How to Make a Castor Oil Pack—And Why You Should
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Have you heard about castor oil packs? They’re something I heard about for years before trying one, and now I’m really glad I did.
Since my family and I started working on improving our health, we’ve tried several alternative or natural remedies that I never thought we would do.
One of them is castor oil packs.I mean, who wants to slap something oily and sticky-like on your body. Especially in the summer months. Ick.
Well, they just might make you feel better. That’s why.
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My Introduction to Castor Oil Packs
I remember the days when I thought chiropractors were bizarre.
NEVER did I think I would be taking probiotics, going gluten-free, going sugar-free (oh man, did I eat a lot of sugar!), take stomach acid, try homeopathy, consider acupuncture.
In my youth, castor oil was something that I heard that kids would struggle to get down at the urging of their mothers.
Then later, when looking for natural hair-loss remedies, I read that castor oil was a great thing to apply to your scalp.
Didn’t work for me. I could barely get it out of my hair and basically lost MORE hair just in the attempt to remove the thick goo from my hair. If it’s worked for you, please let me know how you got it out!
Anyhow, while I was under the care of the practitioner who wrote this post on thyroid health, she brought up castor oil packs.
She explained that these days we are constantly bombarded with toxins. From the air we breathe, to the water we drink, to our contaminated food, to what we put on our bodies (from heavy metals in cosmetics to artificial fragrances in personal and home care products), to general heavy metal toxicity, we are just living in a toxic soup.
Your liver has a huge job to do to filter out so many toxins, so it’s crucial that you do what you can to support the liver so it can keep doing its job.
There are many ways to do that, and some of them taste good (like my Nourishing Coffee Substitute), but castor oil packs are a great support for your liver.
Our Experiences with Castor Oil Packs
My Results
As I mentioned, I first started using castor oil packs when under the care of the author of this post on thyroid health. Whenever I used them, I felt “less clogged” the next day, more relaxed, and my eyes seemed to be less puffy.
Also, I noticed that if I started having a breakout of acne on my face, if I used the castor oil pack at night, the next morning the pimples would be somewhat or significantly reduced.
Our Son’s Results
We know that my son has detox issues. He had Asperger’s, which is a form of autism. He’s tested with a double mutation of the MTHFR gene (more on that later) and there’s a lot of evidence from lab work that he struggles in this area.
The first time I used a castor oil pack on my son, he itched under the pad. I watched him carefully thinking he might have an allergy to the castor oil, but then when we removed the pad, interestingly he had broken out in what appeared to be hives on the opposite side of his abdomen!
It was as if his body was pushing things out, away from the castor oil pack.
Since then, he hasn’t reacted that way, but he’s been noticeably more calm following the castor oil packs. We are currently interviewing other practitioners to work with him and have been told that the packs are a great addition to his natural care.
Castor Oil Pack Benefits
Liver Health / Detox Aid
When used correctly, castor oil packs are said to be a good friend for your liver. Apparently, castor oil’s lipid structure goes easily through the skin, stimulating a healthy flow of lymph fluid. It can also have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and pain-reducing effects.
Additionally, they are thought to support uterine and ovarian health as well as improve lymphatic circulation and reduce stressful response from the body.
One study, though small, showed
a “significant” temporary increase in the number of T-11 cells that increased over a 7 hour period following treatment and then returned to normal levels within 24 hours later.
“The T-11 cell increase represents a general boost in the body’s specific defense status. Lymphocytes actively defend the health of the body by forming antibodies against pathogens and their toxins. T-cell lymphocytes originate from bone marrow and the thymus gland as small lymphocytes that identify and kill viruses, fungi, bacteria, and cancer cells. T-11 cell lymphocytes supply a fundamental antibody capability to keep the specific defense system strong.”
Granted, more research is warranted, but many people report benefits, and there don’t appear to be any real downsides to using a castor oil pack on your liver.
Thyroid Support
A reader asked me about whether or not castor oil packs can be used for thyroid health.
I’ve read about people using packs for thyroid issues and finding them to be successful, but I don’t know if it’s true or not.
