Healing with Nature: How Does a Castor Oil Pack Help Bruising?

Castor oil has been used for centuries for several health problems and other concerns. Like many of its applications, the oil has been immensely popular among naturopaths for healing bruises and hematomas. In ancient times, people used to apply this remedy on bare skin and cover it with some medicinal leaves to accelerate healing naturally.

Because the application method was messy, a more convenient way to heal your marks and scars with the Hand of Christ is to use castor oil packs. These packs must be packed with high-quality castor oil, such as The Goodbye Company's extra virgin cold-pressed Ricinus oil, which is 100% organic, BPA, and parabens-free for the best, magical results. But “How Does a Castor Oil Help Bruising?” “How Long Does it Take for Castor Oil Packs to  Remove Bruising?” To know it all, take a glance at this instructive yet insightful description.

What is Bruising?

A bruise is also known as a contusion or ecchymosis in medical terms. It forms when a part of our body is damaged, and the blood capillaries in the surrounding area rupture. Without a way to escape, the blood deteriorates in place (tissue), leaving a bluish-purple or black hue underneath the skin.

There are several types of bruises, such as hematoma, petechiae, and purpura that leave colored marks on the skin. A hematoma is a larger collection of blood, leaving a raised area on the body that aches when touched. It particularly occurs after a trauma or accident. Petechiae, on the other hand, are smaller dots of blood pooling that do not disappear when you apply pressure on them. Likewise, purpura are also the blood pooling areas larger than petechiae but smaller than contusions.

The primary causes of such bruising are accidents, medications (NSAIDs, antiplatelets), deficiency of vitamin K, and C, bleeding disorders, low platelet count, liver disease, or the risk of cancer. All you need is the appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Besides conventional therapy as prescribed by doctors, you can try natural remedies, such as castor oil packs to help heal your bruises.

Natural Ways to Get Rid Of Bruising

Here are some natural remedies you can try to reduce the appearance of your bruises.

How Does a Castor Oil Pack Help Bruising?

Castor oil packs help heal bruises due to a range of its actions in the body tissues. Here are some of the important actions it performs.

• Reduction in Inflammation

The ricinoleic acid in castor oil is a potent anti-inflammatory. It inhibits the production of prostaglandins which are the principal signaling molecules in the inflammatory cascade. The acid also activates EP3 receptors, leading to anti-inflammatory effects. Moreover, some reports have also shown that ricinoleic acid modulates the functioning of neutrophils thereby reducing their contribution to inflammation.

Furthermore, a few pieces of clinical evidence suggest ricinoleic acids' potential to inhibit the nuclear-factor-kappa B  pathway since NF-kB is a potent regulator of inflammation. Ricinoleic acid also has antioxidant properties that allow scavenging ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) which causes oxidative stress and contributes to inflammation.

• Alleviation of Pain

Ricinoleic acid is also an analgesic. Therefore, the application of castor oil packs helps heal bruises.

• Improvement in Blood and Lymphatic Flow

Ricinleic acid has also been shown to improve blood and lymphatic circulation. Improvement in the blood flow helps accelerate the circulation of nutrients and oxygen which are required by the damaged cells in the healing phase. Moreover, the promotion of lymphatic flow helps resolve congestion in the lymph nodes and capillaries that may delay the healing process. In short, for the repair and rejuvenation of any cell in the body, there must be enough blood and active lymphatic filtering.

• Nourishment of Damaged Tissues

Castor oil in the packs also contains omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids and vitamin E. All these essential ingredients are crucial to maintaining the hydration and integrity of tissues and skin.

How to Apply Castor Oil Packs on Bruises?

Preparation:

• Before applying castor oil packs on your bruises, ensure that your surrounding skin has no cuts or deep wounds.





• Wash your affected area with warm water and pat dry it.





• Spread an old towel or bedsheet where you’ll sit or lie. This is to avoid oil dribblings on your bedding or furniture.





• Take out your castor oil pack and the good-quality The Goodbye Company cold-pressed castor oil.





• Soak your pack with castor oil and slightly wring it to remove the excess.

Application:

• Apply the prepared castor oil pack on your bruise.

