How to use › DMSO and Castor Oil: How People Use Them Together
DMSO and Castor Oil: How People Use Them Together
Of all the questions people send me, "Can I mix DMSO with castor oil?" comes up more than almost any other. The short answer is yes. Castor is the one common carrier oil that blends with DMSO in a single bottle, and it is also lovely as a layer on top or as a warm pack.
Our family found DMSO the hard way. A family member and a friend both had strokes, and a boy with special needs in our lives had us searching for anything that might help. We now use DMSO a lot at home. I am not a doctor. I share what we have learnt because good, practical information is hard to find. Everything below is about skin use only, and it is about what people do and report, not a treatment for any condition.
Why castor and DMSO go together
Most plant oils are fatty and do not mix well with DMSO. Gaylord Chemical's DMSO solubility data (Bulletin 102B) shows coconut oil barely dissolving at room temperature, which is why a coconut and DMSO mix separates. The same table lists castor oil as fully miscible.
The reason is castor's main fatty acid. About 90% of castor oil is ricinoleic acid, and that molecule carries a hydroxyl group, which helps castor mix with more polar liquids like DMSO. This is set out in reviews of castor oil's properties and its chemistry.
People like the pairing because castor is thick and soft. It can make DMSO feel less drying on the skin, and it holds moisture in once the DMSO has soaked in.
Choosing castor oil
DMSO carries what is on the skin, and what is in the mix, further in. That makes the quality of your castor oil matter far more than usual.
- Cold-pressed and hexane-free. Hexane is a solvent that is commonly used to extract castor oil. You do not want solvent traces going in with DMSO.
- In glass. Amber or clear glass, not soft plastic.
- Plain. No added fragrance and no unnamed "blend" oils.
- Not pharmacy laxative grade. The castor oil sold at the pharmacy as a laxative (BP grade) is not the one for skin work.
Your DMSO should be pharmaceutical or laboratory grade at 99% or higher. The Dilution page explains how to check.
Three ways people use them together
1. Mixed in one bottle
This is the simplest. DMSO and castor go into the same glass bottle and you apply the mix to clean, dry skin. A common starting point is about one part DMSO to three parts castor, which is roughly 25% DMSO. The mix can still look a little cloudy or settle over time, so shake it before each use.
2. Layering
Some people prefer to keep them apart. Diluted DMSO goes on first as a thin layer, and you give it a minute or two until it no longer feels wet. Then you smooth a little castor oil over the top. This eases the dryness DMSO can leave behind. For the scalp, see the castor layering steps.
3. Warm castor pack, then DMSO
This one follows the old castor pack tradition. Soak a cotton or flannel cloth in castor oil, lay it on the area, cover it and add gentle heat for about 20 minutes. Keep the heat comfortable, never hot. Then wipe the oil off and apply diluted DMSO. Use a cloth kept only for packs. You will find more on this on the Oils page.
Simple mixing steps
These amounts make the one-bottle mix at about one part DMSO to three parts castor.
| Bottle | Castor oil | DMSO (99.9%) |
|---|---|---|
| 30 ml | 22.5 ml (about 4½ teaspoons) | 7.5 ml (about 1½ teaspoons) |
| 100 ml | 75 ml | 25 ml |
- Wipe your work surface, wash and dry your hands, and use a clean glass bottle.
- Pour the castor oil in first.
- Add the DMSO slowly. If it has crystallised in the cold, warm the bottle in your hands or in lukewarm water first.
- Close the bottle and shake well.
- Label it with what is inside, the strength and the date.
- Shake again before each use.
If you want it stronger or gentler, the Dilution page is where the strengths live. Start low, especially on thin skin and the face.
Where people use it
- Joints such as knees, hands and shoulders, often with castor layered over the DMSO.
- Older, closed scars, with the pack or layering.
- The scalp and hair, using only a little because castor is sticky. Some people thin it with a few drops of jojoba.
- The abdomen, which is where the classic warm castor pack goes.
Castor is not a "detox", and nothing here is a treatment for lumps or growths. Anything new or changing should be seen by a doctor.
Safety
- Skin only. Never swallow, nebulise or inject DMSO, or a DMSO and castor mix.
- Clean, dry skin first. Wash with plain soap, rinse well and dry fully. DMSO can carry perfume, lotion, sunscreen or dirt further in.
- Patch-test a small area first, and again whenever you change the strength. The steps are on the Safety page.
- Keep it off eyes, broken skin and bleeding wounds. Skip packs on broken, infected or freshly shaved skin.
- Ask a clinician first if you are pregnant, using it on a child, or taking medicines.
Quick FAQ
Do I have to shake the bottle?
Yes. Castor and DMSO mix well, but a bottle can look uneven after standing. A quick shake before each use keeps it even.
Can I add essential oils to the castor mix?
Some people do, but keep them very dilute, under about 4% of the finished blend, and most people start nearer 1%. The drop counts are on the Oils page.
Mixing or layering: which is better?
Neither. Mixing is quicker. Layering lets the DMSO soak in on its own first and gives you more control. Try both and see what suits your skin.
Can I use it on my face?
Castor is heavy for most faces, and the face needs a lower DMSO strength. Most people use a lighter oil like jojoba there. See the face section of the Dilution page.
In closing
Castor and DMSO are one of the easiest pairings to get right. Choose a clean castor oil, start gentle, keep your skin clean and shake the bottle. If you are just starting out, the Start here page walks you through the basics.
What you need: the DMSO kits are on Start here, and the castor oil we suggest is on Resources.