Castor Oil

            Sheena, my grand daughter and younger sister of Shariita, was complaining of pain in her mouth and when I look at it, I saw she has a small blister on her left gum. I told her to apply castor oil. I assured her that it will be okay by tomorrow after the third application. That's guaranteed. I learned it from my mother and she herself learned it from her mother.It maybe is an old first aid for mouth ulcers but it is proven and effective, not just for mouth ulcers or blisters but for dryness of lips as well due to weather change.

            What is Castor oil then? Well, Castor oil is a vegetable oil obtained from the seed of a castor plant (Ricinus communis). It is a colorless to very pale yellow liquid with mild or no odor or taste. It is a triglyceride in which approximately ninety percent of fatty acid are ricinoleic acid. Oleic and linoleic acids are the significant componets of castor oil. The main component, Ricinoleic acid exerts anti-inflamatory effects and penetrates deep into the skin.It is used for skin conditioning such as shampoo, lipstick and lip balm. We never let our medicine cabinet without it. My mother relied a lot from its medicinal healing property for various skin problems, burns, sunburns, skin disorders, skin cuts and abrasions and I had proven it to be effective as I grew up using it for so many occasions. In the United States, Castor oil is categorized as "generally recognized as safe and effective"(GRASE) by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for over-the-counter laxative and could decrease pain more than ultrasound gel or Vaseline during extra corporeal shock wave application.

           Oopss, I kept explaining the efficacy of Castor oil, have to go and get it from the medicine cabinet...Sorry folks, the chest is high for her to reach.Another tips I got from my mother, the chest should be high enough to be safe from kids. And remember too, that this is just a first aid and a visit to the doctor is still best.