Castor Oil Packs Explained – the Wonderful Benefits + How to Use One
Castor oil can nourish your body inside and out.
Derived from the castor bean, castor oil is a fatty acid with healing properties to boot. And castor oil wears many hats. It’s the kind of oil that can be used internally and externally, but most of the research shows how it benefits the body when used externally. In my opinion, you should only use it externally until more research is done on how it can benefit the body when ingested. So what’s the deal with castor oil and what’s a castor oil pack do? Ah yes, let’s dive in.
The use of castor oil can be dated as far back as 1550 B.C. during the time of the Egyptians (Wells, 2020). It was a highly prized oil for its healing properties, and the main reason we still use it today. You may have seen castor oil listed in beauty products like shampoo bars, oil cleansers, and moisturizers. One thing you need to keep in mind is quality is important! You want cold-pressed castor oil and hexane, solvent, GMO, and preservative-free. The ingredient should be one thing – 100% pure emollient castor oil.
Castor Oil Benefits (as topical use)
gently detoxes the body
relieves constipation + cramps
nourishes hair
promotes wound healing
moisturizes skin (as a moisturizer and makeup remover)
soothes joints + muscles
Castor Oil Packs
For a gentle detox, castor oil packs are an excellent choice! According to this study, castor oil packs are very supportive of your lymphatic system, which removes toxins and excess fluid from the body. The packs support a handful of organs, including your liver and gallbladder, which are essential for the proper elimination of toxins. There are so many things that can hinder our body’s lymphatics system from functioning at an optimal level, but using a castor oil pack can help get it back on track. Your lymphatic system could always use some extra love :).
Castor oil is anti-inflammatory, so it can be used to soothe inflamed joints + sore muscles and relieve constipation and cramps because of its ability to relax muscles. It is also anti-microbial making it a wonderful option to speed up wound healing.
Thyroid Support
Castor oil packs can also support glands like the thyroid gland! The conversion of T4 to T3 (needed for thyroid production) occurs in the liver and since castor oil packs support the liver, it is also supporting the thyroid. Once you use castor oil packs consistently for 3-4 works, you can try doing a much smaller pack on your thyroid for a reduced amount of time to give it targeted support. Another reason to give castor oil packs a try. Did I mention they promote relaxation too??
How to – Castor Oil Pack
Needed Items
A glass container or jar
Un-dyed cotton flannel – I recommend this one (you can cut it in half to use for two people)
Castor oil – Home Health or Heritage Store are great brands
A hot water bottle or heating pad
A medium-size bag (ziplock bag, grocery bag, or trash bag)
*plastic isn’t ideal as it can leach toxins (especially when heated) but if that’s all you have, then that’s all you have! Parchment paper is a a great non-plastic alternative.
An old towel
*castor oil stains so use a towel you didn’t mind getting messy.
How to Make
Place flannel in a glass container and saturate with castor oil until it’s well coated, but not soaked.
*add a little at a time to give it time to saturate.
Place flannel across the upper right of your abdomen for liver and gallbladder support, or over another area of concern
*please do a castor oil pack on the liver for 3-4 weeks before using it on the thyroid to ensure the liver is functioning optimally.
Cover flannel with preferred covering .
Apply hot water bottle or heating pad on top of covering.
Put an old towel on last to keep the heat in.
*if using a heating pad, you may need to reheat a couple of times.
Alternatively, you can purchase a castor oil pack kit here.
Hang out + relax for 45 minutes to an hour to reap the benefits. This is a wonderful time to read, meditate, pray/ have quiet time, or watch a relaxing show. Once done, make sure to wipe off any remaining castor oil and store the flannel in a glass container. Use as often as is necessary! The more consistent you are, the quicker you’ll notice results (ex. 3 days a week for 3 weeks).
A few things to note –
It isn’t recommended to use a castor oil pack if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, have an IUD, or are on your period (Vitt, 2018). However, castor packs can be beneficial on the tail end of your period to help remove excess estrogen out of your body.
The flannel can be used over and over – no need to wash, just store it! The saturated flannel lasts around 9 months, but if it starts to have an oder or discoloration, it’s time to replace it.
Castor oil packs are easy to make + easy to use. My favorite thing about castor oil packs? It is a gentle way to detox your body! You can’t say that about a lot of the other detox methods out there.
Whether you have achy joints, inflamed skin, or a sluggish liver, castor oil + castor oil packs can support your body in finding healing and balance. It is all about balance, after all, and starting small. So, if you need something supportive of the body, gentle, and inexpensive, castor oil packs are the way to go!
Sources —
Arslan GG, Eşer I. An examination of the effect of castor oil packs on constipation in the
elderly. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2011 Feb;17(1):58-62. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2010.04.004.
Epub 2010 May 18. PMID: 21168117.
Admin. (2017). Castor Oil Packs For Fibroids Treatment. Retrieved from
https://www.fibroidsnaturaltreatment.org/castor-oil-packs-for-fibroids-treatment/
Vitt, Carrie. (2018). How to Make and Use Castor Oil Packs. Retrieved from https://deliciouslyorganic.net/castor-oil-packs-detox/
Wells, K. (2020). How to Make & Use Castor Oil Packs. Retrieved from https://wellnessmama.com/23862/homemade-body-wash/