Evaluating the effectiveness of castor oil for labour induction: a narrative review

ABSTRACT
Background/Objectives. The process of artificially stimulating the uterus to initiate labor is commonly referred to as labor induction. This procedure should be offered to women only when supported by scientific evidence demonstrating that the benefits of initiating labor early outweigh the associated risks. These risks include complications related to prematurity or post-term pregnancy. Various methods for inducing labor are available, categorized into pharmacological and mechanical approaches. Among pharmacological methods, the administration of exogenous prostaglandins such as Dinoprostone and misoprostol is the most widely used. Mechanical methods include transcervical catheters, amniotomy, and membrane sweeping. Additionally, international guidelines mention several “non-traditional” methods, such as acupuncture, herbal remedies, homeopathy, hot baths, enemas, sexual activity, and castor oil. The objective of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness of castor oil as a method for inducing labor.
Methods. A bibliographic search was conducted using three biomedical databases: PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL. The research question was formulated using the PIO (Population, Intervention, Outcome) framework.
Results. The most recent clinical guidelines advise against the routine use of castor oil for labor induction. However, some studies have reported its effectiveness as a non-traditional method for initiating labor.
Conclusions. Given the demonstrated effective-ness of castor oil in stimulating uterine contractions, its low cost, and the lack of significant side effects associated with its use, this method remains an area of interest for further research.