Joint Discomfort
Many people say that they use castor oil packs to relieve reactive joints.
There’s no clinical evidence for the use of castor oil packs in this way, however, castor oil is rich in ricinoleic acid. Ricinoleic acid has been shown to reduce inflammation and soothe pain.
Of course, before using a castor oil pack, you can check with your practitioner about any concerns.
Even if just using castor oil for external use, consulting with a doctor or naturopath to make sure that this natural remedy is a good idea for you is recommended. Castor oil packs aren’t recommended if pregnant or if you’re suffering from a medical condition. Always test any new oil or other substance on the inside part of your forearm arm before applying it on a larger area of the body.
Important Information About Castor Oil and Detox Pathways
Remember that story about my son and the rash that showed up after doing a castor oil pack on his liver?
Well, the liver filters out a lot of toxins, right? So if a castor oil pack works like it’s supposed to and it helps move toxins out of the liver, they have to go somewhere.
Some say that if you’re constipated that toxins might choose to go out of the skin. So it’s a good idea to make sure you’re “regular” before using a castor oil pack on your liver, or you might get a rash.
How to Purchase Quality Castor Oil
When choosing what castor oil to purchase for using your castor oil packs, here are some things to keep in mind.
Buy Organic
You definitely want to buy an organic castor oil to keep pesticides off your body (since the whole point of the castor oil pack is to remove toxins — not add them.
Cold-pressed Versus Expeller-pressed
It’s very important to purchase only cold-pressed castor oil for your pack and here’s why.
A cold press machine can cause the oil to go up to 120F, whereas an expeller pressing can cause it to go up to 140-210F. Castor oil starts to oxidize over 122F and would result in free radicals, and the destruction of antioxidants and vitamins in the oil.
The Glass Versus Plastic Bottle Debate
Plastic, even non-BPA, can leach toxins into the oil.
As such, many people say that in order to keep your castor oil as pure as possible, buy castor oil only in glass bottles. Dark-colored bottles are the best so as to protect the oil from light.
At the same time, castor oil is stored in plastic drums prior to being bottled in glass jars.
My thinking is that glass is best, but perhaps not crucial. I think it’s best because even though all castor oil is in plastic to begin with, a smaller surface area of the oil is touching plastic in the drums than it does in the small jars. Personally, I’m choosing glass for now.
Buyer Beware – Toxic Castor Oil Packs
Please, please be careful about buying castor oil packs off of Amazon. They might say “organic” but how would you know?
There are lots of sellers sourcing materials from China that are NOT organic.
That does not mean that everything from China is a problem, but you really need to know your seller.
You definitely do NOT want to be putting toxic fabric with castor oil on it on your liver or thyroid or breasts for detoxing. You could be driving toxins IN to your body instead of taking them out.
Where to Buy Non-Messy Castor Oil Packs
You can follow the instructions below to make your own DIY castor oil pack, however they can be a bit messy (or more than just a bit).
Thankfully there are totally non messy options……hurray!
Arandi
Arandi has fantastic kits that are not messy. Woot! So many rave reviews, and you can even get one to wear on your thyroid, breasts, or knees.
Here’s why I LOVE Arandi’s castor oil packs and castor oil.
- Arandi has truly COLD PRESSED castor oil which is important for the reasons explained above. It’s packaged in a glass bottle as well.
- Arandi recommends using a smaller amount of castor oil and applying it directly to your body instead of to the pack. This will result in saving on the cost of castor oil and you won’t need to replace your pack as often. Your castor oil pack should last a year rather than just several months.
- Plus the owner is a great person, which is important in a world where that can be a rare find!
- Use code WNM to get a nice discount on your purchase.
Arandi Castor Oil Packs
Arandi is the place for ethics, quality, and value for all things castor oil pack related.
- Packs made in US from US-sourced fabrics.
- Their castor oil is packed in glass bottles and is cold pressed, not expeller pressed. Expeller pressing removes some or all nutritive value so the castor oil simply won't work as well.
- Arandi's application method saves lots of money--you use less oil and apply directly to your body. You won't need to replace your pack as often; it should last a year -- not only 2-3 months!
