Should You Be Using More Castor Oil?

An easy natural route to promoting reproductive health and improving digestion issues can be found in the use of castor oil.

Castor oil is derived from the seeds of the castor plant native to India. It has been used in traditional medicine for centuries and is still employed in naturopathic medicine today.

The oil is a triglyceride made up of fatty acids; roughly 90% of these consist of ricinoleic acid which is found to be the primary healing property when used medicinally.

Castor oil can be used internally or externally. The benefits of utilizing packs (castor oil on a piece of cloth) are vast when you take into consideration cost and accessibility. It can treat a broad list of ailments, including infertility/hormone balance, digestive issues, inflammation and detoxification.

For a woman who is experiencing amenorrhea (the absence of a menstrual cycle), there is an underlying imbalance in the body. This can be caused by nutritional deficiencies when there are not enough nutrients to sustain normal endocrine functions. It can also be caused by low body fat and stress.

These disruptions cause our hormones to stall in their intricate messaging system which allows our body to menstruate. The ricinoleic acid in castor oil helps to stimulate and normalize menstrual flow. This also enhances the absorption of fat molecules in the digestive tract which is essential for balancing hormones.

– RELATED: Everything You Need To Know About Your Fertility Health –

Castor oil also aids in improving fertility by stimulating the circulatory system. Improved circulation brings fresh oxygenated blood flow to the abdomen and nourishes the reproductive organs helping them to function properly.

The oil also increases detoxification of the liver. Quite possibly the hardest working organ, our liver removes hormones and sorts through all the “junk” in our system. It is also the source of most of the lymph (the clear fluid that flows around the body in the lymphatic system) produced in the body to remove waste/toxins, especially in the reproductive organs.

Liver health is vital to our lymphatic system. The movement of fresh blood flow also helps to heal any damaged tissues within our reproductive system.

For GI distress and constipation, transdermal absorption can promote blood flow through improved circulation to the intestines. When taken orally, the ricinoleic acid promotes peristalsis which is the muscular contraction of the intestines.

Castor oil also has anti-inflammatory properties. Poor circulation is often the cause of abdominal inflammation whether from ovarian cysts, blocked Fallopian tubes, uterine fibroids, or intestinal blockages.

How to make a castor oil pack

You’ll Need

Castor oil (organic hexane free)

Cotton flannel rag

Plastic bag

Heat source (hot water bottle or heating pad)

Method

Step 1: Saturate your rag with the castor oil (usually 1/4 cup). Place directly on your abdomen.

Step 2: Place the plastic bag over the top followed by the heating pad. Hold in place for 40-45 minutes. It is best to use castor oil packs 3-4 consecutive nights in a row.

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