Castor oil is both gentle and potent and has the ability to absorb into your skin and various other organs to relieve pain, increase circulation, decrease inflammation, and bring healing to specific parts of the body. One easy way to get all these benefits is with a ‘castor pack’.
My first time doing a pack was after my youngest was born in 2007. I did one every day that first week home from the hospital to get my uterus back in shape. Heavenly! Year later, I used it again for chronic bloating and constipation I was having from yeast overgrowth. A saving grace providing tremendous relief (my castor pack + B.E.D., digestive enzymes, minerals, boluses, and unsalted probiotic food got my health back on track). ❤️
I no longer reach for my pack much these days, but when I do I’m glad to have it. Each member of my family has one as it’s not recommended to share. My husband puts his on his gallbladder when flares. My kids use one on belly for an immunity boost. Mine goes over my liver and lower back when tight.
My personal favorite is to use the castor pack over my belly or under my lower back while I do a colonic; which typically takes me about 45 minutes to an hour, the perfect time for a pack 😉 If one of us gets a cough, we lay the pack right over the lungs.
Sprains
I recently sprained my ankle and was in horrendous pain. I put a wool sock on, drizzled with castor oil, and slipped this on my foot with plastic bag over to prevent my bed sheets from getting oily. I did this for 2 nights and healed so quick from an injury that typically would have taken days to bounce back from.
Lymphatic Cleanser
Beauty of a castor pack is it stimulates/cleanses lymphatic system of fluid; which is basically the body’s sewer system where dead cells and debris absorb. The lymphatic system brings this fluid and waste to the liver and spleen for filtering. If lymph system is slow to circulate, lymph fluid can stagnant and you may notice digestive or immune issues (i.e. allergies, constipation). Using castor oil topically gets the lymphatic system moving to clean things up.
How I make a castor pack:
Materials Needed
Castor Oil (high-quality, cold-pressed, preferably organic)
Cotton flannel “pack” (36” x 10”)
Chuck pad, folded in half or cut to size
Old towel
Heating pad or 11”x 18” FAR infrared blanket
Method
- Pour 1-2 tablespoon of castor oil onto the cotton flannel.
- Apply to upper right abdomen, under rib-cage/liver OR any area needing treatment.
- Cover with a chuck pad and top that with an old towel.
- Place heat source on top of towel (high enough to feel warmth on skin without burning).
- Relax for 30-90 minutes while the skin absorbs the oil.
- Remove pack and rinse off area with 2 tsp baking soda/1 pint water and paper towels.
Tips & Tricks
- Once you’re comfortable using a pack, consider investing in a castor pack holder.
- Lay a chuck pad under you while doing a pack to protect the surface (castor oil stains).
- Wait a few hours after eating to do a pack to loosen toxicity and obstructions in tract.
- Castor packs are good before bed while reading. Keep a bag next to bed, so when ready to fall asleep, you can drop materials into bag without getting up.
- For max benefit for non-acute issue, use pack 3 consecutive nights/week with 4th week off. Repeat 2 cycles, take week off, continue 1x/week until symptoms subsides.
- Acute situations: 30″ for 5 nights, 2 nights off, repeat cycle for 2 weeks until feel better.
- Individual response differ depending on symptoms; please consult with your doctor.
- Castor packs can be used many times; you don’t need to rinse or clean between uses.
- Store pack in glass jar in fridge; add fresh castor oil before each use, discard after 6-12 months.
*A castor pack works for general aches and decrease inflammation, especially for flu, eye infections, abscesses, hair loss, headaches, epilepsy, appendicitis, hemorrhoids, constipation, intestinal obstructions and hyperactivity. Women benefit during fibroids, mastitis, c-section healing, cramps, ovarian cysts, and menses. Use caution if breastfeeding, as castor oil will create a lot of movement which can cause detox through breast-milk. Not for using during pregnancy.
Precautions: Castor oil is broken down by the small intestine into ricinoleic acid; which acts as an irritant to intestinal lining. This is what gives castor oil the ability to reverse constipation. It’s also what can cause digestive discomfort and gastrointestinal effects. Use castor oil with caution with IBS, ulcers, diverticulitis, colitis, hemorrhoids, prolapse, or if you recently had surgery. Do not use pack if you have cancer or open infections without talking to doctor. It’s good to test castor oil on a small part of your arm before use to see if you react negatively.
References
Step-By-Step Castor Oil Pack Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVaCT80TzlY
https://rootnaturalhealth.wordpress.com/2011/01/01/castor-oil-packs-are-good-for-liver-detoxification-and-lymphatic-circulation/
https://shininghealth.com/blog/2012/04/detox-your-body-the-amazing-healing-benefits-of-castor-oil
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Nutritional Consultations with Tara, NC.
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May all bellies be happy!
