How to make a castor oil pack at home Simple And Effective
Making a castor oil pack at home is the perfect example of how home remedies can be simple, cheap, and very effective. Life will never be the same once you learn to make castor oil packs for daily wellness or sickness in the home. While castor oil packs have recently gotten popular on social media, there have been claims of the use and benefits of castor oil packs since ancient times. Let’s dig deeper into the health benefits of castor oil packs.
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What is Castor Oil?
Castor oil comes from the castor seed (which is native to India). Castor oil is extremely high in fatty acids and specifically, in the fatty acid ricinoleic acid (almost 90% of the total oil). The high amount of ricinoleic acid (an unsaturated omega-9 fatty acid and a hydroxy acid) people believe to be the reason for its health benefits.
What is a castor oil pack?
A castor oil pack is a piece of cloth or cotton flannel fabric, soaked in castor oil, and applied to bare skin.
Why Castor oil packs work
Castor oil increases lymphocyte production in our bodies which stimulates lymphatic circulation and liver function. This allows the body to speed up the process of removing toxins from tissues. Lymphatic congestion is a key factor in inflammation and disease. Castor oil has anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce pain and inflammation in targeted areas. Finally, castor oil can also improve blood flow to an area, resulting in healing, reduced swelling, and pain relief. The topical application of castor oil has been used as a traditional remedy for centuries. The health benefits have withstood the test of time.
Some Benefits of castor oil packs
- Lymphatic drainage stimulation
- Relaxing digestive issues – reducing bloat and constipation relief
- Liver cleansing & detoxification
- Reduce menstrual cramping pain
- Joint pain relief
- Improve skin health
- Increase blood circulation
- Decrease water retention
- Reduce/ remove toenail fungus and other fungal infections
- Treat yeast rashes
my personal testimony
2 years ago, while I struggled with food intolerance and yeast issues, I had hard and painful lymph nodes under my chin. I tried multiple ways to get my lymphatic system moving with no improvement. One day it occurred to me that I had heard somewhere that castor oil improves lymphatic drainage. I ran to the bathroom and swiped some castor oil under my chin. Almost immediately I experienced what felt like a surge of blood going through my lymph system and I decided to lie down from dizziness. Surprisingly, within minutes that feeling stopped and I was amazed to discover my chronically swollen lymph nodes were soft and finally didn’t hurt! After a few days of rubbing the oil under my chin, I decided to make my own castor oil pack for a deeper detox. I experienced amazing results, and let me tell you, I’ve been hooked ever since!
Tools you will need:
- Hexane-free castor oil
- Cotton, or flannel material (I use an old towel)
- Spatula
- Scissors
- Small or medium bowl
- Plastic sheet (plastic wrap, plastic bag, etc.)
- Glass Container
How to make a castor oil pack at home:
Cut your piece of cloth the desired size for your castor oil pack.
Place piece of fabric into your small bowl.
Pour the castor oil over the piece of cloth until there is enough to saturate.
Swipe the cloth with a spatula to remove excess oil from the saturated flannel
If using immediately, Place the oil-soaked cloth in the center of the plastic wrap (to prevent the oil from staining your clothes or bedding)
Lie down and relax for 30-60 minutes
After removing the pack, clean the area with soap ( or a mixture of baking soda and water) to remove any remaining oil.
Store the cloth in a sealed glass container for future use. Throw away the used plastic wrap.
What kind of castor oil should I use?
To make a castor oil pack at home, you want a cold pressed, hexane free castor oil. Organic castor oil is best, preferably stored in dark, glass bottles. Additionally, if the brand you want to buy is not sold in a dark jar, you can always transfer to a different jar after purchasing. This is the brand of castor oil I use.
Can you re-use your castor oil packs?
Yes you can re-use your castor oil pack. If you store your castor oil packs in a container in the refrigerator between uses, each pack can be used up to 10 times. The pack gradually absorbs toxins with each use. After 10 uses, you should discard the pack and make a new one. I do not recommend to try to wash out the pack for re-use.
