The ingestion of castor oil has seemingly grown into a trend on TikTok as a means of detox, however, health experts have cautioned that the practice could lead to “explosive diarrhea.“
Jane Clarke, an incontinence nurse at the Australia-based Confidence Club, says the oil has several benefits for external use.
The extract is a powerful laxative, and using it frequently can cause serious health consequences, as per News Week.
“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 said.
“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.”
There has been an increase in the practice as disclosed or demonstrated by TikTok influencers claiming that the oil can “detox” the body.
“Once ingested, castor oil activates the prostaglandin receptors, leading to rapid contractions that push contents through your small intestine speedily without giving you time to fully digest contents and form solid stools.”
She continued, “Castor oil also inhibits fluid absorption in the gut, adding to accelerated bowel movements and increasing the risk of dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.“
All of this results in what Clarke describes as “explosive diarrhea,” nausea and vomiting. She further added that, it “could also lead to malnutrition, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalance.