How to do a Castor Oil Pack Safely {+ who shouldn’t do them}
If you struggle with chronic health symptoms, learning about the benefits of doing a castor oil pack could give you an amazing healing tool.
According to a Rand Report done in 2014, 60 percent of Americans had at least one chronic condition and 42 percent had more than one chronic ailment. (1) That is staggering if you ask me. Honestly, I bet those statistics are higher now, four years later!
Sadly, people are getting sicker and sicker with chronic problems rather than acute problems. The root cause of this is multi-faceted but truly all comes down to inflammation in the body.
These statistics are not a death sentence though. They don’t need to make us live without hope and with the attitude that as we get older we just fall apart. Chronic illness isn’t a given. God created our bodies to heal themselves given the right circumstances.
There are things we can do to reduce the toxic burden on our bodies and, frankly, everyone should be implementing these protocols in their lives whether they have a chronic illness or not. Preventing chronic illness is just as important as managing it!
Chronic Illness and the Toxic Burden
Your skin, liver and kidneys, along with your intestinal barrier are the main ways the body either protects itself from foreign toxicants or filters them out if they have gotten in. When these specific organs aren’t functioning at a high level, they can’t do their job to the best of their abilities. Consequently, a toxic or chemical build-up can happen which further impairs the organ functionality.
Since we live in a fallen (and chemical-filled) world today, we really need to come alongside our body’s natural functioning and give it a boost every now and then to prevent further strain on the skin, liver, kidneys and intestines. One of the simplest ways we can give our bodies that boost is by doing castor oil packs.
Castor Oil Packs Have Helped me With Hashimoto’s
My healing journey has taken many twists and turns over the years. It’s never really been linear though I wish it were. To heal my Hashimoto’s, I have implemented many lifestyle changes like diet changes, managing stress, prioritizing sleep, getting rid of silent infections and cleaning out my kidneys and liver as well as repairing my intestines through cleansing practices.
At first, I was skeptical that castor oil packs could really do anything but I still gave them a try. I was actually surprised by just how effective doing a castor oil pack was for helping my body take out the garbage – so to speak. That being said, I made a mistake when doing them that I don’t want you to repeat. I will share that in the safety section below. Since I tend to be more sensitive to protocols and I have autoimmunity, my mistake caused me 4 months of dealing with a flare-up.
Everything You Need to Know About Castor Oil
If you’re anything like me, you want to know how something works and why. Let’s talk about exactly what castor oil is, where it comes from and why it does what it does. Are you with me?
Where does Castor Oil Come from and what is it?
Castor Oil comes from the seeds (or beans) of the Ricinus Communis plant. It is an oil rich in antioxidants and Ricinoleic Acid (RA) and has small amounts of linoleic, oleic and stearic acid in it. The healthiest and safest version of castor oil comes from dehulling the bean and cold-pressing the seeds to produce the rich and viscous oil.
It is an oil used in many industries today. A few examples are: use in cosmetics, toiletries, in automobiles, and it’s even used in adhesives. However, for health benefits, castor oil has been used as far back as the time of the ancient Egyptians.
How Does Castor Oil Work?
Because of the high concentration of Ricinoleic Acid, castor oil has the ability to support and increase the flow of the lymphatic system. It also increases circulation in the body. Ricinoleic Acid has some similarities to capsaicin and, according to, Mediators of Inflammation, “…it is able to exert remarkable analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.” (2)
VERY IMPORTANT: Only choose Castor Oil That Is:
- Organic and/or 100% Pesticide Free and Non-Hybridized
- Cold Pressed
- Hexane and/or Solvent Free
- Non-Deodorized
- Unrefined
- Free of any and all Preservatives and Additives
These are my Favorite Healthy Castor Oil Brands
It’s important to note that most of the castor oil on the market is laden with pesticides and herbicides as well as rancid filler oils. Additionally, it is usually extracted from the bean using hexane or other solvents which will make it toxic to the user. Below are three brands that meet all the health requirements and provide a safe and clean castor oil to use in a castor oil pack.
