Castor oil, a trending weight-loss method on TikTok, has ancient medicinal roots but limited scientific evidence for its efficacy and potential risks.
Castor oil is currently a popular weight-loss trend on TikTok, with influencers advocating for rubbing it on the belly to melt fat and reduce bloating.
Castor oil is an ancient medicine with various traditional uses, such as a laxative, skin treatment, and hair care product.
While castor oil is approved for short-term constipation relief, scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness over other laxatives is limited.
Taking castor oil orally can lead to abdominal cramps, vomiting, bloating, and dizziness, especially in vulnerable populations like the elderly, infants, and pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Applying castor oil topically can also cause allergic reactions in some individuals, so it is advised to perform a patch test before using it on a larger area of the body.
Castor oil, historically used for its laxative effects and in various skin treatments, has recently gained popularity as a weight-loss trend on TikTok. Influencers are promoting it as a belly fat-melting remedy by rubbing it on their stomachs or pouring it in their belly buttons. While castor oil is rich in ricinoleic acid, which stimulates bowel movements, scientific evidence supporting its weight loss or health benefits is lacking. It is traditionally used for constipation, skin conditions, and hair care, but as a standalone product, it can cause side effects such as abdominal cramps and vomiting.
Although castor oil is widely used in cosmetics and hair care products for its moisturizing properties, caution is advised when using it directly on the skin or scalp to avoid allergic reactions. It is essential to conduct a patch test before applying it more broadly. People with certain health conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease, should avoid using castor oil internally. Ultimately, while castor oil may have some benefits when used appropriately, there are safer and more effective remedies available for weight loss and other health concerns, and simply rubbing it on the belly is unlikely to melt fat.