- Use code wholenewmom to get a discount.
Rowe Casa
Rowe Casa is a one stop stop for so many great wellness, personal, and home care items and they happen to have a great Castor Oil Pack and Liver Castor Oil Blend that’s very reasonable. Note that a small part of the waterproof backing of this pack will touch your skin.
And to help your liver even more, they have a lovely Liver Tea and a Liver Tincture. And so much more. Code WNM gets 20% off your first order.
Castor Oil Pack FAQs
What position should you be in when using a castor oil pack?
While lying down for an hour during the pack treatment would certainly be a very relaxing thing, typically that isn’t an option for me (or for many busy people) — and try getting your kid to lie down for an hour.
I personally think that it’s OK to go about your day as usual, but relaxing is a great thing to do when wearing your castor oil pack. Most of us don’t do enough of that anyhow. Prayer is a good idea too.
Can you add an essential oil to your castor oil pack?
Lemon essential oil is supposed to be very supportive for the liver, so adding it to the castor oil could be of help.
What brand / type of castor oil is best?
Do not purchase cheap castor oil. Some of it is processed with chemicals or in other ways that leave a less than desirable resulting product including possible contamination with toxins.
There are quite a few brands of castor oil on the market.
If at all possible, you want a castor oil that is organic and hexane free and cold pressed.
Expeller pressed isn’t necessarily unhealthy, but due to the heat created when pressing the oil, some, most, or all of the antioxidants and nutrients in the oil are destroyed.
Here are some great brands:
Arandi – sourced from the USA
Heritage Store – sourced from India
there are more, but these are two good brands to start with.
How often should you use castor oil packs?
Most people recommend using castor oil packs about 3 times a week to start for best results.
However, there are lots of different recommendations depending on why you are using them.
One site that I saw recommends 4 consecutive days for 4-6 weeks.
How often should you replace your castor oil pack?
Some say that you need to replace your castor oil pack as often as every 2 months, but some say that they should last a lot longer than that.
Arandi recommends putting just a small amount of oil on your body part rather than putting a lot on the pad itself. As such, most of the oil will absorb into you rather than being on the pad.
If a lot of oil gets into the pad, it won’t wash out easily and will go rancid more easily.
Of course, use your common sense, and if the pad smells bad to you, don’t use it and replace it, but you should be able to use one pad for quite a long time–in fact I’ve heard of people using one pack for up to a year! That’s a long time and can help you save lots of money on your castor oil and on the packs as well.
Who should not use castor oil packs?
There is mixed information out there about this as well, but some say that those who should not use castor oil packs include pregnant women, those with cancerous fibroids, ovarian tumors or breast tumors, or an IUD, unless under the supervision of a physician.
Additionally, castor oils packs should not be used over a wound or ulcers, in cases of suspected appendicitis, or in patients with bleeding disorders. People with skin sensitivities and those with chemical sensitivities have also been mentioned as those who should exercise caution.
Can a castor oil pack be used when menstruating?
Some say that you shouldn’t use a castor oil pack when menstruating, however, it can be really soothing and can offer a reduction of discomfort. It’s best to avoid during a time of heavy bleeding. If you have concerns, of course you can speak with your health practitioner.
How much oil do you need for a castor oil pack?
Some sources say that you need to use a lot of castor oil for a pack, however that’s not the case.
Just use a handful or tablespoon of oil in your hand and apply to the area where you are going to wear the pack. No need to use any more than that.
An important side benefit of using this lesser amount of oil is that your pad will last a lot longer. The oil won’t soak through the pad to the outer cover and won’t need to be replaced as soon.
Do you need a heating pad for a castor oil pack?
No, you don’t. Your body heat is sufficient to get the benefits from the castor oil pack.
However, heat is really soothing and relaxing. So you might just want to use one and lie down and relax.
What’s the best fabric for a castor oil pack?
Organic fabric is a must for your pack. Wool, flannel, and cotton are all fine to use. Of course if you have an allergy to wool, that should be avoided.
I know the whole castor oil packs thing sounds a little weird, but with all of the toxins we’re exposed to, your liver sure can use all the help it can get.