What Castor Oil Packs can be Used for:
- Treating cysts
- Reducing joint inflammation like arthritis and rheumatism
- Inducing labor (3)
- Easing menstrual cramps
- Helping to regulate the menstrual cycle
- Supporting the body’s natural detox abilities
- Increasing lymphatic flow
- Reducing overall inflammation in the cells
- Helping the nervous system
- Improving digestion {constipation, diarrhea and regularity}
- Suppressing tumors (4)
- Strengthening the immune system
- Treating Ringworm
- Reducing Acne
- Remitting fungal infections
- Inhibiting yeast and mold
- Relieving Eczema
- Treating parasitic infections
- Relieving headaches and migraines
- Reducing gallbladder inflammation
- Reducing rashes
- Conquering warts
- Softening calluses
- Moisturizing eyes
- Helping with PCOS
- Soothing sprains or injuries
- Attacking harmful bacteria like E.Coli and Staph (5)
- Reducing scarring
- Soothing back pain
- Improving thyroid function by helping with hormone conversion
- Treating thyroid nodules
- Improving lung infections
- Helping with diabetes
- Boosting circulation
- Moisturizing skin
- Soothing sunburned skin
- Producing shiny hair
- Increasing hair growth
That’s a pretty impressive list, right? Honestly, I had no idea before I researched all of this that castor oil could be used for so many different ailments. It’s definitely a natural substance I always want in my holistic medicine cabinet!
Supplies You’ll Need to do a Castor Oil Pack
There are just a few inexpensive items that you’ll need to do a castor oil pack effectively. You can purchase your supplies separately from the list below or, one of my favorite companies offers a kit that contains everything you’ll need so you don’t have to buy the items separately. I’ve also linked that kit for you below for your convenience.
Safe, High-Quality Castor Oil Remember, don’t go just buy a bottle at the store unless you know it meets the above requirements.
These are two safe options to choose from – Option 1, Option 2
Unbleached Cotton Flannel (organic wool is fine too) Be sure you get unbleached because you don’t want the bleach from the flannel soaking into your skin while you’re using it for the pack. Also, this amount of flannel will last you for a long time because you cut off squares or rectangles to use each time.
Wrap Around Pack This is not a necessity, but I can tell you from experience that it helps keep castor oil from getting everywhere and it helps to hold the flannel in place on your skin. I also like this wrap-around pack because it helps me secure the hot water bottle in place so I don’t have to hold it the entire time.
Hot Water Bottle or Heating Pad
Personally, I prefer a hot water bottle because there aren’t any EMF’s since there is no electricity being used. However, a heating pad is a bit more convenient because you don’t have to heat up water and pour it into the bottle. It’s really a personal preference but I think the hot water bottle is a healthier way to go.
Old Towels because castor oil stains and is very sticky. If it drips on something you don’t want it on, it will stain it for good. It’s best to place an old towel under you to protect whatever you’re laying on.
Castor Oil Kit (though you’ll need to get a wrap around pack, hot water bottle or heating pad)
How to do a Castor Oil Pack
Be sure to download the guide for a complete resource and exact directions about how to do a Castor Oil Pack safely.
What You MUST Know to do a Castor Oil Pack Safely
I see a couple of things mentioned on the internet frequently by very well-known doctors and practitioners as far as how to use a castor oil pack, that I completely disagree with and think their advice is downright dangerous – especially for those with autoimmunity and who are ultra-sensitive. I’ve even had this advice given to me from my actual practitioners in person.
1 | Time
The first piece of advice I see a lot is for people to do a castor oil pack for one to two hours! While some people who have done frequent castor oil packs, as well as consistent cleansing practices, can handle that length of time, those at the beginning of their healing journeys, in an autoimmune flare or have the MTHFR SNP will absolutely not be able to handle that length of time. In fact, they’ll be doing good to handle a 10 minute maximum of doing a castor oil pack.
Castor oil draws toxins out of your organs and when your immune system is compromised, one of the problems is that your detoxifying organs aren’t functioning properly. So, if you draw out a bunch of toxins and your organs can’t deal with them through optimally functioning detox processes, then you overload your body and place and added burden on your body. Ultimately, the toxins end up circulating in your system until your body can catch up and take them out via the correct pathways. During the time the toxins are circulating you could have a long list of unwanted symptoms happening.
I Listened to That Advice and Got a 4 Month Flare Up.
After listening to a practitioner suggest doing a castor oil pack for one hour at a time, I did that. I had already been doing castor oil packs for a while for a shorter amount of time (20 minutes) and had no problems so I thought it would be ok for me to do one that long. That was my first mistake.
