Ruthie Grijalva
B.S. in Public Health
Let’s Talk Castor Oil Packs: An easy natural remedy to detox your Liver!
The liver is a vital organ that helps our body in the detoxification and elimination process of waste and toxins. We have increasingly become exposed to toxic compounds in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. Therefore our ability to detoxify harmful substances that we are exposed to is of critical importance in our overall wellbeing.
We can enhance the detoxification process by promoting our liver function through a well-balanced diet and drinking more water (Guan & He, 2015). The application of castor oil packs on a consistent basis is another way we can aid our liver in its detoxification process.
“Castor oil, also known as Oleum Palmae Christi, is obtained from the seeds of Ricinus communis and has been used therapeutically for centuries” (Tunaru et al., 2021). It has been reported that castor oil packing has plenty of benefits to your health, especially helping to detoxify your body.
Some of the health benefits of using castor oil packs include :
- Pain Relief
- Improved digestion
- Inflammation regulation
- Boost Immunity
- Helps to balance the gut microbiome
- More effective elimination of waste
Who can benefit from using Castor Oil Packs?
Applying Castor oil packs is a deeply nourishing and effective self-healing practice you can do in the comfort of your own home. For maximum effectiveness, apply the castor oil as often as possible for at least 4-6 weeks. Using a castor oil pack is also a great excuse to slow down at night, and dive into some self-care before bedtime!
Castor oil can be applied for its anti-inflammatory benefit on any part of your body. Adding a source of heat to aid the castor oil improved its absorption through your skin.
How to use Castor Oil Packs
Castor oil packs are safe enough to be used throughout the entire life cycle, including on children, just at smaller amounts. They are generally not recommended during pregnancy, otherwise they are a safe and effective method to help support your body as it is trying to heal.
At Pelvic Soul, we recommend Castor Oil packs to all our patients battling gut & pelvic inflammation, and to those trying to conceive.
We have shared our general guidelines for the usage of castor oil pack below, but don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional for further guidance!
It is important to remember that castor oil packs should not be used over the uterus during the bleeding phase of a menstrual cycle.
Here are our general recommendations for maximizing benefits from Castor Oil Packs –
For gut & pelvic inflammation when not trying to conceive – Castor Oil Pack goes on lower abdomen throughout menstrual cycle. Pack should be used over liver during the bleeding phase (as shown below).
When trying to conceive– Apply the castor oil pack over the liver during bleeding phase. From the end of bleeding to ovulation, apply the pack on the lower abdomen. From date of ovulation to the end of your cycle, place the pack back over the liver.
For gut inflammation concerns– Castor Oil Pack goes over the center of abdomen & lower abdomen as needed throughout your menstrual cycle except during the bleeding phase, in which case it should be placed on liver. To help with placement, position the upper border of the castor oil pack at your belly button level, allowing it to go as far as your pubic bone.
The ideal recommendation is to use the packs everyday for a minimum of 3 months. If you have a busy schedule that won’t allow for this, commit to at least 3-4 consecutive days of use, followed by a few days of a break between uses for the best detox results.
References
- Tunaru, S. et al. (2021). Castor oil induces laxation and uterus contraction via ricinoelic acid activating prostaglandin EP3 receptors. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3384204/
- Guan, Y.S. & He, Q. (2015). Plants consumption and liver health. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4499388/
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