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Castor oil, the Hand of Christ or Palma Christi, is the oldest elixir employed for several health and beauty concerns. Botanically, this vegetable oil is called Ricinus oil since it is obtained from the castor beans of a perennial flowering plant- Ricinus communis.
The castor plant belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family, and it typically grows in tropical regions worldwide, notably North America, Africa, and Asia, which are the major supplies of pure castor oil. Worth considering- The Goodbye Company, which produces the finest castor oil and JBCO, extracted them from premium-quality beans harvested from the fresh gardens of Jamaica.
The pale yellow elixir is the standard castor oil acquired by cold-pressing the beans at high pressure. This gold-hued castor oil is significantly used for cooking and health concerns, such as constipation, arthritis, post-term pregnancy, and detoxification. In contrast, Jamaican black castor oil is popularly employed for its magical benefits in skin and hair care- often hailed for its prominent results in hair loss and dull and dry hair.
Not only this, all types of castor oils have an amazing application in the form of packs. We call these ‘castor oil packs,’ which are great for various health issues like constipation, menstrual cramps, bone and joint pain, muscle aches, and lymph blockage. Moreover, these packs are pretty beneficial for mild infections, inflammation, liver detoxification, PCOS, uterine fibroids, and cysts. Scroll below to learn more about ‘What do castor oil packs do?’ and ‘How to use castor oil packs?’ and get maximum advantages of this novel remedy in no time.
WHAT ARE CASTOR OIL PACKS?
Castor oil packs are made of multilayered folded fabrics, mainly cotton or wool flannel. These packs are then soaked with castor oil and applied to the affected area for desired effects. The benefits of castor oil packs are frequently accentuated with heating pads, warm bottles, and insulating plastic wraps. Moreover, castor oil packs are readily available in the market, but you can also make them at home for everyday use.
To make DIY castor oil packs at home, take a large piece of wool or cotton flannel since these fabrics have efficient absorptive capacity and are generally mild for the skin. Fold the fabric in such a way that you get so many layers for the added absorptive effect. Sew the edges to secure the folds, then soak your pack in castor oil in a large bowl. Squeeze the pack a little to avoid dripping the oil- your DIY castor oil pack is ready. You can store them in a refrigerator secured in an air-tight container for months. Moreover, you can resoak the pack every time before use, but make sure your pack is not dribbling.
HOW TO USE CASTOR OIL PACKS?
Castor oil packs are relatively easier to use than other naturopathic remedies and have no rocket science. You just need to grab your well-soaked castor oil pack (ensure it’s not dribbling) and place it on the required area of your body. Then, wrap it up with a plastic wrap or cling film sheet to help insulate and trap the warmth of a heating device. Lastly, put the heating pad or a hot water bottle over the wrap pack and relax. Place the pack for about half an hour safely. However, you can put it on your body for the length of time you can bear the warmth of a heating device.
Do not put it on your skin for more than an hour to avoid burns and injuries. To protect your clothes and bed from oil drizzles, spread an old towel on the bed, change the clothes, and wear a rough-use dress. Also, place a large bowl on the side table near you to put your pack before and after use. After application, remove the pad, wrap, and pack, and wipe your skin with tissue paper. Store your castor oil pack in a refrigerator for later use. You can take a warm bath after relaxing your body for at least one hour.
The following illustration will help you understand how effortless using a castor oil pack is.
HOW TO KNOW IF MY CASTOR OIL PACK IS WORKING?
Determining the working of castor oil packs is subjective and objective. Subjective because the outcomes vary with each individual; it may be because of the varying response of the body, qi flow, and strength of the immune system. Likewise, it is objective because the effect of castor oil packs for some indications is more pronounced than for others. Here are a few indications you can notice to know if your castor oil pack is really working.
1. IMPROVED DIGESTION
If you notice a visible reduction in bloating, tenderness in your stomach, acid reflux, and regular bowel movements (a relief from constipation), your castor oil pack has started working.
2. INCREASED ENERGY
If you are more energetic than before and feeling lightly with a sense of wellness, mood improvement, and satisfaction, your castor oil pack is definitely working for you.
3. BALANCED MENSTRUAL CYCLES
If your stress level has reduced and you are experiencing regular menstrual cycles, it means that your hormones are well balanced- Thanks to your castor oil packs.
4. ENHANCED LIVER ACTIVITY
The glow on your face and revived energy are the two significant indications of healthy liver functioning. If so happens, your castor oil pack is the best that ever happened to you.
5. IMPROVED SKIN CONDITION
If your skin is looking well-hydrated, moisturized, plumper, enlightened, and clear, your castor oil pack is the best elixir to nourish your skin.
6. REDUCTION IN PAIN & INFLAMMATION
So, reduction in pain and inflammation are the most visible signs you can observe and conclude that your castor oil pack benefits you.