Two days after I did a castor oil pack for that long, I experienced an intensely itchy rash all over the area that flannel was. The rash had raised bumps and all the way around my back and up to my stomach in the front. It looked just like shingles. I suffered from this rash for 4 months as it gradually went away.
—> The lesson learned there was to never go from castor oil packs for 20 minutes to one hour or more. Instead, work up gradually. Always start slow and for a short amount of time.
—> It’s also important to spot test your skin with some castor oil before even doing a castor oil pack to make sure you don’t have an allergy to the oil.
The crazy thing is that I never see this advice given when talking about doing castor oil packs, yet it is so vitally important.
2 | Re-Use
The second thing I see suggested by a lot of doctors and practitioners, I think is equally as dangerous to follow. They say that you can reuse your cotton flannel piece. Whatever you do, PLEASE DON’T use your cotton flannel piece again! When you use the piece the first time, the flannel is soaking up toxins that are coming out of your organs and out of your skin. Even if you can’t see them, they’re there!
When you reuse the cotton piece you are placing those toxins directly on your skin again and asking your body to deal with them a second time. Doing that can create a healing crisis and again, overburden your body. It’s really simple, just cut a new piece of cotton flannel every single time you do a castor oil pack.
When I got the rash for four months that I mentioned above, I had also reused a piece of cotton flannel. I will NEVER do that again.
Who Should NOT Use a Castor Oil Pack
As healthy as castor oil packs are to do, there are some people that should not try them. Do not use a castor oil pack if:
- You are pregnant as the ricinoleic acid can induce labor
- Colitis, diverticulitis, or hemorrhoids are something you struggle with because the ricinoleic acid can exacerbate symptoms
- You have an IUD because the castor oil can leach increased amounts of copper into your system
- If you are on your period with a heavy flow as the castor oil can increase blood flow and make it worse.
Are You Going to Try a Castor Oil Pack?
Now that you know what castor oil is and how it works, do you think you’re going to try a castor oil pack to help improve your autoimmune symptoms or boost your organ function?
Be sure that you have the supplies you need, set aside a bit of time to rest and relax while you’re doing a castor oil pack and be sure to follow the safety precautions I have laid out for you so you have a positive experience with castor oil packs.
If you do one, let me know in the comments below how it went for you. Please do ask any questions as well and I’ll do my best to answer them!
You mentioned to use a clean piece of flannel every time you want to apply castor oil. I purchased a Castor Oil Pack and the flannel is sewn to a plastic back to avoid the oil leaking. I usually wash it in between uses. Is this not good? Or does the washing clean out the toxins?
Hi Lynn,
Washing the flannel works perfectly!
Are you able to use castor oil on thyroid/breast area or for skin care if you have an IUD?
That’s a good question. This is not medical advice, but if it were me, I would say no because there is still a possibility of the castor oil releasing excess copper into the system from the IUD. Best to consult your functional practitioner for a second opinion though.
Hi Susan,
I left the oil packs on my breasts (fibrocystic breasts) overnight. I did not get a negative reaction to it at all. Would there be something wrong there? i see i shouldnt have after reading your article, its the first time i hear of how not to do it for more than 1-2 hours at first.
Thanks,
Becky
Hi Becky,
Your experience doesn’t mean anything is wrong. This article is not implying that everyone will always have a negative response when leaving a castor oil pack on a long time (like overnight). It’s written for those who struggle with chronic symptoms who are likely overloaded with toxins. Those people more often than not, when following the mainstream, holistic advice of leaving castor oil packs on a long time, have a reaction. I wrote it as a caution to those people. For those of you that don’t have this happen, more power to you! That’s awesome. I just ALWAYS want people to know that no matter what new protocol they are trying, it’s important to go low and slow just in case you are one to react negatively because herx reactions can be extremely debilitating for months for some.
Great article! I have heard that CO is beneficial with bone spurs on feet. Can you confirm that?
Thank you, Debbie. I have not heard that about bone spurs and castor oil but it sounds interesting. I’ll have to research it.
Hi. I have a castor oil pack at home. I do not understand where to place it on my daughter if she has warts on her feet. I did not see this mentioned here. Thank you for your help.
Hi Michelle, that would be a question for your practitioner. Legally, I am not able to give personal advice to those who are not my clients.
