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Castor oil packs are great for painful periods, miscarriages, and so much more.

Have you heard of ‘castor packs’? Depending on who you talk with they’re either a panacea of magical detoxification — or total bunk. But the actual truth lies somewhere in-between.

Do castor oil packs help detox?

Um. No. Let’s get crystal clear on the bogus concept of “detoxing.” While it’s smart to think about our overall chemical burden and what we put in and on our bodies, our bodies do NOT need help detoxing. That’s not how they work, and I’ll be sharing more in a new article all about this topic soon.

Are castor packs just ‘woo-woo’ placebo?

As far as being total bunk, things that have been used for thousands of years and have been found to be helpful by countless people are categorically not just bunk.

Castor packs have been around for nearly 6,000 years and originated in Egypt, Greece, and India. And while there might not be anyone paying for loads of research to prove their efficacy or figure out how they work — as no one is going to make money on castor packs — there’s definitely some cool things we now understand plus loads of experience and observation based wisdom in traditional medicinal treatments!

Castor pack science.

Castor oil is mostly ricinoleic acid (RA) which has been shown to possess remarkable analgesic (pain relieving) and anti-inflammatory effects when used topically. Mediators Inflamm. 2000; 9(5): 223–228.

Castor oil is deemed safe and tolerable, with strong anti‐microbial, anti‐inflammatory, anti‐nociceptive (pain perception), analgesic, antioxidant, wound healing and vaso‐constrictive properties. Clinical and Experimental Optometry Volume 104, 2021

Castor pack safety.

Bottom line: Castor packs have stood the test of time and are a very safe thing to try!

As the saying goes, “The proof is in the pudding … er, should I say pack!” Since castor packs are simple, totally DIY, super cost effective, and have very low risk of any adverse effects, why not try them and see for yourself if they’re helpful for YOU!

Important Safety Note: Don’t do castor packs if you are pregnant. Don’t take castor oil internally. And don’t apply over infected or broken skin.

Make your own castor oil pack.

Here’s What You’ll Need

• An absorbent disposable piece of fabric or paper towel

• Castor oil — usually purchased in the laxative section at the store

• A bit of plastic wrap, scarf, or wrap to hold the pack on your abdomen

• A hot water bottle or heating pad

• Grubby clothes or sheets — castor oil stains, so don’t wear your best or sit on your fancy sofa without putting down a towel first
  

Step-By-Step Instructions

• Start by drizzling some castor oil on an absorbent material so it’s well coated but not sopping or dripping

• Gently place the oily material topically over the abdomen where you want to get the effects (ie. less cramps, bloating, pain)

• Cover the pack with a little plastic wrap or scarf or binder to keep it in place

• Add some gentle heat to aid in the absorption of the oil through the skin

• Watch a good show, do a meditation, read a book — basically hang out for 30+ minutes

Once I’ve rested, I often get up and work or clean with mine on for another couple of hours. It won’t hurt anything and can only help!

What castor packs are used for.

Castor packs are great self-care. They’re an amazing way to treat menstrual clots and cramps, bloating, constipation, and almost any type of abdominal discomfort, stagnation, or inflammation. And although they’re not needed by everyone, they can be great for specific situations like digestive pain, period pain, miscarriage cramps, and more.

Let me know how it goes for you!

Oh, and if you’ve heard these scary castor oil pack concerns: “Organic cold-pressed oils are the only oils to use,” or “Plastic is toxic and will poison your body,” or “You have to find oil sold in glass bottles,” or “Unbleached organic flannel is the only fabric to use,” — none of this is true! It’s all fear mongering and black and white thinking which is never holistic or helpful. So be sure to watch this video where I break those ideas down and I give you a much more balanced and sustainable way to think about them in a healthy way!

I hope you find castor oil packs helpful and easy!

Nicole

Nicole Lange

LICENSED ACUPUNCTURIST
HOLISTIC FERTILITY EDUCATOR