What can Castor Oil be used for?

Immune Functionality:

One of the major reasons castor oil has strong immune-enhancing effects is because it supports the body’s lymphatic system. The most significant role of the lymphatic system, which is spread throughout the whole body in small tubular structures, is that it absorbs and removes excess fluids, proteins, and waste materials from our cells.

Boosts Circulation in the body:
A healthy lymphatic system and proper blood flow go hand in hand. When the lymphatic system fails (or edema develops, which is the retention of fluid and toxins), it’s much more likely someone will have circulatory issues. This is due to the fact that the lymphatic circulatory system works directly with the cardiovascular circulatory system to keep blood and lymphatic fluid levels in an optimal balance.

Moisturizes skin & improves wound healing:
Castor oil is completely natural and free of synthetic chemicals (as long as you use pure 100 percent pure oil, of course), yet it’s rich in skin-boosting ingredients like fatty acids. Applying this oil to dry or irritated skin can help to discourage dryness and keep it well moisturized, since it prevents water loss. It can also help with wound and pressure ulcer healing thanks to its moisturizing as well as antimicrobial and
antibacterial properties. It mixes well with other ingredients like almond, olive and coconut oil, all of which have unique benefits for skin.

Helps Dry, Irritated, Sun-Burnt or Acne-Prone Skin
As a natural antibacterial agent, castor oil works similarly to coconut oil for boosting skin health. It also makes a great general skin moisturizer and anti-inflammatory blemish treatment. If you want to get rid of acne forever, you need to get to the source of the problem. Castor oil is a great natural home remedy for acne. As it penetrates deep into the skin, it fights bacteria overgrowth that can clog pores, while
softening and hydrating irritated skin at the same time.

Acts as a Laxative to Relieve Constipation
Castor oil works like a natural, mild stimulant laxative when taken orally. It can provide constipation relief, reduce strain during defecation and enhance the feeling of complete evacuation after a bowel movement. Its active ingredient, ricinolein acid, gets released into the intestine, where it helps with the process of digestion, nutrient absorption and cleansing the system. It increases movement of the muscles that push material through the intestines, helping to pass a bowel movement. One study conducted in Turkey looked at the effects of castor oil packs on elderly people experiencing constipation. The study participants were monitored for a week before, three days during and four days after the oil pack administration. A whopping 80 percent of the individuals studied had been experiencing constipation for 10 years or longer. The researchers found that the oil packs were able to decrease constipation symptoms, most specifically straining during defecation.

Lowers Symptoms of Arthritis
Castor oil is often used as a natural treatment for arthritis pain, joint swelling, and inflammation. It has natural anti-inflammatory properties that make it an ideal massage oil that can be applied to aching joints, muscles, or tissue. Observational studies have even shown that topical application of ricinolein acid (the main component of castor oil), “exerts remarkable analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.” A randomized, double-blind, comparative clinical study looked at the effects of castor oil capsules on symptoms of knee osteoarthritis.

Helps to Encourage Strong, Shiny Hair
What does castor oil do for your hair? Just like coconut oil benefits your hair, using castor oil may help your hair grow faster, thicker, stronger, and shinier. It can detangle hair as well and is even used to treat hair felting (a disorder in which hair becomes twisted and entangled as a hard stony mass). Does castor oil regrow hair? Because it can improve blood circulation to your follicles, it may help to speed up hair growth. This is why some people apply it not only to hair on their head, but also to eyebrows and eyelashes.

In conclusion, castor oil has many different uses for different ailments and conditions. While this product can’t be used as a guarantee cure for said conditions, it can help improve your quality of life. Always consult a doctor or health care specialist before using this in place of medications or when using as an alternate treatment.

Let’s first talk about what exactly CBD is. CBD, also known as Cannabidiol, is a naturally occurring compound found in the resinous flower of cannabis. Today, the medicinal properties of CBD are being tested by scientists and doctors all around the world and being shown to be very beneficial to both people and animals alike. CBD is a safe and non-addictive substance used to help with internal and external problems alike. CBD is closely related to another important medically active phytocannabinoid: THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the compound that causes a psychoactive effect that cannabis is famous for. Both CBD and THC have significant therapeutic attributes. Though CBD does not make a person feel “high” or intoxicated. That’s because CBD and THC act in different ways on different receptors in the brain and body. CBD can actually lessen or neutralize the psychoactive effects of THC, depending on how much of each compound is consumed. Many people want the health benefits of cannabis without the high, or with less of a high. What also makes this appealing is that, like for people, your dog will not get any form of high from the CBD, making it safe for them to consume. So, knowing what CBD is, we can talk more about how it can benefit your dog. The CBD oil is best ingested through their mouths and can be given to them through their food. Like tinctures/oil for humans, the oil for dogs will stay in their system for about 12 hours and works best when taken morning and night. This is so it can stay in their system all day and night. The oil can help with many different conditions.