I have several autoimmune problems hypothyroidism polymyalgia reflux IBS have had hemorrhoids also have osteoarthritis osteo. Would this be okay for me. High inflammation in my body
Hi Julie, Legally, since you are not my client and I do not know anything about your health history, I cannot advise you on this. Please speak to your own doctor or practitioner. You might want to look into becoming a member of Wellspring™ to help get rid of all that inflammation in your body.
Thank you for this article! I just wish I had seen it sooner. I decided to do a Castor pack overnight for my first time!! I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I had a severe hirx reaction that lasted for several days. I thought I was dying. However, I never put it together that it was the Castor pack. I just thought I had some horrible virus. Was seen in the ER and that’s what they said too. However, I never even discussed the castor pack. I wish I had!
My body, weeks later, is still recovering. I am worried about all of the toxins that I released into my blood. I hope that I can get back to good health again soon.
You’re welcome, Nichole. I am so,so sorry that happened to you. It frustrates me so much that popular people who recommend castor oil packs don’t give this precaution. So many have suffered because they don’t mention it. If your situation happened to me, I would be taking binders every day as well as epsom salt baths with 11.5 water and being sure to stay very hydrated with molecular hydrogen water and lots of liver supporting foods like beets, lemons, dark leafy greens so that you help support the body’s mopping up processes. You can get back to good health but sometimes it takes a while for the body to recover.
I have Essure coils (permanent birth control) in my fallopian tubes. These are copper coils. I have had them for over 15 years with no issues. Do you think there would be an issue doing castor oil packs?
Hi Wendy,
I cannot give medical advice. That would be something to ask your doctor.
I heard from several NP’s that CO does not leech anything out of the skin itself, but rather works its way into the organs and clears them out. Therefore, I was told it is absolutely fine to reuse the pack/compress as nothing is actually being expelled via the skin if you consider the science…thoughts?
Hi Tawnya, what you hear is pretty common. It was actually one of the driving forces for me to write this post. Even though the majority of doctors and practitioners say it’s ok to reuse, clinically and anecdotally there is evidence otherwise. People’s reactions to reusing the flannel speak volumes. The skin IS a drainage pathway and when detoxifying, toxins come out of it. So it would make sense that when toxins are being pulled out of the body, they will come out of the skin as well. Furthermore, the bacteria and microbes from the skin that get on the flannel time and time again is enough to cause a reaction. I do not recommend reusing the flannel. Thanks for reaching out!
Can we reuse the flannel if it is washed?
Personally, I wouldn’t see a problem with that. The caveat is that castor oil is really hard to get out of cloth. The bacteria and toxins, however, would be washed out though. If you wash it successfully, come back and lets me know how it goes!
Thank you for your thoughtful and brilliant advice.;I am battling inflammation and a fatty liver. Have revamped life style with clean food, yoga, meditation, prayer. I am grieving the loss of a 38 year marriage and the recent death of my 31 year old beautiful, loving son. It’s hard to get the anxiety under control but I try. So of course, next step I’m looking to detoxify my fatty liver. I would like to continue on a natural path and feel this could work for me. I have done so much “mind” work to detoxify my emotions and release from my body. My question is, does this process interfere with any medications prescribed…. Like blood pressure meds as I have not been able to loose my tummy fat as of yet, so, I’m still heavy . I’m hoping a detox can help me in a few ways. Your opinion would be so appreciated. Thank you. Susan
Hi Susan, you’re welcome. My heart breaks for you for what you have been through. I am so sorry. Take time to grieve and “be” with these emotions. They are healing in and of themselves. I really can’t say if this would interfere with medications. That’s definitely something to ask your own doctor about since they would know your medical history and what medications to consider. Thank you for reaching out I said a prayer for you tonight.
Is it safe to do castor oil packs for my liver if I am breastfeeding? Thanks for this awesome article!
Hi Marissa,
This is something you would definitely need to talk to your own doctor about. With my clients and members, I do not recommend that they do any sort of detoxing while pregnant or breastfeeding. I’m glad you liked the article. Thanks for reaching out!
Hi Jennifer,
I just talked to a friend who recommended a liver cleanse with like this. So, I started researching and found your article. It is really full of great information that answered a lot of my questions about it. I was looking into doing this for my husband. In April of 2021 he had 8 inches of his colon removed. It was stage 2 cancer. They tested 28 lymph nodes and all were clear. No cancer anywhere else. Thank the Lord! He went through 6 months of chemotherapy. Fast forward to June of this year. He had blood work done and some numbers concerning his liver were a little high. He is scheduled to have an ultrasound this month to take a look. My question is: Do you feel he is a good candidate to do a castor oil cleanse?
