Castor oil has been used in folk medicine for quite some time. Due to its anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties, castor oil can be used in the treatment of hemorrhoids, conjunctivitis, severe cough, warts and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. This natural remedy is particularly well established in the treatment of middle ear inflammation. Not only adults, but also young children, you can drip castor oil into the ear with the first symptoms of otitis media.
Composition and benefits
Castor is obtained from castor seeds. This plant is considered poisonous, but oil made by cold pressing is quite safe. Its composition can be considered unique. It contains one single vitamin E and has virtually no minerals. But in the oil there are a lot of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, among which oleic, linoleic and stearic acids can be distinguished. The largest amount belongs to ricinoleic acid.
The consistency of the oil is thick, viscous and low-flowing. It has a peculiar taste and a light, barely perceptible aroma. Most often, castor oil is used for cosmetic purposes. It perfectly stimulates hair growth and fights acne. According to users, this oil has a pronounced anti-aging effect.
Production Methods
The quality of the oil may vary depending on the method of its production. There are three types of extraction of this product in total:
- Hot pressed or evaporated. This is the most popular method of extracting extracts from a castor oil plant. It is somewhat inferior to the oil obtained by the cold method, but it can also be taken orally.
- The cold pressed method is the most gentle. Thanks to him, the maximum amount of nutrients remains, and the taste of the resulting product is most close to natural. Such an oil is used by the pharmaceutical industry for the preparation of medicines. Subsequently, it is refined to a transparent shade. This product can be taken orally and instilled when the ear hurts. For castor oil obtained in this way, there are practically no contraindications.
- Oil obtained by chemical adsorption cannot be drunk and used to treat ears. It contains a rather high proportion of toxic substances. This method helps to get the maximum amount of juice from castor oil.
Cold-pressed oil can be identified by its thick consistency and yellowish tint. So that it does not thicken, it is stored at a temperature above 15 degrees.
Contraindications
Castor oil is not advisable to ingest during pregnancy. This tool has high bioactivity and is able to stimulate labor. Too much castor oil can lead to nausea and stomach pain.
Castor oil for ear should also be used with great care. It is not able to soften sulfur plugs and because of this, the number of bacteria increases. Therefore, before using castor oil, ears should be thoroughly cleaned. In general, this tool perfectly removes the inflammatory process and heals the tissues of the diseased organ. Do not put more than two drops in one ear. Particular care should be taken when treating young children.
This tool is not used in the following cases:
- In the presence of pus in the auricle.
- If the eardrum or blood vessels are damaged.
- Castor oil is contraindicated in a disease such as psoriasis.
- You can not use this tool for individual intolerance to the components of the drug.
Doctors do not recommend the use of castor oil to treat children under two years of age. Any scratches in the inner part of the ear are also a contraindication to the use of castor oil.
How to treat ear with castor oil
Inflammation of the middle ear is a rather complex and dangerous disease, which can lead to sad consequences. Therefore, it is extremely important to start treatment on time and prevent complications. As a rule, castor oil is used only in a warm form, instilling a few drops in each ear. An oil compress is also applied to enhance the effect. Due to the thick structure, it is great for preparing lotions. Castor oil can be dripped into the ears during pregnancy and lactation.
Features of the disease and its treatment
Otitis is accompanied by high fever and acute pain in the ear. Patients often complain of itching, burning sensation and swelling. The following types are distinguished:
- Outer.
- Internal
- Middle ear.
The most difficult is otitis media. It appears as a result of an untreated external and often leads to hearing loss, meningitis and sinusitis. Castor oil can be dripped into the ear only as an additional therapy. The main treatment is antibiotics and other anti-inflammatory drugs. Hoping only on castor is impossible.
The best option is to prepare gauze lotions. To do this, a small piece of the bandage is moistened in heated oil and wrapped around the area around the auricle. Compress must be insulated with a scarf and a plastic bag. Treatment can be carried out daily until recovery.
External otitis for the time being is not dangerous. This is a fairly mild form of the disease that can be easily treated with castor oil. With external otitis media, ears usually do not hurt. The patient experiences severe itching and an unpleasant burning sensation. This disease can occur as a result of an insect bite, inadequate hygiene, as well as some skin ailments: eczema, psoriasis and seborrhea. The use of castor oil for the ears in this case is most appropriate.
Inflammation of the middle ear occurs as a result of a virus or some other infection. To treat the ear with castor oil, cotton swabs are lubricated. Further, everything is insulated with a plastic bag and a scarf. It is extremely important to keep the warm temperature of the oil lotion as long as possible.
How not to harm during treatment
There are some factors that cannot be ignored. If they are found, consult a doctor:
- Dizziness and vomiting. They may indicate a disease such as meningitis.
- Hearing loss.
- Allocations that appeared after recovery.
- Inability to cure otitis media for more than 20 days.
All these signs should alert. Increased pain also suggests that the treatment is carried out incorrectly.
At the first stage of otitis media, you can take "Analgin" or "Paracetamol". They not only stop pain, but also lower body temperature. Use them one tablet no more than 4 times a day. With pathogenic microbes furatsilinovy alcohol perfectly copes . It is instilled 3 times a day, 3 drops in each ear, after which a warming compress of castor oil is applied around the auricle.
Instruction manual
In their reviews, users are advised to drip castor oil into the ear as follows. One drop is instilled into each ear, and only after it flows inside the auricle can the next be dripped. Many people prefer not to bury their ears, but to introduce cotton swabs moistened with castor oil. Otitis media is often accompanied by a runny nose or cough. In such cases, castor oil is also used. With cotton soaked in oil, lubricate the nostrils, and apply a compress from castor oil and soda to the chest.
Compress is undesirable to leave overnight. 1-2 hours is enough. During this time, it cools and is already becoming useless.
Storage and analogues
Castor oil is stored for no more than two years, subject to complete tightness of the package. It does not tolerate high temperatures, and the refrigerator is considered the best place to store.
The following vegetable oils used for otitis media can be considered analogues of this drug. First of all, it is comfortable - one of the most popular and well-known remedies that is used, like castor oil for earaches. Sometimes you can find recommendations for the use of nuts or almonds.
User reviews
Most often, castor oil is advertised as the best tool for hair and eyelash growth. It is rarely used to treat otitis media. But those who tried to use this oil for the ears, speak of its high efficiency and effectiveness. It is often mixed with camphor oil or aloe juice. To prepare a warming compress, you can use two and three components at the same time. The main condition is that it should be warm, but not hot.
Separately, users note the disadvantages of this tool. Among them, its weak fluidity and complex removal from the skin surface are distinguished. Castor oil has a pleasant, neutral odor and a clear color. It does not stain hair or skin like sea buckthorn and does not irritate with its smell. Thanks to drops of castor oil in the ear, recovery comes pretty quickly. Castor is included in the complex treatment of many diseases of an inflammatory and viral nature. Thanks to the drops, tissue healing takes place, pain is reduced and the inflammatory process is stopped.
People who cure otitis media are advised to make a compress of red salt, and use castor oil in the ear that is clean without additives. The salt warms up in a frying pan, after which it is poured into the toe, tightly tied and applied behind the earlobe.