Castor oil comes from the castor bean plant (Ricinus communis), also known as “Palma Christi” and has been used therapeutically by cultures located in the tropical and temperate lands where it grows. The medicinal use of castor oil has been noted in historical records in Egypt, India, China, Persia, Africa, Greece, Rome, Southern Europe, and the Americas. These days, it is commonly known for it’s laxative effect when taken orally. The lesser-known “castor oil pack” involves the topical application of the oil along with a hot pack, typically over part of or the entire abdomen. Castor oil packs are gentle, safe, cleansing, and help stimulate the removal of toxins from the body through the lymphatic system. Current research has identified castor oil as an “anti-toxin”. It appears to have an impact on the lymphatic system and can gently enhance immune function. Castor oil packs can be used as one part of a comprehensive plan for a variety of conditions, such as:

• Liver and gallbladder disorders, or to support gentle liver cleanses,
• Gastrointestinal complaints such as IBS, constipation, bloating or cramping,
• Gynecological complaints such as painful menstrual cramps, endometriosis pain, uterine fibroids, or non-malignant ovarian cysts,
• Arthritis or other joint pain with inflammation,
• Inflammation, pain or infection (internal or enclosed in the skin),
• Breast infections or plugged milk ducts,
• Complaints related to poor detoxification or elimination.

Materials and Equipment

• Flannel or wool cloth (that you don’t mind getting soiled and used exclusively for castor oil), ideally organic cotton or cloth free of dye
• Plastic bag, extra cloths, or saran wrap
• Hot water bottle or heat pack (NOT an electric heating pad)
• Castor oil (obtain from health food store)

Procedure

1. Fold the flannel or wool to a ½ inch thickness, with a width that will cover your entire abdomen (for gastrointestinal concerns), or your upper right abdomen (for liver support), or your lower pelvic area (for menstrual-related issues).
2. Apply approximately 2-3 Tbsp of castor oil directly to your skin, in a thick layer. You may also apply it directly to the flannel cloth that will become your designated castor oil pack. (Note: if you apply the oil to the cloth, the first couple of weeks you use the pack you will have to add an additional tablespoon of oil about every 3-4 days. Eventually, the pack will be saturated enough that reapplication of oil should only be needed every 1-2 weeks. The pack should not be dripping with oil.)
3. Place the flannel cloth overtop of your abdomen, or desired treatment area.
4. Cover the castor oil-soaked flannel cloth with another cloth or plastic bag (or saran wrap) to prevent soiling of your clothes or sheets. Note that castor oil stains; be cautious!
5. Place the hot water bottle or hot pack on top of the cloths. The pack may remain in place for hours, but the minimum recommended treatment time is 30 minutes. Ideal is 30-45 minutes. This is an excellent time to relax, practice a guided meditation or visualization.
6. Ideally, lay on your back with your feet elevated.
7. After treatment, you can either rub the oil into your skin, or you can wipe it off. If needed, you can dip a cloth in a baking soda and water solution to remove the oil (use 1tsp baking soda in 8oz of water).
8. You can store the cloth in a glass container or a Ziploc bag in the refrigerator for weeks to months and reuse it each time you prepare a castor oil pack.

IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE: Please do not lay on top of your hot water bottle, or apply too much pressure on the bottle.  Incidences of burst hot water bottles and burns have been reported when an excess amount of pressure is applied to these bottles.

Frequency

I recommend that you speak to your Naturopathic Physician to receive guidance as to how frequently you should do castor oil packs. In acute situations, application up to 1-3 times daily is usually recommended and is safe. For chronic conditions, apply the pack as often as possible. Try at least 4 consecutive days per week for a period of 4-6 weeks. Patients who use the pack daily will receive the most beneficial effects.

Grady H. Immunomodulation Through Castor Oil Packs. Journal of Naturopathic Medicine. [Unknown year];7(1):84-89.