JAMAICAN BLACK CASTOR OIL VS. CASTOR OIL
What Is Jamaican Black Castor Oil?
Before we look at what Jamaican black castor oil is, let’s first learn about castor oil. Castor oil is extracted from the seeds of the castor oil plant, which, when cold pressed, is pale yellow and transparent.
But Jamaican castor oil is extracted in a different way, which is also the traditional method of extraction. The seeds are roasted and then pulverized in a mortar. Then, water is added, after which these mashed beans are slow-boiled on a wood fire. What we get as a result is unadulterated, thick, pungent, and dark brown castor oil – which is also known as Jamaican black castor oil.
Well, this is just one of the many differences between castor oil and Jamaican black castor oil. Which are important to know to get a better perspective on the benefits we will see in a while.
The major difference is the method of processing. Castor oil often undergoes more commercial processing, whereas its Jamaican cousin is processed traditionally (and without adulteration).
We can say there are three major differences between the two. They are:
1. The way of processing
We already saw this in brief. Castor oil is produced by pressing fresh castor beans – there is no heat involved, which is why we call it cold-pressed castor oil. Certain manufacturers use chemicals in their process of extracting castor oil.
But Jamaican black castor oil is prepared by first roasting the beans. This results in an oil that smells burnt. This oil is often considered to be pure and much superior in terms of its nutritional content.
2. The color
Castor oil is pale yellow whereas its Jamaican cousin is dark brown or black. At times, it is extra dark.
3. The pH level
The processing method of a castor bean determines its pH level. Castor oil is slightly acidic, whereas its Jamaican counterpart, given it contains the ashes of the beans, is on the alkaline side.
Jamaican black castor oil seems to have the upper hand here, but hey, all varieties of castor oil have their own individual set of benefits. However, if you ask us which is the best of the lot, we would pick the Jamaican variant – given it is made without much chemical processing, which is why it can be the obvious choice.
The health benefits of the two types of castor oil are similar – only that the Jamaican variant has more pronounced benefits, given its unadulterated method of processing.
Jamaican black castor oil (also sometimes called pure Jamaican black castor oil) has great benefits for the skin, hair, and health. It has numerous uses for improving health in all aspects. And guess what – users have given it great reviews too. Now let’s dig into what is jamaican black castor oil good for.
What Are The Benefits Of Jamaican Black Castor Oil?
The number one and most famous benefit is hair growth. It is the most effective amongst all natural products for thickening the hair and stopping hair loss. The omega-9, omega-6 fatty acids in conjuction with the >90% ricinoleic acid in Jamaican black castor oil contribute to stimulating hair growth.
It is also good for skin health. They help treat inflammation and the resultant problems like acne. And more importantly, its antifungal and antibacterial properties help heal numerous infections like ringworms.