Seriously, castor oil?!

I’m not going to lie. The first time my holistic, not so hippy sister-in-law told me to put castor oil on my sunburn (that was threatening to ruin my vacation), I thought she was nuts!

“Isn’t that what they took in the olden days to relieve constipation?! I’m not putting that on my skin!”

Thankfully I listened and greased up before bed and aside from having a glistening glow about me, I woke up with the sting of the sunburn gone and ready to get to the beach again! Only this time I wore the sun shirt that I was too good for the day before. What did I learn? Castor oil works wonders on my skin. So as skin conditions presented as challenges in my household after that, they all knew the bottle of castor oil was coming out. I’m serious when I say it helps so many things from sunburns to acne, it’s liquid gold! (Note: if using for acne only use a few times per week, not every day otherwise it clogs pores.)

Many years later and darn near 101 uses later, I’m still using it. The only problem now is that everyone is jumping on this bandwagon. So it’s easier to come by, but also more expensive and hard to find the right kind. If you are going to be in the market for castor oil a good rule of thumb is to look for the ones in a glass bottle. That’s usually the real pure stuff.

This brings me to the actual reason for this post. I only use castor oil in my whipped tallow because of its many benefits. I’m not saying that this is the only way to make whipped tallow, but it’s how I choose to do it. Others may use olive or jojoba oil. This is still 100% better than all the chemicals that come in other products. I choose castor oil because I want my products to work for me. Not only do I want them to moisturize, but if it reduces inflammation while it’s at it then I feel like I’m winning!

https://www.countrysidecreations.online/product-page/lavender-whipped-tallow

So here are some bullet points of things castor is supposed to do: (This is where I say that I’m not claiming my product will cure, heal, or make everyone and everything better. This has not been tested by the FDA. Always consult your doctor when starting something new. Do a small skin patch test to make sure you don’t have a reaction.)

• Hydrates and softens skin thanks to its high content of ricinoleic acid

• May support skin barrier repair and reduce inflammation

• Acts as a natural antimicrobial, which may help with acne-prone skin

• Rich in antioxidants that fight free radical damage

• May support eyebrow, eyelash, and scalp health, although more research is needed

• Support gentle detoxification

• Reduce inflammation in the abdominal region

• Provide comfort for bloating or occasional constipation

• Complement support for fatty liver disease (now called MASLD

• Joint stiffness and arthritis

• Muscle soreness and strains

• Supporting lymphatic flow

• Gentle, topical support for skin and inflammation

• A time-tested home therapy for liver and digestive health

• A nourishing option for hair and scalp self-care

Don’t take my word for it, check out this article: https://patients.sonoran.edu/2025/07/23/castor-oil-benefits-and-safety/