Thanks so much for your article and for your response.
Hi Angie,
Thank you for reaching out. I am sorry to hear about your husband. Unfortunately, because he is not my client and I don’t know his full health history, I cannot advise on whether he should or should not do a castor oil pack. You’ll need to ask his functional doctor to advise him on this. Blessings, Jennifer
Would you have any newer links for the castor oil packs? Some are no longer available when I click on them, like the kit. Thank you for the information.
Hi Mando, thank you for reaching out. All the links are now updated. I hope that helps!
Hello,
I have been doing castor oil packs for the last three weeks for over night and, surprisingly, I am getting zero effects of castor oil packs, neither bad not good. It’s really is annoying to have it for entire night, but not to get any results at all/ Just not even sure at this point… BTW, I got organic oil and organic packs, heating pad.. Could it be that some people just not responding to it? Makes me sad.. What do you think? Thank you!
Hi LArysa,
It’s possible that things are still happening internally even though you aren’t experiencing anything.
Hello!
I was curious if someone that has just started their AIP journey should do castor oil packs since I am in the elimination phase and have eliminated beans and since this is from a bean, wouldn’t that be counter productive? Appreciate any help. Thanks!
Hi Stephanie, this is a great question! AIP is all about what we eat and how it affects our digestive system. That being said, legumes can be hard to digest and hard on the gut due to several factors. However, the oil from the castor bean applied topically (which is what castor oil packs are) does not affect the GI tract the way eating a bean would. It my professional opinion and understanding, doing a castor oil pack does not negatively affect being in the elimination phase of the AIP diet. They are like comparing apples and oranges. I love this question though as it is not one I have had before and is very valid thinking! Thanks for reaching out. I hope this helps you. Blessings, Jennifer
Hi, thanks for this information. I have a few questions! I am wondering if I can use an old white towel cut into pieces for the castor oil pack? How big should the pieces be for liver application and do I need several layers or just one? If I saved the pieces up and laundered them together would they be reusable? Maybe it’d need to be at a v high temperature?
Also annoyingly I accidentally bought Castor oil that is not organic – what an earth can I use it for instead? I don’t want to waste it…
Hope you’ll be able to help – many thanks.
Hi Sara,
You can use a white towel but be aware that the towel will likely soak up a lot of castor oil that could be used for your body. Flannel wouldn’t do the same thing. The pieces should be big enough to fit over half of your abdomen from right below your ribcage to right above your hip bone. One layer is fine. I have not tried laundering the material with castor oil because it seemed just too sticky. However, it may be possible. I can’t so for sure though. The majority of ways I know to use castor oil are on or in the body so organic really is best. However, I did see someone say you can use it to help a fern grow better and it can also be a potential mole deterrent in the yard.
Thank you so much for this, I am just about to try one today. I’m going to start slow with 10 mins. If I had not read your article I would never have known!. Unfortunately, it is impossible to get any organic cotton/ cloth/ flannel/ any fabric where I live (South Africa) – due to COVID all the suppliers have stopped importing it. I’m hoping that what un-dyed muslin I could find will do the trick.
Hi Megan,
I hope it went well for you! It sounds like your fabric will work fine. Thanks for sharing! Blessings, Jennifer
Great article – Another thing missing from majority of castor oil advice is emphasis on more frequent #2s. When doing any type of toxin movement – Much Higher water intake & gently supportive laxitives should be CONSIDERED…. Frequent urination & 1 or 2 poops a day help in moving toxins out, also sweating (sauna type). If folk are not going poo once a day it may be something to look into. ALL THE FOOD YOU EAT SHOULD BE OUT OD YOUR BODY WITHIN 24HRS… Hydration & Elimination are often not stressed enough… Again thanks for this great information about PROGRESSIVE Castor Oil Pack application…
Shay – 100%! I absolutely agree with you. It’s actually surprising how many of my clients don’t realize that it is normal and important to go poop at least once a day but the ideal is two. Many don’t go at all, maybe 4 times a week! The body does truly need to take out the trash through our feces and urine and if it can’t, symptoms worsen and a healing crisis can ensue. Thanks for the great comment and reminder! Blessings, Jennifer, FNTP, CEOC
Hi Jennifer, I have a chronic constipation issue and have been to many doctors with no good results . I read to take 1 T castor oil with water first thing in the morning. I have done that twice and have gotten good results, but now fearful it may be harmful. Is it safe to do this a couple of times a week? Even with laxatives of all sorts I only have a bm twice a week. Thank you for any feedback.
