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Castor Oil For Health

Castor Oil For Abortion – Everything You Need To Know

‘Abortion’ is a scary word, but so are words like ‘pregnancy’ and ‘motherhood’. Contrary to what a lot of people assume, no one considers an abortion for casual reasons. Abortion is a huge step, and if you’ve come this far, you definitely have your reasons for it. Age, finances, familial support, your gender identity – one, some, or all of these may have played a huge role in your decision. It could also be that you were unprepared for your pregnancy. After all, why would anyone call it an ‘unplanned pregnancy’ if it was expected?

Castor OIl For Abortion

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I understand, it’s okay.

But here’s the deal. While the ideal situation for one considering an abortion would be to talk to a qualified healthcare provider, it is not always easy to choose this option. Whether it’s the fear of social stigma or the lack of financial resources, it isn’t uncommon to see a lot of women turn to the internet for advice. And more often than not, they’re looking for ways to induce an abortion at home.

One of the most popular such methods you might have come across on those pages is to consume large quantities of castor oil. But, can castor oil cause a miscarriage? Being a natural product and easily available, it isn’t hard to see the appeal it would hold for someone looking for how to induce an abortion at home. But if you’re considering the same, I need you to hold off on that thought right now. In the post below you will learn whether drinking castor oil for abortion is a safe option or not.

Castor Oil For Abortion – Why You Should Avoid 

According to recent research, castor oil induces pelvic congestion due to intestinal irritation and thus, may (or may not) induce an abortion. However, research in this area is still ongoing.

As things stand, consuming castor oil to terminate a pregnancy may be dangerous for the following reasons:

  • Consuming large quantities of castor oil may lead to permanent sterility. It is a practice recommended in traditional medicine to treat those women who are looking for a permanent birth control option.
  • Due to its laxative properties, incorrect dosages may cause severe dehydration, nausea and cramps, amongst other effects.
  • Using castor oil for natural abortion is not assured. On the contrary, it can severely affect the health of the baby, causing you to remain pregnant, but with a sick child.
  • There are chances that the baby or the pregnancy tissue might not be fully expelled, which can pose a severe health risk to you.

Abortion is a huge deal not just for you but your body too. If done the right way, it can be a harmless procedure that does not cause any side effects. But if not, you could be looking at a slew of repercussions that may last you a lifetime. Instead of trying to induce an abortion which may or may not work, prioritize your health and talk to a trusted healthcare provider about the options available to you. Remember, you, and you alone are responsible for your well-being.

Meanwhile, if you’re sexually active and not looking to get pregnant anytime soon, here’s why natural methods of contraception are a great idea.

Contraception, or birth control as it is otherwise known, is not a modern day phenomenon. Despite all the discourse that has surrounded it in recent times, methods of contraception have been practiced right since the stone ages. Ancient methods of contraception ranged from the benign –  drinking herbal infusions and wearing amulets or charms made of dead spiders – to the bizarre, such as eating dead bees or crushing testicles using a stone (ouch!). Luckily for us, modern science has advanced to a stage where we longer need to eat or wear dead bees and spiders to prevent an unwanted pregnancy.

Why Does Anyone Need Birth Control?

Birth control is an important reproductive right. Long shunned and looked down upon as ‘evil’, it has even faced governmental censure. This can be seen in the form of legislation in a few countries that criminalize birth control methods even today. What is interesting to note here is that such control over a woman’s body comes from a society that is largely dominated by men. No wonder then that reproductive rights (or the right of a woman over her body) have become one of the core issues in the modern debate on feminism. In fact, the World Health Organisation recognizes the rights and choices of a woman concerning her body as an important component of reproductive health.

Motherhood is a joy, undoubtedly. But many factors may contribute towards a woman’s decision on whether or not to embrace such a life-altering commitment. Birth control should be a basic right that must be extended to all women and across all social strata. But due to lack of access or finances, or even the fear of societal scorn, women have had to increasingly turn to natural methods of contraception.

Castor As Birth Control

Castor beans have traditionally been used by women in various countries as a form of birth control.

Scientifically known as Ricinus communis and native to India and Africa, the castor plant has been around for millennia. Castor is known to contain a highly toxic protein known as ricin, which happens to be one of the most lethal substances occurring in nature. As such, it is the presence of this toxin that imparts to castor its quality as a laxative and for birth control while also giving it antifungal, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.

How To Use Castor Oil For Birth Control

Traditional medicine is replete with instances of using castor as an effective method of contraception. Even today, there are reports of women using castor oil inside their vaginas as a form of birth control or one of the natural ways to cause an abortion.

Please note that the term contraception is different from abortion, and the two must not be confused. Contraception includes all techniques that prevent a pregnancy from occurring while abortion is the deliberate termination of a pregnancy after it has occurred.

Here, we’ve discussed three ways featured in Ayurvedic and Unani treatises, traditional schools of medicine from the Indian subcontinent, that use castor as an effective contraceptive.

  1. To prevent a pregnancy right after intercourse
  • Take a couple of fresh castor seeds.
  • Break them open to find a white seed inside.
  • Consume one seed within 72 hours of intercourse.

This method is seen to work as a natural I-pill.

  1. To use as contraception over a month
  • Break open fresh castor seeds to find a white seed inside.
  • Eat three seeds for the first three days of menstruation.
  1. For permanent sterility
  • Consume 5 seeds for 5 consecutive days.
  • You may even consume one castor seed daily over a period of seven days after menstruation.
  • It has been suggested that this will lead to permanent sterility and the woman will not conceive again in her lifetime.

Administering the pulp of one-two castor seeds during menstruation has been reported to prevent fertilization too.

Hope now you are clear about the concept of castor oil for abortion. Keep in mind that as with other remedies of traditional medicine, natural methods of contraception need further scientific validation too. Utmost caution must be taken with any form of contraception, traditional or modern. Remember to contact your healthcare provider immediately if you feel something is not right.

Stay Healthy, Stay Safe!

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