Doing whatever you can to improve liver health is certainly a good idea. As with all things, please consult with your physician to see if castor oil packs are right for you.
Ingredients
- High Quality Castor Oil
- Lemon essential oil – optional
- Plastic Wrap (please at least get BPA-free plastic wrap)
- Soft Flannel Pad or an Organic Cotton Cloth (if using cotton I recommend organic, if possible)
Instructions
- Pour some castor oil into a spoon and then put it on your hand. (Add 1-2 drops of lemon essential oil to the castor oil, blending well, if desired.)
- Rub the castor oil on your abdomen or liver (just below your rib cage on your right side).
- Place the flannel pad or cloth on top of the castor oil.
- Cover pad with plastic wrap and wrap around entire abdomen for stability.
- If using a pad that is in a securable cover, secure cover. Otherwise, you can lie down to prevent the pad from moving.
- Keep cloth in place for at least one hour, then remove.
Notes
Have you ever used a castor oil pack?
What did you use it for?
Wonderful article
I’ve been using Heritage castor oil for years and it has healed my digestive problems. Recently I’ve been using castor oil instead of moisturizer for those stubborn wrinkles and it is working wonders. It has become my go-to for any ailments and also for dry cracked hands.
Thanks for all the info you are giving,
Donna
Thanks, Donna! I’m so glad to hear it’s worked well for you. Thanks so much for the kind words!
Love!
Thank you for giving the full scope of making a castor oil pack. I will use on my knee, this is where I’m having inflammation and light pain. But first must get a heating pad.
You are so welcome! I hope this helps you. What’s going on with your knee? There are a lot of things that can help – this post has a very helpful DVD and there are other things. Happy to chat about it if you’d like. https://wholenewmom.com/got-back-pain-heres-relief/
Very informative article. I was planning on orderimg a wrap in China. To make sure the oil won’t go anywhere and stain. I was also planning on buying some organic fabric for on the skin, under the wrap. But now…. I Am not sure what to do at this moment. Didn’t consider toxic fabrics….
I Am not sure if i want to make this myself. I dont know if i can find trusted materials.
Oh, and your advice for castor oil for hair growth. Short hair, not longer then shoulders. And wash 2 times. But, there are less messy hair growth help options. Like making rosemary (and mint if you want) water, you can spray on scalp and massage. And you can leave it in. 😉
Thanks for the kind words! I highly recommend the Brand in the post – I believe there’s a coupon code – wholenewmom. Great woman and solid products without encouraging tons of usage of the castor oil.
Thanks for the help about the hair – so you are saying don’t do it if you have long hair?
I have this post with some of that hair info already there :).
I am in Europe, the Netherlands. So i dont know if buying in, i assume, America is really a good idea. Shipping cost over seas will go crazy really fast.
There is one diy sow store left, i will ask about organic fabrics there.
Castor oil in your hair is, like you said, a mess!!! It really is! Now that i have short hair again, jaw length. Its easy. Its what each person prefers. But there are other, less messy, options for stimulating hair growth. 🙂
Oh yes, that makes sense! I think I’ll skip the castor oil trial again – thanks!! I heard you can use it mixing another oil but not sure that will work out.
At present I am using caster oil to cure a bunnion on my foot. I put the oil on a make up remover pad and put it over the bunnion and then wrap my foot in clingfilm. I change it every other day and have been using it for a week. Already my foot is much less painful and I am hoping to be totally free of the bunnion.
Wow that’s so great! Did you see the part in the post about using cold pressed and not expeller?
I use Pureworld Olive Oil in a glass bottle
Looks like that should be good :).
I want to try the castrol oil pack. I want it to go on the liver. I have pancreatic cancer. How can I get yours or do I make my own? Let me know.
I don’t see any recent posts. Why is that?
