I was first introduced to castor oil as my due date approached with my first child. Like any mother, I was eager to meet my little one, so I turned to the vast wisdom that is Google to find ways to speed up my body's natural birthing process.
I have found many folk remedies to induce labor that I have tried (walking, spicy food, jumping on a medicine ball, pineapple, dancing, raspberry leaf tea, and others). I also found a few that I didn't have the courage to try… especially the castor oil! (And I'm glad I didn't… I'll tell you why.)
What is castor oil?
castor oil (Ordinary tic) comes from the castor bean, native to India. It is extremely high in ricinoleic acid, which is thought to be responsible for its health-promoting abilities. In fact, it used to be called Palm Christ because the leaves resembled the hands of Christ. It is important to note that while castor oil is said to have health benefits, the castor seed itself can be deadly. Internal use of castor oil may be safe, but caution is required.
Used in ancient Japanese healing arts and other ancient cultures, castor oil enjoys a long and distinguished history. One of the oldest medical books in existence, the Ebers Papyrus, mentions that the early Egyptians were applying castor oil topically as early as 1550 BC.
While it is considered “Generally Safe” by the FDA and up to one tablespoon per day is considered approved for internal use, it can cause extreme digestive upset in some people. I'm not a doctor and I don't play one online, so talk to yours before using castor oil or anything else internally.
Does castor oil really start labor?
Castor oil is sometimes used internally to induce labor, but available research doubts its usefulness. In fact, taken internally it can cause raging diarrhea (the idea being that it will also stimulate uterine contractions).
I chose not to try this and would not suggest it as there is some evidence that it may increase the chance of the baby passing meconium before birth. It is also sometimes used to reduce constipation (again with raging diarrhea).
I much prefer it for outdoor use and will not personally use it indoors. It is one of two oils I use my daily oil cleansing routinewhich has improved my skin a lot.
Castor Oil Packs (And Why Make One)
To support my body when I discovered my MTHFR mutationI decided to try another way to use castor oil – castor oil packs!
What is it
The idea is to keep castor oil on a piece of cloth on the skin for at least an hour with a heat source to stimulate lymph and liver function. Unlike some “detox” methods, this is not said to have any negative side effects and there are many accounts of people noticing immediate better sleep, more energy and clearing of skin symptoms.
NOTE: Even for external use, I would consult a doctor or naturopath to make sure this natural remedy is okay for you. It should not be used if you are pregnant or struggling with a medical condition. I also test any new oil (or any substance) on a small part of my arm before using it on a larger area of my body.
The beauty of a castor oil pack is that you can put it where the benefits are needed:
- Use on the right side of the abdomen or across the abdomen is thought to help support the liver and digestive system. some gallbladder specialists recommend castor oil packs as part of a holistic regimen.
- Apply directly to tight joints or muscles to reduce inflammation. (Note: This is not a substitute for medical care, but to speed healing of minor injuries that do not need medical attention)
- Or try the lower abdomen to help with menstrual pain and discomfort.
What do you do?
Castor oil packs utilize the anti-inflammatory and lymph stimulating benefits of castor oil, but allow for safer external use. From a 1999 study:
With a minimum 2-hour therapy period, this study found that castor oil packs produced a “significant” temporary increase in T-11 cell numbers that increased over a 7-hour period after treatment and then returned to normal levels within 24 hours later. .
The increase in T-11 cells represents a general boost in the body's specific defense status. Lymphocytes actively protect the health of the body by forming antibodies against pathogens and their toxins. T-cell lymphocytes originate in the bone marrow and thymus gland as small lymphocytes that identify and kill viruses, fungi, bacteria and cancer cells. T-11 cell lymphocytes provide a fundamental ability of antibodies to keep the specific defense system strong.
In short, castor oil packs are said to help detoxify the liver naturally, support uterine and ovarian health, improve lymphatic circulation, and reduce inflammation.
There are no definitive studies on the use of castor oil packs externally (although there are some preliminary ones), but a long history of traditional use in many cultures. There is some evidence that there may be a suppressive effect on tumors AND positive effect on arthritis when used externally.
