Benefits of Castor Oil Packs and How to Make and Use Them

Castor oil has been used for centuries as an ancient remedy. Today, it is used by many to help improve gut health, detoxification, the immune system, and so much more. Find out the amazing benefits of this powerful oil and how to use and make a castor oil pack to promote overall health and wellness.

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What is Castor Oil

Castor oil is a thick and sticky oil that’s derived from the seed of a castor oil bean (Ricinus Communis). Although the castor seed itself is actually quite poisonous, the cold-pressed oil within holds medicinal properties. This ancient oil has been used for hundreds of years in the healing practices of places like ancient India, Egypt, and China. I am a huge believer in ancient medicine and the wisdom and intuition our ancestors had when it came to plant medicine.

Castor Oil is full of essential fatty acids and has a unique makeup of 90% ricinoleic acid, which is believed to be the compound that contributes to many of its healing properties. Other contributing factors found in castor oil include flavonoids, phenolic compounds, amino acids, terpenoids, and phytosterols.(1)

Today we are specifically talking about the use of castor oil packs; however, it can be used in a multitude of ways including internal and external uses. Always speak with a health care professional before using Castor oil internally, as it is a strong laxative and can cause unwanted side effects.

What is a Castor Oil Pack

A castor oil pack is something that had been recommended to me several years ago by my functional dietitian. It is the act of placing warm castor oil on different areas of the body to promote healing, particularly the liver. This practice helps to draw toxins out of the body and stimulate lymph and liver function.

Throughout my health journey, I have realized that one of the most important ways to maintain health is to support your liver. It’s impossible to avoid all the toxins in this world, but we can do things to help eliminate them from our bodies and promote a strong defense system from within.

In order to make a castor oil pack, all you have to do is pour some organic cold-pressed and hexane-free castor oil on an unbleached piece of wool or cotton. Then you place it over the body part you want to treat, in the case of the liver, you would place it on your right side just below the ribcage. Then you will cover it with an old towel and place a heating pad or heated water bottle over top. Now just sit back, hydrate, and relax while it works its magic.

Don’t worry I will list all the exact details and steps down below.

Benefits of Castor Oil Packs

The benefits of castor oil packs seem to be never-ending. They can be used to relieve constipation, reduce pain and inflammation, boost the immune system, increase circulation, improve digestion, improve skin issues, balance hormones, and help you to relax. Here is an explanation of 5 incredible benefits of using castor oil packs.

1. Immune Boosting

Castor oil packs help to boost the immune system by stimulating the lymphatic system and increasing lymphocytes. The lymphatic system helps our body get rid of toxins and waste by transporting lymph, a fluid that contains infection-fighting white blood cells through the body.

Research shows that when participants during a double-blind study used castor oil pack therapy, their T-cells immediately increased over a 24hour period. T-cells are a type of lymphocyte (white blood cell) that helps to identify and kill viruses, bacteria, and even cancer cells from the body.(2)

As you can see, this is an important function of the body. Unfortunately, the lymphatic system does not become stimulated on its own but is stimulated through movement and other practices such as dry brushing or castor oil packs.

*For more tips on how to naturally boost the immune system check out this post HERE

2. Liver Support/Detox

With so many toxins in the world, our livers are in desperate need of support. With studies showing castor oil is literally an anti-toxin, you can see how it would be beneficial to the liver. Castor oil packs have the ability to draw toxins out and stimulate the liver when placed over the organ.

With liver disease accounting for approximately 2 million deaths per year worldwide, maintaining a healthy liver is essential.(3) The good news is that the liver is the only visceral organ that has the ability to regenerate. When the liver is healthy, your overall health improves including your skin, digestion, hormones, and mood.

3. Improves Digestion / Relieves Constipation

When you use castor oil packs on the liver, it helps to promote bile secretion. This bile flows into the gallbladder and is then used to help digest food. Additionally, Castor Oil Packs placed over the abdomen can help relieve stomach discomfort and inflammation. Research shows It can even aid in constipation relief.(4)

4. Reduces Pain and Inflammation

Evidence shows that the compounds found inside castor oil are anti-inflammatory. When applied topically it can reduce the pain of neurogenic inflammation. For this reason, many people will apply castor oil packs to injured or inflamed areas of the body to relieve pain and inflammation.(5)(6)

5. Promotes Clear Skin

Now you know I couldn’t overlook this amazing benefit. Being someone who has always suffered from skin issues like acne, and is a self-proclaimed skincare junkie, this benefit is intriguing, to say the least. It makes a lot of sense though. If the digestion and liver are being supported, then the skin will eventually follow suit. Most skin conditions start from within and are an outer reflection of poor gut, hormone, and liver health. I personally observed that my skin seemed noticeably clearer the day after using a castor oil pack.

I know for a fact there are even more amazing benefits to this ancient oil, but hopefully, these were convincing enough to make you want to start using castor oil packs immediately.

How to Make and Use a Castor Oil Pack

The process of making and using a castor oil pack is actually pretty simple.

To start, you will need 5 items:

• Organic, cold-pressed, and Hexane-free castor oil (preferably in a glass bottle)
• A large piece of dye-free and unbleached wool or cotton fabric (preferably made with organic materials)
• A heating pad or heated water bottle
• An old towel you don’t mind staining
• A glass container to store your castor oil pack in

Begin by placing your fabric in the glass container and pouring a couple tablespoons of castor oil on it at a time. You want the cloth well saturated, but not soaking. You may have to add the oil little by little until it absorbs well. I also like to rub some oil directly on the area I will be treating.

Then, cover the area of your body you would like to treat with the saturated fabric. For the liver, place it right below your rib cage, on your right side. Place the old towel right over top of the pack, and a heating pad right on top of that.

Then, just lay back and relax. I recommend staying hydrated with some water or tea while performing a castor oil pack. Work your way up slowly from 20 minutes to 1-2 hours or even overnight. You can choose to do a castor oil pack at any time of day, but I prefer at night because it promotes relaxation and restful sleep.

When you are done, you will have to use a bit of soap and water on a cloth to wipe the oil off of your skin because it is quite sticky. Then, you can place the castor oil pack in a glass container and store it in your fridge for future use. You may only need to add a little bit more of oil to the fabric each time you do it. You can reuse the same cloth 30-40 times.

** Castor oil is thick and sticky and WILL stain. I recommend laying an old towel or sheet down and not wearing clothes that you wouldn’t want to get stained.

Precautions

**Do not use castor oil packs if you are pregnant or during menstruation. Always consult with your physician before implementing any of these practices, especially with children.

Leave a comment down below if you enjoyed this blog post. Let’s connect on Instagram @amandajolopez where I share more about clean beauty and healthy living.

References

• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29084706/
• https://drprincetta.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Castor-Oil-Packs-Immunomodulation.pdf
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30266282/
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1744388110000320?via%3Dihub
• https://intjnm.com/abstract-evidence-for-the-topical-application-of-castor-oil/
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11200362/