What is the advantage of capsules compared with liquid castor oil?

The active content is the same — castor oil from Ricinus communis seeds, with ricinoleic acid as its best-known component. What changes is the way you take it.

• No taste or texture issue. Liquid castor oil is thick and has a distinctive taste that many people find hard to swallow. A soft gelatin capsule passes down like any other capsule and only releases the oil once digested.
• Measured portioning. Each capsule holds a defined 0.3 g of oil. With a spooned liquid, the amount varies with how full the spoon is and how much clings to it; with capsules you simply count pieces according to the label.
• Easier to carry. A pack of 100 capsules travels without the risk of a leaking oil bottle, which fits the typical use case — occasional support after travel or a change in eating pattern.

The composition is deliberately simple: castor oil in a gelatin shell, without a blend of herbs or fibers. That makes it easy to see exactly what you are taking, but it also means the capsules work the same way as classic castor oil — as a bowel stimulant intended for short-term, occasional use rather than everyday intake.