How to store your castor oil packs
Store your packs in a container (preferably glass) in the refrigerator between uses. You can even roll your castor oil packs from the long end like sweet roll dough, to form a spiral, and store stacked, on top of each other in a mason jar.
How frequently should you use a castor oil pack?
As a part of everyday detox or a wellness boost, castor oil packs are recommended to use up to 2 times per week, for 30 to 60 minutes per session (Up to 90 for deeper detox). For use as pain relief or illness, use as needed. Even multiple 30 minute sessions daily is fine
Can you use a heat pack and a castor oil pack together?
Absolutely! Heat increases the healing properties of the castor oil pack. I love using my rice sock heating packs and castor oil packs together, although any heating pad or hot water bottle will do. The first step is to place the castor oil pack on the desired treatment area, next use the plastic wrap to cover the castor oil pack (or multiple packs for a larger area of the body). Finally apply your source of heat on top of the plastic.
Will a castor oil pack cause side effects?
The use of castor oil packs should not cause any negative side effects. Castor oil packs should always be gentle – detox side effects are rare. In the case that a detox reaction occurs, it could be an indication that the body’s ability to eliminate toxins is not sufficient yet. If this does happen, it would be a good idea to decrease the frequency or length of time using the packs. The most common detox reaction is a skin rash that will usually occur where the pack is placed. If you have a reaction, you will typically notice during the first few times of using a pack. If you are concerned about side effects, you can experiment on a small patch of skin with your first castor oil pack before you try the application of castor oil packs on a larger area of the body.
Are castor oil packs safe for anyone?
Generally, castor oil packs are safe for most people, if you use properly. Use cautiously for children, observing shorter usage times. One note is that Pregnant women should not use castor oil packs as they can stimulate uterine contractions. Additionally, if there is any doubt of whether a castor oil pack would be safe for you to use, contact a doctor prior to using one.
How to make a castor oil pack at home
Making a castor oil pack at home is the perfect example of how home remedies can be simple, cheap, and very effective. Life will never be the same once you learn to make castor oil packs for daily wellness or sickness in the home.
Instructions
- Cut your piece of cloth the desired size for your castor oil pack.
- Place piece of fabric into your small bowl.
- Pour the castor oil over the piece of cloth until there is enough to saturate.
- Swipe the cloth with a spatula to remove excess oil from the saturated flannel
- If using immediately, Place the oil-soaked cloth in the center of the plastic wrap (to prevent the oil from staining your clothes or bedding)
- Lie down and relax for 30-60 minutes
- After removing the pack, clean the area with soap ( or a mixture of baking soda and water) to remove any remaining oil.
- Store the cloth in a sealed glass container for future use. Throw away the used plastic wrap.
Notes
SIDE EFFECTS:
The use of castor oil packs should not cause any negative side effects. Castor oil packs should always be gentle – detox side effects are rare. In the case that a detox reaction occurs, it could be an indication that the body’s ability to eliminate toxins is not sufficient yet. If this does happen, it would be a good idea to decrease the frequency or length of time using the packs. The most common detox reaction is a skin rash that will usually occur where the pack is placed. If you have a reaction, you will typically notice during the first few times of using a pack. If you are concerned about side effects, you can experiment on a small patch of skin with your first castor oil pack before you try the application of castor oil packs on a larger area of the body.
ARE CASTOR OIL PACKS SAFE FOR ANYONE:
Generally, castor oil packs are safe for most people, if you use properly. Use cautiously for children, observing shorter usage times. One note is that Pregnant women should not use castor oil packs as they can stimulate uterine contractions. Additionally, if there is any doubt of whether a castor oil pack would be safe for you to use, contact a doctor prior to using one.
USE HEAT:
To increase the healing properties of your castor oil pack, use a heating pad on hot of it.
Disclaimer: I am not a medical expert. Always seek the advice of a medical practitioner or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Do not disregard professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. Any application of the material provided is at the reader’s discretion and is his or her sole responsibility. Effective as of 12/10/2024
Have you ever used a Castor oil pack ?
Please let me know if the comments below your favorite castor oil pack uses!
Want to know more about my health journey? Find my story here.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please read my full disclosure policy here.
