There was a time when a dose of Castor oil was best known as a punishment for naughty chldren. But what of it’s reputation as a hair loss cure? We look closer.
The Case For Castor Oil
Castor oil is a wonderfully complex vegetable oil, which is produced by pressing the seeds of the castor oil plant… the name is thought to come from it’s use as a replacement for castoreum, a perfume base made from the perineal glands of the beaver (castor is the Latin word for a beaver). So it is a fair bet that the beavers, if nobody else, are big fans of castor oil.
But castor oil is not short of fans. IT is used in soaps, lubricants, hydraulic and brake fluids, dyes, coatings, paints, inks, cold resistant plastics, waxes, polishes, nylon, perfumes… and of course in pharmaceuticals. There is a long list of modern drugs that all use castor oil as an ingredient, for a surprisingly wide array of treatments.
For Hair Loss
Of course our particular area of interest is in it’s use as a hair loss cure. For which it has an enviable reputation. That reputation is built on an ability to accelerate blood circulation, through the presence of high concentrations of ricinoleic acid, and so provide the hair follicles with additional nourishment. It is also an anti-fungal and so able to help with conditions like dandruff and other conditions of the scalp.
Evidence that it can help with hair loss is at best anecdotal, and suggestions that it can provoke dead follicles into life again are fantastical.
For anyone interested in giving it a go the recommended usage is just once or twice a week. Apply it in the evening as an overnight treatment and wash it off in the morning. It is potent stuff and any effect will not be improved by applying it more often. It will certainly do you no harm and will improve your general scalp health.
HIS Hair Clinic
We are not fans of castor oil for hair loss. While it might just help in slowing down the progress, by increasing circulation to the remaining follicles and by keeping the scalp in good condition, you should not start using it with any aspiration that it is going to see lost hair return… that is simply not going to happen. As a treatment it is very low cost and can be used alongside FDA approved products… so please feel free to give it a go.
If you would like to discuss your hair loss situation with one of our team of friendly experts simply complete the contact form at the side of this page, or click here to find your nearest clinic
