PCC News Monthly October 2017 | Page 25

Castor Oil continued from page 24 If youʼre simply looking to help thicken hair that is thin- ning at the edges of your hairline, you can use pure castor oil, with a light hand of course. Another use is to apply the oil to eyelashes to help thicken and strengthen them, as well as to help prevent thinning and shedding. Many attest to the wonders castor oil offers for keloid types of scars and other scars that involve a lot of hardened scar tis- sue. This is presumably due to its ability for deep penetration through multiple skin layers. Because castor oil softens the skin so much, the thought is that this softening helps to break down deep scar tissue so it may be smoothed out. In addition, castor oil has shown promise as a white blood cell stimulating agent. Studies have also shown that castor bean oil helps reduce the inflam- matory response in subcutaneous tissue. This may be why it seems to speed wound healing, and may also contribute to its ability to reduce scarring more quickly. Castor oil is also excellent for the lips. Our lips needs constant protection against the elements. Although our lips regenerate and recover quickly, they also dry out and begin to peel when they are dehydrated. Castor oil not only smooths the lips with fatty acids, but it also helps protect them due to its naturally thick and immov- able nature. In other words, it doesnʼt budge without being wiped off. It also imparts a natural shine to the lips, which makes it ideal for both improving the appearance and health of the lips. pccnews October 2017 25