Castor Oil Pack What Is It & What Do They Do

1. Castor Oil Pack: What Is It & What Do They Do? Learn all about castor oil packs and how to DIY your own. 1.What Is Castor Oil? 2.What Are Castor Oil Packs? 3.When Should I Castor Oil Packs? 4.Safety & Side Effects While castor oil has been used since antiquity, it has been gaining a lot of attention lately and it’s no wonder why. Castor oil is a thick, clear oil that is touted for its hair and skin benefits and its ability to offer digestive, detoxification and inflammatory support. While there are many ways to use castor oil, castor oil packs are a very popular application. Let’s further explore what they are and how to use them. What Is Castor Oil? Castor oil was first used and documented for medicinal use in Egypt. It was used medicinally to aid in relief from constipation, induce vomiting from ingesting poison, help heal burns, sunburns and cuts, relieve muscle pain and headaches and decrease inflammation. Castor oil comes from a seed and once the hull is dried, the seed is removed, cleaned and heated, all in preparation for the oil to be extracted. The oil can be removed either via pressed extraction, which uses little heat and as the name suggests, presses or squeezes the oil out of the seed. This process yields less oil but it is more pure and potent. Another method is solvent extraction where hexane petroleum is used. While this method yields more oil, it isn’t always pure because residues from the solvent are often left behind. Most practitioners would recommend using an oil that’s been cold-pressed. What Are Castor Oil Packs? Castor oil packs can be done as a DIY or you can buy a special cloth that can wrap around your waist, leg, etc. If you choose the DIY option, you can simply soak an old cloth, lay it across your affected area, then wrap your body with plastic wrap and apply a heat source over top like a hot water bottle or heating pad. This allows the castor oil to better soak in and penetrate the skin. If you choose to buy a wrap, you would soak the wrap in oil, wrap it around the affected area, secure it and apply a heat source. However, if that seems too cumbersome or messy for you, you can also opt for a castor oil rub. This has a similar consistency to popular vapour rubs and when you rub it into your skin, the heat generated from the friction will heat the oil. If you’re using this method on your abdomen, be sure to rub in a gently clockwise motion to promote proper digestion. When Should I Use Castor Oil Packs? Many people use castor oil packs to help alleviate symptoms of bloat, upset stomach, cramping from PMS, pain associated with arthritis, constipation and liver detoxification or water retention.

2. You can also use it to alleviate sore muscles or inflammation. Castor oil is also beneficial for skin hydration and it has recently become all the rage in hair care. Let’s find out why.  Castor oil is great for bloating, indigestion, constipation and detoxification due to its stimulating properties. This is why it's recommended to use this oil for topical application, as internal applications often cause a strong laxative effect. Wrap the castor oil pack around your abdomen and use a heating pad for best results.  Due to castor oil's anti-inflammatory properties, it can help alleviate pain from sore muscles, arthritis and of course, decrease inflammation. Place your castor oil pack on the affected area and use heat because heat will further support relief from aches and pains.  Castor oil is prized for its skin benefits, this can be chalked up to the fact that it contains anti-bacterial properties which can help clear breakouts and won’t clog pores. It’s also rich in ricinoleic acid, a monosaturated fatty acid which moisturizes the skin. If using castor oil as part of your skincare routine, it’s advised to use it at night and as the last step after your moisturizer, because while it has moisturizing properties, it’s an occlusive moisturizer, meaning it reduces water loss through the outer layer of your skin and can lock in the moisturizing benefits of your moisturizer.  Lately, castor oil has been the new buzz in hair care due to its moisturizing effects, which can leave hair feeling healthy, strong, shiny and full of life. It’s also a great scalp oil due to its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, allowing it to remove any impurities and dry skin or dandruff caused by dermatitis. Simply rub the oil onto your scalp and throughout your hair, concentrating on the ends if you have dry hair and let it sit for 1 hour or overnight and wash out with shampoo and conditioner. If you want to increase the moisturizing benefits, you could wrap a bag over your hair to lock in heat. While many people claim castor oil stimulates hair growth, more research is needed. Safety & Side Effects Castor oil is generally deemed safe, especially when used topically; however, it’s advised to do a small patch skin test to make sure you don’t react. It’s also worth noting, if you are pregnant, you should avoid the use of castor oil as it is known to induce labour. Castor oil packs may also stain your clothing or sheets so consider using old clothing/bedding. When shopping for castor oil it is recommended to look for one that has been cold-pressed so the oil will be more pure and potent. It’s also a bonus if it is sourced from organic plants and isn’t diluted in another oil. If you would like some guidance in selecting a quality brand and oil, our team is always happy to help guide you.