Hi there! I just do what it says in the post. I should do a video about it. What recent posts do you mean? If you would like updates you can go here to sign up or you can reach out and I can put you on the list. Let me know :). https://wholenewmom.com/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-essential-oils-before-you-buy/
I’ve heard about them for years, tried them a few times, but didn’t keep at it cause of how much of a pain it was to wrap myself in plastic wrap and all that. Also I had an itchy rash on my back after the last time I used the brand you show a few months back, so stopped. However, a few weeks ago I found a article on them again, with a video and it was the queen of thrones talking about them. She said you should always use oil that is in a glass jar, as the plastic jar will leach chemicals out into the oil…which isn’t good as then those chemicals go down into your body with the oil…she also sells a nicer pack that you don’t have to use plastic wrap or heat with, so I splurged and bought it and her oil (although there is at least one brand on amazon that you can buy that looks to be a good one like hers)…but the packs, are a game changer! She talked about wearing them every night, all night…I’m not quite there yet as I started out a little slow…since I had that rash that one time, but think I’ll be doing it most nights starting tonight, if all goes well! So nice not to have to use the plastic wrap…not near as hot that way! I have to wonder if I had the rash because of using the oil in the plastic bottle or not, cause so far I haven’t, using her oil. Hopefully I don’t, and it really starts helping me, I’ve been trying to clean out my liver for several years now, but it’s a slow process, and I’m hoping this will help the herbs I’m taking work better.
So sorry for the long delay in responding. Very interesting about the rashes..are you not getting them any longer? I know that there are better plastics than others but yes it would be great to be done with them altogether if possible.
Thanks much for reading!
Nope, no rashes when I use the pack…which I do 5 nights a week now! I take a break on the weekends.
So great to hear! Progress-yay!!
What company did u order them from?
Hi Donna..just an FYI I just put a new company in the post that has a great non messy wrap. I did have another one there but from what I’m hearing their castor oil is expeller pressed and not cold pressed so I need to investigate that more. The one in the post is cold pressed. Apparently the cold pressed one will have more vitamins and antioxidants that the heat from the expeller pressing will damage.
I’ll likely put the other brand in there too so people can choose. Hope that helps!
I’ve been using the Queen of Thrones pack, that is now linked at the end of the article! So much easier than the old way for sure!
Yes, yes, yes! I tried castor oil packs over the years and never could be consistent because the whole process is such a pain. Then my nutritionist recommended Queen of the Thrones packs, and the castor oil in a glass bottle. Game changer! I use them 4-5 times a week all night and don’t mind it. Energy, alertness, digestive cleansing…very thankful! Also, there are YouTube videos on how to wash the pack after a couple months when the oil gets to the edge and starts leaking during use. No need to replace at that point.
Hi Natalie! Thanks for commenting and sharing your experience.
I’m curious about the videos about washing the pack. Are those Queen of Thones’ videos? And how long are you able to keep your back before getting a new one? Also do note the information about cold vs expeller pressed oil in the post. Thanks again!
Hi!
The video did have the brand Queen of the Thrones @ on the video title. As far as cold pressed or expelled pressed, I haven’t researched much. I do know that plastic bottles for the oil are not good, and it looked like Arandi oil on Amazon was in a plastic bottle? Not sure….
Hi again – there’s some information in the post about that. I highly recommend checking that out and yes glass is best. I reached out to the owner but on their site it mentioned dark amber glass bottles. Do let me know where you are seeing the plastic. Thanks!
Hi again – I heard from Arandi that they don’t sell their castor oil on Amazon so can you please show me where you are seeing this? Thanks in advance.
Hi again!
My mistake! I typed in Arandi castor oil, and this is what came up on Amazon. Now I see that it is “castor oil (Arandi oil)”…different brand. I apologize for my misunderstanding. I had never seen Arandi brand before.
No worries I can see how that is confusing! Arandi is a new brand that used to be called Lulu’s Naturals.
Here’s the Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Castor-Oil-Arandi-Premium-Pressed/dp/B0CF9XV4NV
I really wondered about the Queen of the Thrones castor oil being expeller pressed and so asked the company that I ordered it from. Here’s the information they passed on. Maybe it will be helpful.
Hi! Queen of the Thrones is the company we carry. They explain their method of extraction here:
We’ve recently given all of our packaging and labels a face lift and are always striving to be completely honest and transparent about our manufacturing processes.
