem, speak to an appropriate healthcare professional first.
Castor oil packs should be viewed as a complementary self-care practice, not as a treatment for an underlying medical condition.
The castor oil I personally use
After using homemade castor oil packs many years ago, I was delighted to discover Castor Vida.
What particularly appealed to me was the combination of the oil and the reusable pack.
The practical side matters.
I don't want a wellbeing ritual that creates more work.
Castor Vida's oil is organic and cold-pressed, and the reusable pack makes applying the oil much easier than my old muslin-cloth-and-cling-film method.
I also like knowing a little more about the person behind the brand. Alison, the founder of Castor Vida, has a background in nutrition and colonic hydrotherapy, and I appreciate the passion and knowledge she brings to the subject.
I've been using the products myself, which is why I'm happy to share them with you.
My final thoughts
I don't think castor oil needs to be a miracle cure to have a place in your wellbeing routine.
For me, it represents something much simpler.
A little warmth.
A little stillness.
A little time away from the endless list of things that need doing.
And after all these years, I still like the idea that something so simple can become a small ritual of looking after yourself.
Just don't believe everything you read online.
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