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Castor Oil Eases Itching

Q. Here is a home remedy for you. I got bitten by fire ants yesterday, and the bites swelled up and itched like crazy. I applied castor oil right away, and the itching stopped. The bites are just a little bit swollen today, and they don’t itch at all. Castor oil sure works on ant bites!

A. Castor oil is an old-fashioned remedy that was once used as a laxative. We’ve heard of using it on warts, bruises and sore joints, but this is the first we’ve heard of using it on ant bites. Other remedies that readers have successfully used on fire ant bites include baking soda and vinegar, toothpaste and Vicks VapoRub.

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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