Hi Diann, I’m sorry to hear about your constipation issues and doctor search. It can be frustrating for sure. Legally, I cannot advise you personally on your health and what to do since you are not my client. In regard to constipation though, coffee enemas, done correctly, can be helpful as can be water or tea enemas. You can learn about doing those safely, the right way here.
Can I do a castor oil pack on other parts of my body if I have a copper IUD?
Thanks
Ivonete
Ivonete, that is something you should talk to your holistic practitioner about. I cannot advise you personally since I don’t know your health history.
Like many others, I didn’t realize that the flannel should not be reused! Is it ok to launder & reuse though, otherwise it just seems like a waste to me. Thanks for the good info!
Hi Anna,
You could try to wash the flannel but I would not put it in with other clothes or items you care about because Castor oil can be a mess. That being said, when I do a castor oil pack, I don’t use an entire sheet of flannel like other do. I cut a piece that will fit over the area I am putting it on and that’s all. That helps me not feel so badly about throwing it out because I agree, using a bunch of flannel and then throwing it out seems like a waste. I hope that helps! Blessings, Jennifer Brightbill, FNTP, CEOC
So glad I found this!! I was about to do a castor oil pack on my abodmen (I have not done one since 2013 or so after a natural path recommended it but before I knew I had MTHFR), bc I have MTHFR and some heavy metal detoxing that still needs to be done.
I have had diarrhea for two days and I’m not sure what the cause is, but I had it in my head that the caster oil pack would help. However after reading the information you provided I think it might be best to wait until I am feeling better to possibly start this process slowly again.
What a blessing this article helped you Rebecca! Thank you for sharing. It does sound like it might be a good time to take a break for sure.
Jennifer, thanks a million for this amazing article! I have done castor oil packs in the past and I can say that it really does work. I was always a bit conflicted about the ‘re-use part’, so thanks for shedding light in that regard. Going forward I will be sure not to re-use the cotton flannels since this means that we putting the toxins back into our bodies.
I wanted some advice with regards to the castor oil pack. I am now 3 months post myectomy/laparoscopy surgery (Had fibroids, cysts and also an endometriosis resection done). I think one of my tubes might still be blocked, I want to detox and reduce horrible menstrual cramps, etc. My post recovery has been quite a journey-I still don’t feel a 100%, in my uterine area and I still have a bit of abdominal swelling. In addition, I have been feeling alot of activity and sensations in the area. With all of that being said would you recommend/advice that I re-start doing castor packs or should I wait longer before resuming?
Most importantly I want to fully prepare for my TTC journey.
Hi Rockell, you are so welcome for the info! It’s awesome to hear that Castor oil packs have been helpful for you. Yay! Since I don’t know your exact health history and you are not a 1:1 client of mine, I legally can’t advise you on what to do regarding whether castor oil packs are something you should do for your body right now. Definitely ask your specific practitioner or physician though – they should be able to tell you for sure. Cheers to healing and I do pray that you have a speedy recovery and these lingering symptoms would go away for you. Blessings, Jennifer, FNTP, CEOC
Thanks for posting this! I did a castor oil pack for an hour the other day, then for 20 min 2 days later. I’m now having such a flare up. Glad to know it’s not just me.
Hi Beth,
I’m sorry to hear this. I wish so badly that more professionals would share about this rather than blindly recommending doing an hour castor oil pack. It’s so frustrating and ends in needless suffering for some people. I do hope your flare ends soon! Just take it real slow next time. Blessings, Jennifer Brightbill, FNTP, CEOC
I have been doing castor oil packs for 2 days. Yesterday, I put the castor oil on a wash cloth and put it over my liver with a heating pad. Instantly, I felt a weird sensation. It wasn’t on the skin but from my inside. I was able to maintain it for an hr. Last night I couldnt fall asleep until 7 am this morning. Today I did the same thing, however, it’s been several hours since I removed the castor oil pack and I still feel a very warm weird sensation over my liver.