WHAT DO CASTOR OIL PACKS DO?
Castor oil packs do a lot for your body following the mechanism as mentioned above. Here are some indications against which castor oil packs respond significantly and slightly.
- Treats constipation (FDA-approved application of castor oil and castor oil packs)
- Reduces bloating
- Mitiagtes gut inflammation
- Dissolves gall stones
- Reduces gall bladder inflammation
- Manages migraine and headaches (cluster, hypnic, tension, and due to sinusitis)
- Helps with thyroid cysts
- Treats menstrual cramps
- Heals uterine fibroids
- Aids in ovarian cysts
- Manages PCOS
- Reduces muscle soreness
- Alleviates joint pain
- Cures Eczema
- Helps in Psoriasis
- Removes sunburns
- Soothes skin rashes
- Helps in removing skin tags
- Gets you rid of moles
- Treats toenail fungal infections
- Manages stress and anxiety
- Reduces body water retention
- Improves Lymph flow
- Induces labor (false contractions) in post-term pregnant women
CASTOR OIL PACKS SAFETY CONCERNS
Castor oil can be allergic to some and may cause a mild to severe rash on the skin. Therefore, it is best to test it before use. For this purpose, apply a few drops of castor oil on your skin, preferably behind the ears, on the wrist, and the hairline. Wait for about 20 minutes to see the reaction. If nothing happens, it’s good, and you can safely use castor oil packs.
Do not use these packs if you are pregnant, or it may cause premature birth due to the induction of false contractions. Also, if you are bleeding heavily, do not use castor oils because your menstrual cramps may worsen due to uterine contractions induced by ricinoleic acid in castor oil. Moreover, avoid placing castor oil packs on open wounds, burns, injured, and irritated skin since it may worsen the inflammation and delay healing.
Note: Do not heat a castor oil pack in a microwave oven since it will catch fire.
FAQS
HOW LONG DO I LEAVE CASTOR OIL IN A PACK?
You can leave castor oil in your pack safely for several later applications, and you don’t need to wash it. When you use it, top it up with fresh castor oil. Moreover, you can leave your castor oil pack on your body for up to an hour, but not more than that, particularly when using a heating pad. This is because a prolonged stay of heat and oil on the direct skin may cause burns, irritation, urticaria, and injuries.
DO I NEED TO WASH MY CASTOR OIL PACKS?
Washing a castor oil pack can be an incredible mess, as it will be pretty challenging for you to remove all the sticky oil from the pack. So there’s no need to wash your castor oil pack; just soak it with fresh oil and reuse it.
WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER MY FIRST USE OF A CASTOR OIL PACK?
Well, it entirely depends on the purpose for which you are using castor oil packs. However, these packs significantly improve bowel movements, mitigate inflammation, reduce stress, and improve sleep. As it is believed that stress is processed in the liver, when you use castor oil packs for liver detoxification, always expect a reduction in stress and a sound sleep after your first use.
WHAT ARE CASTOR OIL PACKS GOOD FOR?
Castor oil packs are perfect for several mild ailments, such as digestive issues, lymph flow blockade, blood circulation problems, and skin and hair issues. However, the only FDA-approved use of castor oil is against constipation. Also, there is a lot of research conducted that clarifies the application of Riciunus oil in bringing false labor in post-term pregnant women. Even though the clinical evidence is insufficient, many naturopaths suggest castor oil as a magical remedy for improving hair problems like dullness, roughness, and breakage.
WHERE TO PLACE CASTOR OIL PACK FOR LIVER?
You can place your castor oil pack on the upper right quadrant of your body just below the rib cage. It is particularly important to position yourself and the pack accurately to get the maximum benefits of castor oil packs for the liver to detoxify your body and heal it from the inside out.Castor oil packs are the most frequently employed remedy in naturopathy and alternative medicine. These packs are readily available at the stores and easy to make. They have vast applications in several health issues and beauty concerns, notably constipation, bloating, gut inflammation, gall stones, gall bladder inflammation, migraine, thyroid cysts, menstrual cramps, uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, PCOS, muscle soreness, joint pain, eczema, psoriasis, sunburns, skin rashes, skin tags, moles, toenail fungal infections, stress, anxiety, water retention, lymph flow blockade, etc.
These packs are quite easy to use. You only need to place the pack on the affected area to get the desired effects. Then, wrap the pack using a plastic wrap; it will act as an insulating film. Further, provide heat and warmth using a heating pad or a hot water bottle. Place the pack for less than an hour to avoid burns and injuries. Moreover, remove the pack after use, store it nicely in an air-tight container, and put it in a refrigerator. You can resoak the pack before every application. To know more about how castor oil packs work, read the section ‘What do castor oil packs do?’
