Castor oil, which was once used by fascists in Italy as because of its quick-acting laxative effect, is now a weight-loss trend on TikTok. Not drinking it, but rubbing it on your belly. Influencers are also pouring it in their belly buttons and wrapping towels soaked in it around their midriff.
They claim it can and . Castor oil—made from the beans of the castor plant—is an ancient medicine. References to it appear in an ancient Egyptian medical text called the (1550BC).
It was used as a laxative and to treat various skin conditions. Cleopatra is said to have in her hair and to brighten the whites of her eyes. The odorless oil is rich in a fatty substance called ricinoleic acid that strongly stimulates bowel movements.
Today, it is an approved in some countries for short-term constipation and is used for cleansing the bowel before medical examinations. However, there's not much to indicate that this laxative effect is better than other commonly used laxatives, such as —which has also been used for centuries. Other reported traditional uses for the oil include as a cure for sore and itchy eyes, to relieve joint and period pain, and as a means to induce labor.
But, again, the evidence for these things is scant. Castor oil isn't just imbibed, it is also widely used in , hair conditioners and other cosmetic products, such as lipsticks. It is used to moisturize, soothe irritated skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
Its moisturizing properties have been attributed to r.