Top 5 Castor Oil Pack Benefits and How to Do Them
Castor oil is one of the most ancient remedies known to man. Believe it or not, castor oil seeds have even been found in Egyptian tombs, which are more than 4,000 years old. Read this article to learn more about the best castor oil pack benefits and how to do them…
As a healing plant, castor was used to treat ailments across the board from digestive issues to skin lesions, to immunological disorders and eye disease[2].
While many ancient secrets have fallen through the cracks, castor oil continues to be studied for its health-promoting qualities. While the list could go on and on, let’s focus on the top five benefits of castor oil.
What You’ll Learn:
- Castor oil and detox
- Castor oil and inflammation
- Castor oil and bowel movements
- Castor oil and microbiome
- Castor oil and stress
- What to look for when choosing castor oil
- How to use a castor oil pack
Top 5 Castor Oil Pack Benefits
#1 Enhances Detoxification Pathways
Your body has a handful of detoxification pathways that work together to keep your system humming along smoothly without getting backed up by toxic overload.
One of your primary organs of detoxification is your liver, which participates in over 500 vital functions in your body[1].
Castor oil supports this crucial organ by promoting healthy liver function and normalizing liver enzymes. In addition, research shows that castor oil may help your body retain levels of glutathione — a crucial antioxidant for both phase one and phase two detoxification[3][4][5].
Castor oil also supports another system of detoxification in your body — your lymphatic system.
While your liver takes a lot of credit for detoxification in your body, your lymph is quietly working behind the scenes as a part of your immune system to clear your body of wastes and unwanted materials.
Keeping your lymph healthy is crucial for fending off disease and keeping your tissues free of toxins. Castor oil supports your lymph by increasing the levels of lymphocytes in your body, which are the cells responsible for maintaining the health of your lymphatic system[2].
#2 Reduces Inflammation
Inflammation is at the root of almost every chronic disease we face today. From cancer to autoimmune disorders, to infectious disease — inflammation seems to be the one common thread that unifies chronic illness.
Castor oil contains a potent anti-inflammatory compound called ricinoleic acid (RA), which has been shown to be just as effective as the well-known anti-inflammatory compound capsaicin in reducing inflammation.
What sets castor oil apart, however, is that it doesn’t cause any skin irritation, which is a common side effect of capsaicin[6].
Castor oil also reduces the sensation of pain along with its anti-inflammatory effects, effectively reducing redness, edema, as well as physical discomfort[7].
#3 Improves Bowel Movements
While constipation can be uncomfortable, discomfort is truly the least of your worries when it comes to being backed-up. As a crucial part of your detoxification system, eliminating your bowels is one of the final steps in relieving your body of toxins once and for all.
Castor oil has been used for thousands of years to promote healthy bowel movements and is known as a natural laxative.
The ricinoleic acid(RA) found in castor oil activates the smooth muscle cells of your intestines, promoting movement and elimination of your bowels[8].
In your youth, constipation may come and go. However, as people get older, bowel movements can become more difficult, and many older adults suffer from constipation.
With this knowledge, a group of researchers decided to determine the effect of castor oil packs on constipation by administering them to a group of elderly people. And this wasn’t just any group of elderly people — 80% of the study participants had been dealing with constipation for ten or more years.
After the trial, the group of participants noted significant improvements in symptoms of constipation like straining, stool consistency, as well as a sensation of complete elimination[9].
If that’s not impressive, I don’t know what is.
#4 Supports Microbiome
Your microbiome is linked to the health of every system in your body. Unfortunately, this sensitive ecosystem is vulnerable to attack from harmful bacteria when you don’t take proper care of it.
Research shows that castor oil is an effective way to boost the health of your microbiome due to its antimicrobial properties.
When harmful bacteria propagate your body, they can form something called a biofilm, which is a protective barrier that shields the bacteria from your immune defenses. The formation of biofilms is one of the reasons that treating dysbiosis (imbalanced microbiome), can be so challenging.
