This TikTok trend could prove extremely sh—y.
Castor oil has been hailed as a treatment for complexion problems and hair growth, but experts are warning against an unlikely side effect when ingested.
On TikTok, creators claim that that the oil can “detox” the body, but buyer beware: consuming castor oil, derived from the castor bean plant, can cause “explosive diarrhea.”
“Once ingested, castor oil activates the prostaglandin receptors, leading to rapid contractions that push contents through your small intestine at speed without giving you time to fully digest content and form solid stools.
According to Jane Clarke, an incontinence nurse at the Australia-based Confidence Club, castor oil “inhibits fluid absorption in the gut” and causes “accelerated bowel movements,” which will likely result in dehydration, malnutrition and electrolyte imbalance.
“For this reason, despite what TikTok influencers would have you believe, it is advisable to avoid ingesting castor oil altogether,” she told Newsweek.
While castor oil was once used in years past to treat constipation or induce labor, “it is no longer recommended for these purposes due to safety concerns,” she added.
“The fact is, in 2024 we don’t need to rely on the same laxatives that the ancient Egyptians needed to, medicine has moved on and we now have safer options,” Clarke continued.
The oil does, however, have other “great uses,” like being “an excellent moisturizer,” and is typically considered safe for external use. But soft skin and hair are about all the benefits it yields.
“There is also no way that putting it in your belly button will cure disease, but it might ruin your clothes,” Clarke said.
Despite what TikTok touts, castor oil, other experts say, will not magically regrow hair, nor is it likely to make under-eye circles disappear. Some creators swear by “castor oil packing” — or slathering a cloth in the stuff and putting it on their abdomen, alleging that it aids digestion, alleviates cramps or detoxes the body and cures disease — but healthcare professionals say those claims are bunk.
“The most dangerous myths we see, time and again on platforms such as TikTok, not just from creators themselves but especially in the comments, are that 1) castor oil is a cure-all for everything, including cancer, and that 2) castor oil is a miracle for weight loss,” Clarke explained.
“There is no scientific evidence that castor oil will have any impact whatsoever on serious illnesses such as cancer. This is simply untrue and these myths are harmful.”
