Castor Oil Laxative

A traditional remedy for many ills

Castor oil has permeated our cultural consciousness as something to give children whenever they are sick. Although, which effects of castor oil speed up healing and what exactly it's supposed to do is subject to interpretation. Perhaps it has been even been a component of many snake oil treatments for various diseases in the earlier part of this century and pre-modern times.

However, what is known generally is that taking castor oil has a laxative effect. This natural laxative effect is exploited by many who suffer from constipation.

The deadly ricin plant

The plant from which castor oil is extracted is known as ricinus communis. The notoriety of this plant comes from the fact that the seeds contain a large amount of ricin, and ricin is used as a biological agent. It's such a serious toxin that it's placed inside biological weapons of mass destruction. Moreover, during World War II, castor oil (which contains little or no ricin) was used in fascist Italy as an torture device to induce severe diarrhea in victims.

A lubricant and stimulant laxative

Nowadays, castor oil has a much more benign profile. It is taken as a natural laxative to treat constipation. For certain medical procedures, it is also prescribed for deep intestinal cleansing. How does it work? Like hyperosmotic agents such as Senna and glycerin suppositories, castor oil also prevents absorption of fluids from stool into the intestine. It also seems to stimulate the nerve endings of the intestine, causing more contractions to push matter along the tract. The National Institutes of Health website cautions that because it works so quickly as an anti-constipatory agent, it shouldn't be taken at bed time.

Side-effects

The effects of the oil are said to be quite powerful, and exert themselves equally over the entire length of the colon. But as usual, there is a list of side effects and contraindicators even for something as benign sounding as castor oil. One should always consult a physician before taking laxatives, natural or not.

Source: NIH drug information on castor oil and other stimulant laxatives.