One bacteria that’s known for its biofilm formation is Candida, a type of fungus that commonly colonizes in your mouth and digestive tract. Research shows that castor oil can break down these biofilms, allowing your immune system to fight off and eliminate persistent pathogens like Candida[10][11].
In addition, castor oil can also support your immune defenses against bacteria like e.coli which can cause digestive disturbance like diarrhea, cramping, nausea, and vomiting[12]
#5 Reduces Stress
Alongside inflammation, stress is another condition that’s strongly associated with many chronic diseases. Stress can directly affect the health of your immune system and set you up for diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and irritable bowel disease[13].
What’s more, if you want to keep your detox pathways working strong, being in a relaxed, (as opposed to stressed) state is vital. When your body is stressed, you’re in “fight or flight” mode, and your blood and energy travel to your limbs so you can act out of survival.
On the other hand, when you’re in a relaxed “rest and digest” mode, your internal organs like your liver and kidneys have an opportunity to get to work clearing your body of toxins and unwanted debris[14].
Castor oil packs provide an indirect, yet profound effect on your stress levels due to the soothing sensation they provide when administered.
As you apply a soft castor oil pack to your abdomen, your body will naturally start to produce more of the nurturing hormone oxytocin. Oxytocin is released in states of parent-child bonding, romantic intimacy, and is generally the product of soft tactile experiences.
When oxytocin is released, it increases your levels of the feel-good hormones dopamine and serotonin, while decreasing levels of the stress hormone cortisol[15].
High levels of oxytocin are also associated with a decrease in blood pressure, along with a sedative-like effect[16]
Applying a castor oil pack to your abdomen before bed provides a fantastic way to relax and nurture yourself to sleep.
High-Quality Castor Oil Is Key
Castor oil is packed with health benefits, but the problem is that many companies sell castor oil without giving much attention to quality. That’s why I always recommend buying organic castor oil that’s cold-pressed, hexane-free, and comes in a light-sensitive bottle.
If your castor oil is a plastic bottle, which is how most castor oil is sold, that plastic is going to leach into the oil. Plastics are xenoestrogens that mimic the chemical structure of hormones, especially estrogen. They bind to hormones receptor sites, especially estrogen, and prevent your actual hormones from binding and doing their job in the body. The result is hormonal imbalance or low hormone production.
You don’t want to add to this by buying castor oil that is in plastic or that is not organic that can contain estrogenic pesticides and insecticides.
Even worse, if that plastic bottle is clear, light can oxidize castor oil (or any oil for that matter) and cause it to go rancid. Ingesting rancid oil promotes inflammation – the exact opposite of what you’re trying to accomplish.
In my opinion, nothing beats Queen of Thrones Organic Castor Oil Pack. This high-quality oil checks all the boxes, and comes with an incredibly easy to use, no-mess castor oil pack.
Unlike many other castor oil packs out there, Queen of Thrones Organic Castor Oil Pack comes with a simple three-step process that leaves your hands free of sticky oilr and keeps your clothes and sheets stain-free. It’s truly a NO MESS castor oil pack! I promise!
Simple Castor Oil Instructions:
- Place your castor oil compress soft side up.
- Blot some organic castor oil onto the inside of the compress.
- Place the compress on the area of your body you wish to treat.
No mess, no fuss, simply leave your pack on overnight and wake up feeling rejuvenated and fresh (and poop really easily).
Special Offer for Myers Detox Readers
I’ve added a castor oil pack to my nightly routine because it only take two minutes to pour a little castor oil on the pack and apply the compress. It couldn’t be easier!
Dr. Marisol has a special offer just for the Myers Detox readers.
You’ll receive 5 items for only $109.99 (normally $140).
Here’s What You Get:
- The legendary Castor Oil Pack Bundle including an organic cotton compress & 500mL of 100% organic castor oil (Regularly $60)
- The Beauty Sleep Eye Kit™ including 100mL of organic Cosmetic Castor Oil, an organic cotton eye mask, & a double-sided eyebrow & eyelash brush (Regularly $40)
- Know Your Poo E-Guide – a must-have for anyone who wants to save time and take charge of their health (Regularly $20)
- Gut Feelings E-Guide – so you can learn more about digestive health (Regularly $10)
- 21 Castor Oil Recipes for Hair, Skin, & Nails (Regularly $10)
Follow these links to get your own castor oil pack and cosmetic castor oil for beauty:
US buyers go here.
