Castor oil packs are an ancient practice dating back to the 16th century in various places around the world from Greece to India to Egypt. They are commonly used in both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda and are becoming increasingly popular in functional medicine.
Castor oil is derived from the castor bean and is known for having anti-inflammatory, analgesic (pain relieving) and antioxidant properties. It’s also a powerful laxative if taken orally (which I do not recommend.)
How Do They Benefit Hormones?
A common use of castor oil packs is to support liver detoxification. Your liver plays an essential role in digestion, metabolism, blood sugar balance and excretion of toxins/waste products. In other words, it’s integral to all aspects of health and when it gets sluggish it can contribute to hormone imbalance.
The packs also help stimulate lymphatic flow, another key part of the body’s natural detoxification and drainage system. The word “detox” often brings to mind juice cleanses and fasting but your body is actually designed to always be working to get rid of unwanted substances including broken down hormones, chemicals we get exposed to in the environment, alcohol, etc. The best way to promote detox is to support your liver, lymphatic system (your hormones travel through the lymph!) and make sure you are having daily bowel movements!
Speaking of…castor oil packs can also help relieve constipation, reduce bloating and promote digestive regularity. A well functioning gut is also essential for hormone balance.
How to Use Castor Oil Packs
A castor oil pack is created by pouring 1-2 tablespoons of castor oil on a piece of cotton wool or flannel and wrapping around the abdomen (typically positioned over the liver.) It can be worn for an hour or longer for more benefit. I usually recommend wearing them overnight while sleeping. If you are new to castor oil packs you may want to start slow and work up to wearing them for extended periods.
They can definitely get a little messy, so I like using the Queen of Thrones Castor Oil Pack which is designed with a protective outer layer to keep the oil on your skin instead of all over your clothes and sheets. Their sets also include high quality, organic castor oil. Use the code NOURISHED when you order to get 10% off!*
Let’s summarize:
When placed over the liver and absorbed through the skin, castor oil provides many benefits:
- Increases Lymphatic flow
- Supports Liver Detoxification
- Lowers inflammation
Thanks to these benefits, using castor oil packs can be very helpful for:
- Constipation, bloating, intestinal inflammation
- PMS symptoms (use the week before your period)
- Supporting hormone balance (PCOS, menopause, estrogen dominance, etc)
- Skin issues (which are often linked to liver, gut or hormone issues)
- Inflammatory conditions
Important things to know:
- Castor oil packs should NOT be used during pregnancy
- If you have any major health diagnoses or a complicated medical history, it’s always best to check with your personal healthcare provider before trying something new.
Don’t forget to use come NOURISHED when you order the Castor Oil Pack Liver Kit from Queen of Thrones to get your 10% off.*
Castor oil packs should be used along with nutrition and lifestyle practices that support a healthy liver, gut and hormones. Not sure where to start? Learn more about working 1:1 with me, a functional dietitian, here.
*This post uses affiliate links which means I earn a commission if you decide to purchase the recommended products. I only ever recommend products that I use and stand by personally!
