POST NUMERO UNO!! Weird Uses for Castor Oil

So, yeah, I know some stuff about herbal and homeopathic medicine. Not everything, I am not a healer or any other kind of practitioner. But I have been asked enough stuff this year, that I thought my x-mas present to people I know could be just a list of some helpful tips I have learned over the years. Most of this stuff is reasonably cheap, can be found at any reasonable hippie health food store, and if it doesn't work for you, won't do any harm.

So, in this edition, WEIRD USES FOR CASTOR OIL!! I know this has usually been used internally to treat constipation, but really, there are better remedies for that. All the uses here are external.

1.) MOISTURIZER!!! Use a half-teaspoon. Rub on clean skin and massage in. You can deepen the treatment by putting an wrung-out, hot washcloth on your face for a second. When you feel the skin has absorbed as much as it can, use a cloth or tissue to wipe off the excess. Follow with a very mild toner (witch hazel or rosewater).

2.) ACNE!!!! Castor oil is non-cystic, and works well to speed healing on large and painful zits. Yes, I know that spreading oil on your pimples seems antithetical to everything you have learned from commercials (OIL BAD! PAINFULLY DRY AND RED SKIN GOOD!) but it really works. AND it works on cysts too. Put it on, rub it in, if you want to deepen the treatment add some heat. You should see the zit start to get smaller very quickly.

3.) HANGOVERS!!! Castor oil presses will not make the whole hangover go away, but it will lessen the full body effects. Put castor oil on a clean piece of wool flannel (which is actually incredibly hard to come by) OR just spread it on your liver (lower right side of abdomen), rub it in, and then put a piece of saran wrap over it, AND THEN put a heating pad on it. Stay there for about 20 minutes, remove all the stuff, wipe the area clean with witch hazel, and drink lots of water. You should be feeling a sight better.

4.) EYELASH CONDITIONING!!! Use a dry mascara brush to comb onto lashes for longer and more manageable lashes.

5.) PAINFUL JOINTS!!! This doesn't always work, as it depends on what the exact cause of your painful joints is. But try using a compress on knees or hips when they feel dry and grind-y.

6.) CONSTIPATION!!!! Again, spread castor oil on liver AND stomach and massage. Add a little heat (no more then 10 minutes), and remove and take the excess oil off with witch hazel. This is best to do before bed, and in the morning, you should be fine.