Anxiety and Stress
Let’s start with anxiety and stress, and how the CBD helps with it. CBD has been extensively studied for its effect on stress and anxiety. In humans and animals alike, it’s been found to reduce anxiety in both healthy beings and those with anxiety disorders and can be effective in those with panic disorders and PTSD. This is helpful for dogs with higher levels of anxiety or are just prone to stress responses. It can help with cases anywhere from generalized anxiety to PTSD that can feel challenging to live with. This is due to how CBD connects to the brain and its receptors. When it connects to the brain, it slows the responses to panic and anxiety, allowing the dog to feel safer and more comfortable with their surroundings.

Seizures
CBD has also been shown to treat epilepsy and seizures. It’s estimated that about 5% of dogs suffer from seizures, and that can be scary for both the dog and the owner to experience. Most dogs with these conditions are on medications that, while able to help the conditions, can also be extremely harmful to the dog’s liver and other internal organs. And sometimes the medications don’t even do enough to combat said conditions. CBD has been shown to be effective in drug-resistant epilepsy. In one study, 83% of patients with drug resistant epilepsy saw a noticeable improvement within 4 -5 months of taking CBD on a routine schedule. In another study that was done for people that can apply for how well CBD works, 84% of children with treatment-resistant epilepsy who had been taking CBD had a reduction in
the frequency of seizures.

Pain and Inflammation
CBD is also a strong pain reliever in the body. So as mentioned before, CBD can connect to the brain’s receptors and slow down/lessen a response such as anxiety. This can also apply for pain! Scientists are considering CBD as a new class of medication as a treatment of chronic pain since the cannabinoids in CBD work so well for managing pain. Studies show that CBD is highly effective for a few different conditions. An example being decreasing pain, including neuropathy and nerve-related pain, this generally applies more to older dogs. And decreasing inflammation in the body, this can include internal (such as in the organs) or external (such as on the skin.) Animal studies show that CBD is effective is counteracting colitis (IBD) and restoring normal gut motility in IBD. CBD can also support Cardiovascular health and heart health. Studies show it can reduce the damage from impaired blood vessels and abnormal heart rates, protect blood vessels from damage and dilate the arteries, and reduce heart rate and blood pressure associated with stress and anxiety.

Arthritis
Along with CBD being good for pain and inflammation, that ties into how it can help with arthritis and hip dysplasia. Dogs are no different when it comes to the challenges that arise from aging. Joint problems especially become common in older dogs, which can lead to pain and having trouble with movement. Arthritis is the swelling and tenderness of one or more joints. The main symptoms of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness, which typically worsen with age. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. This can cause your dog to have trouble moving, they usually walk stiffly, and have inflammation and swelling in their joints. Just like people, dogs have cartilage at the ends of their bones within the joints that serve to cushion the impact between the bones as they move around. As dogs get older, this cartilage can erode and weaken, which can lead to inflammation and pain.

Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia can affect any dog, but it’s more common in bigger breeds and is related to a mix of environmental and dietary factors. The health of dog hips is closely linked with the amount and type of exercise a dog gets in their lifetime. While often diagnosed with age, dysplasia is not necessarily limited to older dogs. The early stages of dysplasia can usually be traced to irregular growth rates in puppyhood. Hip dysplasia is usually genetic and begin as a puppy’s muscle mass and hormones increase during growth spurts. The hip is a ball and socket joint, which should move smoothly with a sufficient level of mobility. Dysplasia occurs when space opens up between the ball at the end of the femur and the socket of the hip. In dogs suffering dysplasia, the joint will be loose or underdeveloped, and the two elements will begin to grind against each other. Usually, owners will turn to surgeries or medications as a go to treatment, but luckily, CBD oil may become your new solution. CBD oil is more natural in its components and may be a safer option. Pet owners who are nervous about giving their pets medication often turn to natural alternatives. In the case of arthritis, CBD oil may also be a healthy solution for both human and dogs.

In both cases, CBD is able to reduce the amount of inflammation and pain felt in the body, giving your pet a better quality of life. Adding CBD to your pet’s treatment plan may be valuable with minimal risk to your pet. Several studies have shown that cannabidiol has powerful anti-inflammatory effects, both when taken orally or when applied topically on the skin. One study showed that CBD is so effective against the inflammation caused by osteoarthritis that it may even slow the progression of this degenerative disease by preventing the nerve damage caused by inflammation!