No heat is added to our Castor Oil when it’s being processed, but the mechanical pressing method produces slight heat, so it came to our attention that it isn’t a true “cold-pressing” method. It’s still the same standard of top quality 100% pure, certified organic, hexane-free oil that we’ve always offered.
We think this is the highest quality castor oil on the maket!
Hi again – yes I believe I saw that answer somewhere. I don’t know what “slight heat” means.
Here is the information that I have from my research:
A cold press machine can cause the oil to go up to 120F, whereas an expeller pressing can cause it to go up to 140-210F. Castor oil starts to oxidize over 122F and would result in free radicals, and the destruction of antioxidants and vitamins in the oil.
I will put this in the post.
I hope that helps! If you find information to the contrary please do let me know.
I believe the recommendation was after about 10 uses, based on the fact that the materials that this particular company uses for the pack are specially chosen to be non-toxic to use with the castor oil.
But less toxic materials break down faster with use/ washes. When you make your own pack, people will use a plastic grocery bag or whatnot to provide a barrier between their oil and their clothing. Apparently the oil can leach toxins from the bag, or a plastic bottle if the oil is stored in one, and pass those toxins to you.
Having said that, I have probably used my pack at least 25-30 times, and washed it by hand once (directions included in the pack).
The oil has leaked through a little on my pajamas as the pack gets more saturated, but I wear old shirts and pajama pants and wash those pajamas and underwear separately. It’s worth it to me.
I can’t buy packs all the time either. I get it. But the benefits of using the castor pack are amazing!
Just don’t do like I did…I didn’t realize I was supposed to change them out so much and kept it forever…and then started having issues, took me forever to figure out it was the pack, and once I learned more I figured out It was probably so old that it was putting the toxin’s back into my body…so I promptly got a new pack, and am trying to not be to frugal with it so I use it to long. LOL It’s working a lot better now again! 🙂 Sadly I took a few steps back, before figuring it out…so now I’m still digging my way out back to where I had been…least hopefully I am. LOL
Oh my – how long did you use it for and do they tell you that you should only use it for so long? Yikes!
Oh I don’t know for sure…several months…maybe a year. LOL I heard 3 months is all you should use it for, then lately they say 2…with our money situation I’m sure I’ll try the 3, but hopefully can get a new one by then! LOL Actually they just brought out a new thing to use with the pack, that should make the pack last longer…it’s a liner, and I’m using it now…so hopefully that will help me not having to spend quite as much.
Oh my that’s buying a lot of packs! I had no idea!
The pack is supposed to last 6 months with the new thing you use on the inside of it…so that helps. LOL And…not quite sure why it has to only last 6 months…but then again, I didn’t understand it before and got myself into trouble…so probably will try to stick closer to what they say now. *roll eyes*
Yes, that helps. Not thrilled with that either – I’m sure you get it! I will see what I can figure out :).
Hi there, Deb. So I just found out some interesting information that might be helpful for you and I put some of it in the post.
Please see the post for the new “how long can I use my castor oil pack for?” section and let’s talk about this. I was glad to learn this since I really wasn’t keen on spending that much every 2 months or so and haven’t looked into the liner option. But of course I’d rather only buy 1 a year than 2 and not have to buy a liner as well……..
So if you put it directly on your skin, it makes the pack last longer? And…it works as well? Guess I always thought it had to go on the pack, to work, cause even before this kind of pack, when I tried the old way where I had to wrap myself in plastic (which I didn’t do much cause it just wasn’t handy) I always thought you poured the oil on the pack. I can see where you wouldn’t use as much oil that way probably…and it could for sure not make the pack as saturated…so do like the concept, if it really works as well!
Hi there–I am getting more information about this but apparently so since the oil doesn’t go through to the other side (the PUL / polyurethane laminate) side it’s less likely to get really sticky and go rancid. I’m still not 100% understanding this but I can tell you that at Lulus Naturals (the company mentioned in my post) they say that you only need to change out your pack about once a year which sounds good to me!
I apply this concept to my skincare all the time–why do you need a thick coating? Typically you can get away with a lot less and still get the desired results and save a lot of money! 🙂
Let me know what you think.