Castor oil packs also provide a peaceful relaxation time, which comes with its own set of health benefits!
How to make a castor oil pack
Castor oil packs are easy to make at home. I like them because they require me to be still and relax for at least an hour. This is not always easy to do! They can be messy, but with the right preparation, they are not.
You can also purchase a complete castor oil kit instead of assembling all the items below. See the bottom of this post for what I tried and liked.
You will need it
- high quality castor oil (without hexane)
- unbleached and undyed wool or cotton flannel (like this) – can be reused up to 30 times
- a wrapped package (or large piece of cotton flannel) or plastic wrap (not optimal)
- hot water bottle OR heating pad
- glass jar with lid – I use a quart size mason jar for storing oil soaked flannel between uses
- old clothes, towels and sheets – castor oil stains!
- patience (hardest to find!)
NOTE: I highly recommend that you carefully prepare the area where you will be packing the castor oil to prevent a mess. Try using an old shower curtain, draped with a sheet underneath you to make sure nothing gets stained. I don't have to wash the sheet often and just fold it and store it in the bathroom cabinet for the next use.
How to use a castor oil pack
- Cut a large piece of cotton flannel and fold it in thirds to make three layers. My original piece was 20 inches by 10 inches and when folded it was approximately 7 inches by 10 inches. Yours may be larger or smaller, depending on where you plan to place it.
- Thoroughly (but not completely) soak the flannel in castor oil. The easiest way I found to do this was to carefully fold the flannel and place it in a quart size mason jar. I then added about a tablespoon of castor oil (every 20 minutes or so) to give it time to saturate. I also gently shook the jar between adding more oil so that the oil reached all parts of the cloth. Ideally, this should be done the day before to give it time to soak evenly. I store the jar as this is where I keep the jersey between uses (it can be used about 30 times).
- Remove and carefully unfold the cloth soaked in castor oil.
- While lying on an old towel or sheet, place the cloth on the desired part of the body.
- Cover with wrapped packaging or cotton flannel, and place the heat pack on top of this. You can also use a plastic grocery bag to prevent the oil from getting into the heater. A hot water bottle, an electric heating pad or rice heating pad can be used, but hot water bottles and rice packets may need to be reheated several times.
- Lie on your back with your legs up (I usually lie on the floor with my feet on the couch) and rest for 30-60 minutes.
- Use this time to practice deep breathing, read a book, meditate, or pray (or whatever you find relaxing).
- After the desired time, remove the packaging and return the flannel to the glass container. Store in the refrigerator.
- Use a natural soap or a mixture of baking soda and water to remove castor oil left on the skin.
- Relax and rest. Be sure to drink plenty of water and stay hydrated after doing this to support detoxification.
Where to buy a castor oil kit
You can buy castor oil kits complete with cotton flannel and a no-mess wrap package that eliminates the need for plastic wrap.
- I have used this one from Radiant Life with great results (no leaks at all).
- This castor oil kit it's similar to Radiant Life in price and quality, but the flannel wrap design is a bit more contoured and easy to tie on.
Other ways to use castor oil
Castor oil is useful to keep around the house for other uses as well. It is rich in fatty acids and contains antimicrobials and anti-inflammatory properties that can benefit the body in many ways. Use castor oil externally for:
- Apply to acne, dry skin, redness, boils, age spots and warts to improve color and increase moisture
- Treat toenail fungus
- Soothe a sprain, injury or joint pain
- Apply to areas with back pain
- To cleanse and soothe the stomach when you have digestive or reproductive problems
For best results, apply castor oil packs for 60-90 minutes as soon as the problems start. Do this about 3 times a week for a period of 3 weeks. Consult a doctor to rule out more serious causes.
This article was medically reviewed by Madiha Saeed, MDa board-certified family physician. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend you speak with your doctor.
Have you ever used castor oil? I'll be sharing some of my other favorite uses soon, but please share yours below!