Depending on how you want to give care to your dog, why not give CBD a try? At AHS, we have specialists and a nurse on staff who can answer any questions you may have about CBD or treatment plans for your furry companion.

Let’s start with what CBD is. CBD, or Cannabidiol, is one of the many active compounds found in the cannabis plant. Luckily, CBD is non-psychoactive and has many of the same medical benefits as Tetrahydrocannabinol (aka THC), another active and more well-known compound thanks to its psychoactive properties. This compound being the one that gets you “high.” CBD allows you to take advantage of the healing benefits without leaving you with the inebriated feeling that often goes hand in hand with THC. There has also been research that has shown that CBD is a very powerful painkiller and has anti-inflammatory properties that help make internal and external pain much more
manageable. What’s also nice about this compound is that it is not addictive and very safe for you to take. Even if you take too much, at worst you will have a headache or diarrhea. Though when taking CBD for topical pain, those symptoms do not usually occur.

So why should I use CBD cream? What makes it so special is that with its anti-inflammatory properties, it can reduce the symptoms you may be experiencing on your skin. It can go through about four layers of skin to improve deeper pain you may be experiencing. CBD cream evades the CB1 and CB2 receptors and heads straight for a neurotransmitter middleman that blocks signals for pain and itch by working through agents called anandamide and 2-AG. Sidestepping the CB1 and CB2 receptors means that CBD can mute pain without the high sensation delivered by THC. CBD can significantly reduce intense pain, sharp pain, itchy sensations, and cold. Other research also suggests that topical CBD may be useful for treating joint and muscle pain associated with other conditions, such as migraines. Topical CBD may also benefit certain skin disorders. CBD cream has been shown to help with cases such as eczema and arthritis. Depending on what level of pain you may be having, we will surly have something that can help with your needs.

At AHS, we have two different creams that can help you with different levels of pain. We use a 1-10 scale to represent pain, for example, 1 would be the lightest amount of pain while 10 would be considered some of the worst pain you can experience. We have two different creams to accommodate both levels of pain. We have our 1500mg cream that would be good for pain that is a 5 or lower, and our 2500mg cream that is for 6 and higher levels of pain. Luckily, it’s very easy to apply to the skin as well! Our creams come with little spatulas that can help you scoop up a tiny bit of cream, a little bit can go a long way! You just apply a little bit to your affected area, and it will help elevate the pain within half an hour to an hour, depending on the person. Always be careful where you put the cream though, never put it near your eyes or near more sensitive areas of your body (such as genitalia.) Our 2500mg cream does contain menthol in it, so be warned if you either have an allergy or are sensitive to this ingredient. At AHS, we have many specialists and a nurse on staff who can answer any additional questions about CBD or how to take it if you are on any medications.

Treatment for pets with arthritis include hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, massage therapy, acupuncture, steroid injections, surgery and prescribed medications. Most vets will prescribe your dog pain killers and/or anti-inflammatories to help combat the pain and inflammation caused by arthritis. Some of the most common medications prescribed to dogs with arthritis are Metacam and Rimadyl, two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Each prescribed medication contains negative side effects that include black or bloody stools, diarrhea, increased or decreasedactivity, seizures, aggression, skin irritation, stomach ulcers,weight loss, increased water consumption, changes to urine, loss of appetite, vomiting, abdominal pain, dehydration, liver damage, kidney damage and in some cases death.

CBD is a non-psychoactive compound derived from the hemp plant known for its potential therapeutic effects. Studies have shown that CBD may have powerful pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects, making it a very viable option for treating the symptoms of canine arthritis. When your pet uses CBD, it interacts with their endocannabinoid system (ECS).

All mammals have this system in their bodies, and it is predominantly made up of 2 types of cannabinoid receptors (known as CB1 and CB2). These receptors are found not only in the brain, but in other places within the body and by interacting with these receptors, the beneficial effects of CBD are produced. Numerous studies on CBD have shown that the compound may help reduce a wide variety of inflammation in organs like the pancreas, lungs,brain and most importantly, the joints.

There are a few CBD products that could help your canine companion with their arthritis. If the pain level is 1-5 small dogs can take Bailey’s 300mg Tincture and larger breeds can take Bailey’s 600mg Tincture.

If the pain level is 6-10 your pet can take our AHS 500mg Pet Tincture. CBD infused dog treats in 3-5 mg can also help with the pain and inflammation caused by arthritis.

Always consult your veterinarian before starting your furry friend on a new treatment.

Our team of specialists are always available to provide you with education and assist you with any questions regarding CBD.