To not want to be treated like Vera Drake for trying to buy castor oil

[frazzledgirl]

I realise and respect that chemists have to think and ask questions, but do they really have to treat you like a child/be plain bloody rude while they do it?

I have read Style and Beauty threads on the oil cleansing method with great interest. Decided to go for it.

In Boots y'day, asked for castor oil. One assistant had never heard of it, asked another who gave me a filthy look and told me disdainfully (and VERY loudly) that they didn't sell it any more because it had been "abused by customers". I asked (politely) how. She wouldn't tell me.

In Superdrug, pharmcist snapped "why do you want THAT?". I told her, oil cleansing. She asked with a face what I'd mix it with, so I told her, even tho I was starting to think 'none of your farking business'. Eventually she graciously agreed I could have some.

I'd probably be far less annoyed if I hadn't finally lost my baby weight after DS, and don't look remotely pregnant any more Or so I'd fondly hoped...

How does one abuse castor oil?

YANBU - some chemists treat you like you're 12 years old. The trick is to find a pharmacist you like and stick with them.

Why on earth were they treating you like that? I thought its only use was for a laxative?

To bring about the shits? which can induce labour? or to lose weight?

"How does one abuse castor oil?"

Call it mean names? Put in a dark cupboard all day while you go out?

Used to be something women would try when wanting to induce a miscarriage.

oh, did it work?

LOL at Morloth

WTF does it have to do with anyone else what you buy it for? I found that Boots and Superdrug were useless when trying to buy it, so tried the independent chemist on my street, and bought without any problems.
Let us know how you get on with your OCM!

not reliably, I don't think. It was just one of those things like hot baths, gin and horse-riding that the desperate used to try before visiting a Vera Drake

The lady behind the counter at Lloyds was fascinated and 'If I didn't mind saying, what was it for"?
When I explained, she said she was going to try it herself and it made a change using it on face instead of bunged up bowels.

My local chemist denied that it existed "oh they don't make that any more"

So dispatched DH to Boots in town, who after saying that they didn't stock it, still quizzed him about what he wanted it for! He of course muttered something about it being for his wife so he didn't know... and scarpered! Bet they all raised their eyebrows at his departing arse.

That reminds of trying to buy citric acid at all the pharmacies near where I used to work and getting very short shrift until one kindly pharmacist explained that no-one in that area stocked it as it's used for some sort of drug thing (I used to work just off Tottenham Court Road in London). Never had any trouble buying it since moving to the sticks though; my crack factory is thriving

i asked at the counter at boots. pharmacist asked what i wanted it for. i said to wash my face. she said ok here you go. no issue at all. how odd.

I think it is because of the ricine terrorist plot a few years ago. I think castor oil is made out of ricine and they probably thought you where up to no good!

Also I am pretty sure castor oil does not contain ricine www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=3&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ansci.cornell.edu%2Fplants%2Fcas torbean.html&ei=9BP8SfOmO9aSjAfNrsS5Aw&usg=AFQjCNFetgXQHOKZNfD14AoXjDmDvnMqYg They might just try to be over zealous, silly people!

This happened to me years ago when I neededto buy bottles of it for work. It's used by bullimics apparently. I took to buying it in sainsbury's.

Chemists won't sell people citric acid any more either (for descaling) because apparently it is used in heroin use.

And deffo don't buy vats and vats of hydrogen peroxide (for mould removal or hair bleaching) = bomb making

I hope nobody is planning to misuse chocolate!

I was at the GP's when a woman came in for a repeat prescription.

The receptionist yelled that she'd have to see the doctor because 'it says here that you're suspicious.'

We all stared at this poor woman who started gibbering that it was a cream for her persistent rash. 'On my hands' she said loudly, in case we thought she had the pox as well as being a junkie.

The doctor came out and explained he 'suspected' she needed a different cream because the usual one didn't seem to be working.

I think it depends on teh area you live and if chemists think that the area is rife with drug users,terorists etc.
We sell Bottels of Hydrogen Peroxide,a nd castor oil. No problems.