Did your parents ever insist you take castor oil as a kid? That is some foul-tasting stuff.  Luckily for children today, that particular trend seems to have gone away.

But the last generation was on to something – castor oil has many uses, most of which do not require consumption.

Castor oil is made from the seeds of the castor plant. (Ricinus communis) It is an ingredient in many modern drugs, including:

• Miconazole, an antifungal agent.

• Paclitaxel, a mitotic inhibitor used in cancer chemotherapy.

• Sandimmune (cyclosporine injection, USP), an immunosuppressant drug widely used in connection with organ transplant to reduce the activity of the patient's immune system.

• Nelfinavir mesylate, an HIV protease inhibitor.

• Tacrolimus, an immunosuppressive drug (contains HCO-60, polyoxyl 60 hydrogenated castor oil);

• Xenaderm ointment, a topical treatment for skin ulcers, is a combination of Balsam of Peru, castor oil, and trypsin.

• Aci-Jel (composed of ricinoleic acid from castor oil, with acetic acid and oxyquinoline) is used to maintain the acidity of the vagina.

• Optive Plus (carboxymethylcellulose, castor oil) and Refresh Ultra (glycerine, castor oil), are artificial tears to treat dry eye.

• Castor oil is also one of the components of Vishnevsky liniment. (source)

Castor oil can last for years, making it a great multi-purpose addition to your preps. You can get a whopping 128-ounce container of it for less than $35 here.

Here are a few alternative uses for castor oil.

Here are some ways to use that odious tasting stuff… and you don't even have to consume it. (Please note that this article does not encompass medical advice and is for entertainment purposes only.)