I have to admit, I reused the wash cloth as I hadn’t read your article until now. Is it normal to not sleep and have that warm sensation over your liver? Also, the instant weird feeling once the pack is applied? Are these symptoms of the toxins being drawn out?
Hi Lissette, I would say it certainly a possibility to feel a warm sensation as well as activity in your liver/gallbladder area when using a castor oil pack over that area. It’s hard to say whether it’s “normal” to have the instant feeling you had though. As long as you are not having a skin reaction, it doesn’t sound alarming. The reason I wrote this post is because I feel there is so much information in the internet about doing castor oil packs for long periods of time which leads people who have significant toxicity into a herx reaction. Doing a castor oil pack for one hour the first time it’s done is over the top in my opinion and I would never advise my clients to do this. There will always be a reaction. For me, it was 4 months of a flare and extremely discouraging. Without knowing any of your other health history or goings-on that particular day you did the castor oil pack, you not sleeping that night seems to correlate with the castor oil pack and it doesn’t sound like doing it for an hour at a time will serve your body best. You might want to follow the advice in this article and start slow and not reuse the cloth you put the castor oil on. I’m sorry you experienced this. Castor Oil packs when done the way I write about can be helpful and hopefully, as you dial it back, they will be for you. Blessings, Jennifer
Thank you for your advice here specifically about working your way up in time. I did a 30 min castor oil pack last night and did not sleep great and have a headache and feel off today. This was unexpected since I’ve been reading nothing but positive responses to this practice and no warning of side effects. I have hashimotos and elevated liver enzymes so I’m thinking now I just need to go slow and ease into this. Thanks for the info.
Hi Christina, I am so sorry you had this experience. This is one of the reasons I wrote this post because it happens all to often. It’s such a pet peeve of mine that most people don’t tell about starting slow and the adverse effects that can happen. Drinking a lot of filtered mineral water can help with the effects you’re having. Also, something that has helped me in the past is taking 2 activated charcoal tablets before bedtime. It soaks up the toxins that were released. Glad you found my article! Welcome to Feasting On Joy. Blessings, Jennifer, FNTP, CEOC
Hi, thank you for that helpful tip. What activated charcoal tablets do you recommend?
Hi Akia, you’re welcome! I have two that I recommend that are in my Fullscript Dispensary under the “Detox” section. One is straight activated charcoal and one is a binder that has other ingredients with activated charcoal. You can go to this link and login in to check them out! https://feastingonjoy/com/fullscript. I hope that helps! Thanks for reaching out.
What size should I cut my cotton flannel for kidney application?
Hi Cotinne,
Great question. I would cut it about 2″ wide and long enough to lay the strip across your back where your kidneys are maybe 5″ or so. You could also cut two 3-4″ pieces and place over each kidney. Hope this helps! Blessings, Jennifer
I have large Fibroids and I am on hormone replacements because I don’t have my thyroid anymore due to thyroid cancer. Is it wise for me to use castor oil packs?
Hi Janeilla, I’m sorry you are struggling with fibroids and have had thyroid cancer. Unfortunately, since you are not my client, I am not legally allowed to give you specific advice. I don’t know your extensive medical history. What I will say is that fibroids are often linked to vitamin and mineral deficiencies so you should ask your practitioner about that as well as if he or she thinks you should do castor oils packs. Blessings, Jennifer
Hello,
Does it matter if it’s organic cotton vs. organic wool flannel? You’re blog text says unbleached cotton flannel, but the link to amazon goes to a product that says wool flannel? Are they one in the same?
Thanks and looking forward to trying the packs out very soon!
Jenn
Hi Jennifer,
Great question! It doesn’t matter if it is organic wool or organic cotton. The only caveat would be to stay away from wool if it causes skin sensitivity to you. I hope you enjoy great success in doing castor oil packs! Blessings. PS the post has been updated to note wool is ok too.
Hello!! Would castor oil packs be a great idea for anxiety?
Hi Kassie! Most definitely!
I’m just starting. To start 10 min but should I do daily then when to increase the time? I have hypothtroid but allergies of so many things. Your guidance appreciated.Donna
Hi Donna,
Glad to hear you are trying a castor oil pack. Since you are not one of my clients and I don’t know your health history, I really cannot advise you personally. We are all so bioindividual. Sorry! Castor oil packs can be beneficial if done daily but only if the person can tolerate it and has good functioning detox pathways.
