How To Use Castor Oil To Get Rid Of Bloating & Constipation
Castor oil has been a staple in the holistic world since ancient times, dating back to use by the Egyptians. It has been promoted for gut health, immune health, pain reduction, wound healing, and even for beauty.
Today, you’ll often find it on the bottom shelf of health and wellness shops collecting dust. But it’s time this ancient oil makes a come-back. It continues to remain a go-to remedy for many holistic practitioners, especially for gastrointestinal complaints such as constipation and bloating.
Read on to learn more about castor oil, its uses, and why you should probably keep a bottle in your medicine cabinet. I’ve kept this post simple so as not to be too overwhelming but I have included my resources at the bottom if you want to dive in past the tip of the iceberg.
Castor oil is a vegetable oil made from the castor bean plant. It originates from the southeast part of the Mediterranean, Eastern Africa, and India, but it is grown and cultivated in many parts of the world. Historical use dates back to the 16th century BC, and a survey from 1982 documents the use of the castor oil plant in as many as 50 different countries. 1
Castor oil’s main active component is ricinoleic acid, and this is where most of its health benefits come from. It makes up about 90% of its composition.
Interestingly, ricinoleic acid mimics compounds in the body called series 3 prostaglandins which have powerful anti-inflammatory properties. These prostaglandins are the same ones that come from eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) found in fish oils once they are broken down in the body. 6
Castor oil also contains small amounts of omega-9 and omega-6 fatty acids.
Although castor oil has only been approved in Western medicine for its use as a stimulant laxative when taken orally, it has traditionally been used both internally and externally throughout the world for a variety of complaints and illnesses: various abdominal disorders including constipation and bloating, gall bladder pain, arthritis, backache, muscle aches, headache, menstrual cramps, rheumatism, skin care, wound healing, sleeplessness, and insomnia. 2, 3
Today, taking castor oil by mouth is no longer used as a common remedy for constipation because there are more gentler options available. For example, when compared to sennosides, castor oil taken by mouth tends to cause more side effects including abdominal cramping, vomiting, bloating, and dizziness. 2
In the world of natural medicine and alternative therapies, castor oil is generally recommended for topical use in the form of a castor oil pack applied over the liver and abdomen. Using it on the skin does not cause the same side effects as taking it by mouth. A castor oil pack is a piece of cotton or flannel soaked in castor oil and applied to the skin with heat.
WHY SHOULD I USE A CASTOR OIL PACK:
As noted, castor oil has many applications, but when it comes to gut health, it can help to reduce bloating and improve constipation.
Here are a few of the many ways castor oil may benefit you in relation to gut health:
1. It stimulates peristalsis to promote regular bowel movements when used consistently. 1, 7
2. It helps to calm the nervous system by placing the body into a parasympathetic state (“rest and digest” mode). 6, 8
3. It is absorbed into the lymphatic circulation and may help with detoxifying and cleansing the body of waste products. 8
4. It is anti-inflammatory. 4, 5, 6
5. It helps regulate the immune system and may modulate and normalize lymphocyte counts. 1 A stronger immune system means stronger gut barrier function.
6. It may have a positive effect on the liver as it has been shown to normalize cholesterol and liver enzymes. 1
7. It reduces neurogenic pain. Neurogenic inflammation may play a role in the pain conditioning and hypersensitivity that occurs in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). 4, 5
HOW TO MAKE A CASTOR OIL PACK:
To make a castor oil pack, you will need:
· Organic, cold-pressed, hexane-free castor oil in a glass
bottle
· Piece of flannel cotton
· Additional large piece of flannel cotton to wrap-around or plastic cling wrap
· Heating pad or hot water bottle
· Old towels, t-shirt, and sheets – castor oil stains and it does not come out with washing!
· Glass jar
Alternatively, you can purchase pre-assembled “less mess” castor oil pack kits to make things a little easier. There are several of these available on the market.