• Wrap it with a plastic/ cling-film sheet.

• Then, apply heat using a heating pad or a warm compress.

Leave-in time:

• Leave the pack for about 30-60 minutes. You can alter this duration according to your choice, the heat sensitivity of your body, and the healing response.

Aftercare:

• Remove the heating pad, plastic sheet, and your castor oil pack after application.

• Wipe your skin with warm water and pat dry it.

• You can then apply your topical anti-pigmentation or healing creams for the added effect.

How Long Does it Take for Castor Oil Packs to Heal Bruises?

The healing time of bruises following castor oil pack application varies from person to person, depending on their overall health and the severity of the bruises. Generally, you will start noticing improvement within a few days or weeks of consistent application. Mild bruises usually take 2-3 weeks to heal and regain tissue integrity completely. However, the severe and larger bruises may take months to eradicate. The only thing you should follow is consistency which is the key to gaining the goal. Moreover, it is recommended to apply castor oil packs for about 30-60 minutes each time.

Precautions

• Make sure you use a high-quality, 100% organic, paraben-free, hexane-free, and GMO-free, cold-pressed castor oil.





• Apply warmth using a heating pad over the castor oil pack to help promote blood circulation in the area of damaged blood vessels. But ensure not to apply heat within two days of injury, or you may increase irritation at the traumatic site.





• It is not advisable to apply organic oils to open wounds as they may enter the bloodstream. Consult a healthcare provider before using oils on wounds.

FAQs

How Does a Castor Oil Pack Help Bruising Wiki?

Castor oil in the packs is an all-in-one magic. The oil has numerous benefits that altogether contribute to the healing of bruises. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of ricinoleic acid (the principal constituent of castor oil) help reduce swelling, redness, pain, and irritation at the site of injury or trauma. Moreover, the goodness of omega fatty acids in the oil aids in lightning, firming, and toning of the skin as it was before the purple scar.

Does Castor Oil Packs Help Hematomas?

For centuries, people have been using castor oil packs for hematomas. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory effects and ability to promote blood circulation and accelerate healing. Nevertheless, this resolution is slow yet noticeable, so you should use castor oil packs regularly with proper care and monitoring.

Is Castor Oil Safe on Sensitive Skin Areas?

Though castor oil is safe on sensitive skin areas, some people are allergic to it due to the principal constituent, ricinoleic acid. If such a hypersensitive rash appears, discontinue use and seek medical assistance immediately.

Can Castor Oil Pack Repair Damaged Muscle?

Castor oil contains ricinoleic acid, which is a potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic. Therefore, these packs help repair damaged muscles by reducing inflammation, promoting circulation, and providing a soothing effect. Even though it's an excellent natural remedy to accelerate the healing process in the human body, you must always consult a healthcare provider for professional advice after injury or trauma.

Does Castor Oil Make You Bleed?

The topical application of castor oil does not make you bleed; only excessive application may make your skin irritated. However, if you are excessively using castor oil for constipation and piles, it may cause your rectum to bleed due to severe irritation in the delicate area.

Outlook

Bluish-purple scars on the body don't seem good, and everyone wishes to get rid of them in any way. For this, modern aestheticians have stolen a secret hack of our old naturopaths and decided to utilize it in a modern and more convenient way. It's the old but gold “Castor oil” that our naturopathic physicians put into contemporary devices named castor oil packs.

Since ancient times, castor oil has been a great way to eliminate superficial bruises, unappealing marks, and scars. All this magic is due to the principal constituent of the Ricinus oil called the ricinoleic acid. Ricinoleic acid is a potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic. Moreover, this acid promotes blood and lymphatic circulation, which in turn accelerates, favors, and supports wound healing. In a nutshell, the quicker the cells repair and get their required oxygen and nutrients, the faster the bruises disappear.

Nevertheless, regular application together with careful monitoring is crucial to get the best results. All you need is to grab your pack and soak it with the best-quality The Goodbye Company extra-virgin castor oil and apply it to your bruises. Leave the pack for 30-60 minutes and get healthy-looking, blemish-free skin.