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for your post. I’ve been doing caster oil packs for 3 nights consecutively and feel awful. Headache and joint and muscle aches and tired. I’ve put in so many search terms in order to find anything information on why the caster oil would do this and finally found your post. Thank you! I guess I’ll go to 10 mins a day? Or should I give it a break for a day or two? Thanks so much.
Yasmin, If it were me, I would first, stop doing them to let your body catch up on cleaning up the toxins, second, when starting again, start low and slow as I mention in my article, and third, take a binder when you are doing the castor oil pack. That way what is being released can also be bound up and taken out in your BM’s rather than recirculated as it sounds like is happening. I have my recommended binders in my Fullscript dispensary in the “detox” section. http://feastingonjoy.com/fullscript. I hope that helps!
I have been using castor oil packs to help alleviate heavy periods . I get spotting the day after..I don’t know if this is normal..Should I stop using the castor oil packs and then start again after the spotting stops or should I continue using them. I know I’m not using castor oil packs during my period..
Hi Alicia,
Without knowing your in-depth current health status, there is no way I could answer this question. This would be a great one for your practitioner. Blessings, Jennifer
Is this for those who have copper
IUDs that this is an issue or all IUDs period?
Hi Aleisha,
It applies for all IUDs because they are metal. Copper being the worst though.
Would it be okay to do a pack on two places at once, ie: the abdomen and the thyroid? Thanks for all your information. I have always heard that using the same flannel for up to six months is fine. Do you use just one layer of flannel for each pack?
Hi Virginia, for those who have done many castor oil packs successfully over the course of months and have not had any adverse reactions, it would be ok to do a castor oil pack on two locations at once. My reservation is for those who overload their body by putting a pack on two places. Then, their body can’t handle it and they go into a Herx reaction. It can be ultra painful and dangerous. In regards to using the flannel more than once, I STRONGLY caution against it. It is said all over the internet and from some very well known practitioners that reusing the flannel is ok when it is absolutely not. The flannel has toxins on it that are released when you do the castor oil pack so reusing it allows the toxins to reabsorb back into your skin and can cause severe rashes on your skin. I speak from experience as I followed this dangerous advice and had a reaction that lasted 4 months. I would absolutely not use a flannel more than once. Also, I do use one layer of flannel per castor oil pack. I hope that helps you out, Virginia.
Thanks for the information! I have been using Castor oil but not as a pack. I just rub some on my abdomen, lay a towel over it with a heating pad and wait till it all soaks in. This is easier for me and less messy. Is this ok or is it really necessary to use the pack? I am using this to try to ease endometriosis symptoms and improve fertility.
Thank you!
Hi Maria, you are so welcome! If you can tolerate the way you are doing it, then I think it’s probably fine. Those of us are who are more sensitive need to use the flannel with the oil on it so it can be removed when we’re done. In other words, not all of it will soak in. I know for me personally, if I just rubbed in on my abdomen and let it soak it, at my worst, I would have been put into a healing crisis. This happens because I have the MTHFR SNP where I don’t detox quickly and so dumping too much into my system at once gives my body an overload and I my organs can’t handle it. That’s why I use the flannel soaked with oil and remove it when I am done as well as wipe off any excess oil on my skin. Sometimes I will even take a shower to get the oil off. It’s powerful stuff! It’s great to hear how you do it and that it works for you. Thanks so much for sharing Maria! By the way, Castor Oil Packs are perfect to use for endometriosis and improved fertility! Great job!
So I shouldn’t do this when detoxing copper?
Hi Missy, It’s hard to say since I don’t know your health history and what’s going on with your protocols right now. Questions to ask yourself… how are you feeling while detoxing copper? Would adding an additional protocol that pulls out the toxins release too much for your body to handle? A Castor Oil Pack can be helpful for your liver to release the copper to detox it, however, it could, at the same time, send your body into a healing crisis depending on how you methylate. Definitely, something to talk to your practitioner about.
This was so interesting. I learned a lot. While I have heard of castor oil, I have never heard of doing a castor oil pack. And I can totally relate to your health journey not being linear. It can be hard when you have an ongoing condition to appreciate and take advantage of the good days but not allow the bad days to derail you emotionally .
Hi Miranda,
It’s great to hear from you! You’re so right about being grateful for the good days and being steady in the bad ones. Enjoy your day!