Canada buyers go here.
Takeaway – Castor Oil Pack Benefits
I think The Original Cleanse should be involved in every cleanse or detox you do! You must support liver function in every way possible to have a successful detox and for overall health. You can’t clean your dishes with a dirty sponge. Your liver can’t clean your body if it’s dirty and congested.
Applying a castor oil pack before bed is one of the simplest, yet overlooked, ways to enhance your health and vitality. Castor oil supports your detoxification pathways through your lymph, liver, and digestion, and helps you wind down at the end of the day by pulling you into rest and digest mode.
In addition, using a castor oil pack can support the health of your microbiome and help fend off chronic inflammation.
These tools prevent dreaded detox symptoms, because those occur when people do a cleanse in the stressed out, sympathetic state. In this state blood is flowing to the extremities; the head, skin and limbs, hence headaches, acne and muscle aches and pains.
The tools included in Dr. Marisol’s The Original Cleanse are her Castor Oil Pack and Cosmetic Castor oil and Beauty Sleep Eye Kit.
If you’re going to give castor oil packs a try (and trust me, you won’t regret it), go for a high-quality oil and no-mess pack like Queen of Thrones Organic Castor Oil in her Original Cleanse Bundle.
Click Here for References+
- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/liver-anatomy-and-functions
- https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/fe88/d023d824b74b63a8d8f8ecc97b3883d4f383.pdf
- Hodges, Romilly E., and Deanna M. Minich. “Modulation of metabolic detoxification pathways using foods and food-derived components: a scientific review with clinical application.” Journal of nutrition and metabolism 2015 (2015).
- https://intjnm.com/evidence-for-the-topical-application-of-castor-oil/
- Holm, Thomas, et al. “Glutathione preservation during storage of rat lenses in optisol-GS and castor oil.” PloS one 8.11 (2013).
- Vieira, Celme, et al. “Effect of ricinoleic acid in acute and subchronic experimental models of inflammation.” Mediators of inflammation 9.5 (2000): 223-228.
- Maier, M., et al. “Castor oil decreases pain during extracorporeal shock wave application.” Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery 119.7-8 (1999): 423-427.
- Tunaru, Sorin, et al. “Castor oil induces laxation and uterus contraction via ricinoleic acid activating prostaglandin EP3 receptors.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109.23 (2012): 9179-9184.
- Arslan, Gülşah Gürol, and İsmet Eşer. “An examination of the effect of castor oil packs on constipation in the elderly.” Complementary therapies in clinical practice 17.1 (2011): 58-62.
- Salles, Marcela Moreira, et al. “Antimicrobial activity of complete denture cleanser solutions based on sodium hypochlorite and Ricinus communis–a randomized clinical study.” Journal of Applied Oral Science 23.6 (2015): 637-642.
- Cavalheiro, Mafalda, and Miguel Cacho Teixeira. “Candida biofilms: threats, challenges, and promising strategies.” Frontiers in medicine 5 (2018): 28.
- Valera, Marcia Carneiro, et al. “Effectiveness of castor oil extract on Escherichia coli and its endotoxins in root canals.” General dentistry 60.4 (2012): e204-9.
- Salleh, Mohd Razali. “Life event, stress and illness.” The Malaysian journal of medical sciences: MJMS 15.4 (2008): 9.
- McCorry, Laurie Kelly. “Physiology of the autonomic nervous system.” American journal of pharmaceutical education 71.4 (2007).
- Walker, Susannah C., et al. “C-tactile afferents: Cutaneous mediators of oxytocin release during affiliative tactile interactions?.” Neuropeptides 64 (2017): 27-38.
- Uvnäs-Moberg, K. E. R. S. T. I. N. “Oxytocin linked antistress effects–the relaxation and growth response.” Acta physiologica scandinavica. Supplementum 640 (1997): 38-42.