Once you have your items on hand, here are your next steps:
1. Soak (but do not saturate) a piece of cotton flannel in organic, cold-pressed castor oil. This will usually require about 2 tablespoons of castor oil.
2. Place the flannel directly over the liver and abdomen (right side of the body) and cover it with another layer of dry flannel, or secure it in place by wrapping cling wrap around your abdomen (this also helps to reduce castor oil from soaking through the flannel onto your clothes and sheets).
3. Toss on an old t-shirt and place your heating pad over the area for 30-60 minutes. (**IMPORTANT** If you are using castor oil packs to help with constipation, skip the heating pad. Heat can slow down smooth muscle contraction which is needed for bowel movements.) Leave the pack on for a minimum of an hour. Leave it on overnight to see even greater benefits.
4. Castor oil packs are best used in the evening before bed because it is recommended you practice relaxation techniques during application, such as breathing, visualization, or meditation. Reading a book, relaxing on the couch, or just going to bed is fine too. This helps to promote the shift into a parasympathetic state (aka. “rest and digest”).
5. Daily application is most beneficial but applying the pack for a minimum of 3-4 consecutive nights per week for the first 4-6 weeks is recommended. You cannot use a castor oil pack too much.
6. If you are not sleeping with the castor oil pack in place, leave the oil on your skin after removing it so it can be absorbed while you sleep.
7. Reuse your castor oil pack and add more oil as needed – 1-2 tablespoons per application will usually do the trick, but the more you use your pack, the less oil you will need. Replace the pack after it begins to change colour (usually after about 20 uses).
8. When not using your castor oil pack, store the flannel in a glass jar to prevent oxidation. (Do not use a plastic jar. Castor oil is an excellent carrier oil and you do not want your pack absorbing chemicals from the plastic.)
IMPORTANT: You should not use a castor oil pack with heat during menstruation, if you are pregnant, or over a cancer site. You should not ingest castor oil while pregnant as there is a chance it could spark contractions and induce labour.
FINAL THOUGHTS…
Unfortunately, while there are plenty of suggestive studies, there aren’t many conclusive studies on the topical application of castor oil packs. This is often the case with many traditional and ancient remedies. (There’s no profit in studying natural products so why would companies invest the money??) This does not mean they are ineffective.
Thousands of years of use in traditional cultures speaks to the usefulness of castor oil that seems to have many different applications. After all, one has to consider, if it didn’t work, would it still continue to be used to this day? It seems unlikely. Just because it’s mechanism of action is not well understood does not mean that the therapy doesn’t hold value.
If you’ve been struggling with gas, bloating, and constipation, isn’t it worth a shot?
Have you heard of castor oil packs before, or have you used them? What was your experience? You can drop a comment below – I’d love to hear from you!
While castor oil packs are not going to replace a healthy diet, drinking enough water, or getting enough sunlight, exercise, and sleep, every action we take is cumulative. Making small changes towards a better version of yourself is how we achieve optimal health, not through a cure-all magic bullet.
References
1. Evidence for the Topical Application of Castor Oil - https://intjnm.com/evidence-for-the-topical-application-of-castor-oil/
2. Castor Oil - StatPearls - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551626/
3. Review - Ricinus communis - Ethnomedicinal uses and pharmacological activities (2017) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29084706/
4. Effect of ricinoleic acid in acute and subchronic experimental models of inflammation (2000)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11200362/
5. Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Methods, Mechanisms, and Pathophysiology. Neural and neuro-immune mechanisms of visceral hypersensitivity in irritable bowel syndrome https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/ajpgi.00542.2011
6. Castor Oil: Magic or Myth (Part 1) - https://ndnr.com/cardiopulmonary-medicine/castor-oil-magic-or-myth-part-1/
7. An examination of the effect of castor oil packs on constipation in the elderly
8. “The Oil That Heals: A Physician’s Successes with Caster Oil Treatments” by William A. McGarey.
