Castor Oil In Belly Button?

KEY POINTS:

1. Because the belly button was your lifeline for nourishment in the womb, it is considered to be a sacred place on your body.

2. Belly button oiling has its roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Indian Ayurveda where it is sometimes called the Pechoti Method.

3. Navel oiling may provide some benefits, but you can deepen your practice by wearing a Castor Oil Pack.

4. The umbilical cord is a source of stem cells that have many uses especially in the area of anti-aging as they have the potential to create many different cell types¹.

Can the belly button help in healing?

“Belly button healing” is an umbrella term for the practice of applying oil in and around your navel. This practice has roots in Indian Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine, where practitioners consider the belly button to be the center for psychological, physical, and spiritual healing. 

The notion behind belly button healing has to do with its close proximity to the vagus nerve. So what’s the vagus nerve, you ask? 

What is the vagus nerve?

So, the basis of belly button healing – stimulate the vagus nerve via your belly button, and tap into the superhighway of wellness. 

Ayurveda (navel oiling) and the Pechoti Method

So, what is the Pechoti Method? Well, it’s a practice centered around the Pechoti which is, as Dr. Smita Naram describes in an interview with The Indian Express: 

“Pechoti is a point located at the centre of the body, approximately above the naval area. The Pechoti Intake Method is a process where one can absorb natural essential oil through one’s belly button for pain relief and relaxation. Traditionally, it was practiced by incorporating a number of essential oils based on their respective benefits and properties”.

According to Ayruvedic practitioners, the Pechoti Method (also known as navel oiling) may provide some benefit by supporting a sensation of groundedness, warmth, and nourishment. Navel oiling is thought to pacify and soothe.

In Ayurveda, applying warm oils in your belly button is said to support issues related to indigestion and discomfort caused by gas and bloating. It is also believed to balance your digestive fire as well as regular daily bowel movements to help your body with detoxification.

The navel in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine call the belly button shen que or spirit gate. As with Ayurveda, the Chinese tradition regards the navel as an important point because of its role in fetal development. And as an acupuncture or acupressure point, belly button stimulation is thought to help with all sorts of conditions from prostate issues to tennis elbow.

Ilchi Lee, author of the book, The Secret to Health is in the Belly Button, suggests that:

“By stimulating the navel, you pump the nutrients, toxins, waste, lymph, and blood gathered in your abdomen, causing them to pass through more easily, which helps your systems stay clear and flowing. It also warms your abdomen, which increases immune function, and relaxes muscles and fascia, which calms you and helps you breathe more deeply, sending more oxygen to your body and brain.”

Based on this it makes sense that, by adding warm oil to your belly button and giving it a gentle massage, you support better overall wellness. But, if nothing else, you’ll just enjoy a relaxing moment of self-care. Nothing wrong with that, agreed?

The benefits of putting Castor Oil in your navel

Let’s first take a look at what makes Castor Oil unique compared to other popular oils:

• • • Castor Oil contains 85-92% ricinoleic acid, a fatty acid that has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties via a reduction of substance P³.

• • • Ricinoleic acid in Castor Oil has also been shown to support smooth muscle peristalsis (involuntary contractions) in your digestive tract⁴.

• • • Shown to promote nitric oxide^{5 6}, an antioxidant that supports better blood flow and circulation, the nitric oxide in Castor Oil may also help to kill Candida.⁷

• • • Castor Oil has an abundance of skin-loving nutrients like vitamin E, omegas, and polyphenols making it extremely emollient and soothing for skin^{8 9}. 

Castor Oil in your belly button for hair growth

One reason people seem to love putting Castor Oil in their belly button is to help support healthier looking hair. Oil in the navel is thought to stimulate hair follicles and improve hair quality, leading to thicker and shinier locks. 

But, here’s the thing: While putting oil in your belly button might have some benefit, at the moment it isn’t scientifically supported to help with hair growth, texture, or thickness. 

On the other hand, there is evidence that Castor Oil may help support hair quality when you use it directly on your scalp. 

According to research, the fatty acids in Castor Oil act as natural emollients that help condition your hair from root to tip^{10 11}, and a study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Science found that Castor Oil improved the luster of hair¹².

So, it won’t hurt to put Castor Oil in your belly button, but you might see more results by using Castor Oil on your hair and scalp directly. An easy way to do this is with the Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Hair Wrap.

Castor Oil in your belly button to support liver and digestion

So, inside the developing fetus, the umbilical veins and arteries form connections with the circulatory system, liver, and bladder. Following birth, when the newborn takes their first breath and the umbilical cord is cut, these internal segments of the umbilical veins and arteries gradually transform into ligaments. Remarkably, these ligaments remain attached within the belly button¹³.

One of these ligaments travels through the liver, while another reaches down into the pelvic region, where some portions of it may continue to play a role in your circulatory system near the bladder. 

The long and the short of all this is that putting Castor Oil into your belly button may support liver and digestive wellness, but a more direct and impactful way to support these systems is by wearing a Liver Castor Oil Pack for an hour each day or overnight. 

Why, you ask? 

Well, wearing a Castor Oil Pack regularly may help support your liver and digestion, but it may also help support better bowel movements, less constipation, and bloating¹. This, most likely, is because you’re putting more oil in a pack than you would your navel. Then, because the pack may help with oxytocin production¹⁵ and a greater sense of relaxation,^{16 17} you’re able to detox more thoroughly which tends to result in more overall wellness.

Basically, if you’re going to put Castor Oil anywhere, the best place is to put it in a Castor Oil Pack and then wear it consistently for optimum support. Queen of the Thrones® has a kit that makes it super easy and less-messy!

Would you love to know how Castor Oil Packs help support liver detox, lymphatic drainage and colon cleansing? Download your free infographic to see why. 

Castor Oil in navel for weight loss

Castor Oil Packs work by helping you balance your body and its systems, and this may ultimately support weight loss. You see, when you balance inflammation and allow your body to cleanse naturally, weight loss tends to happen on its own. But don’t expect to have results overnight!

The gentle compression of wearing a Castor Oil Pack also supports oxytocin production¹⁵, a hormone that’s been linked to weight loss¹⁹. 

Your body will need time to balance and find its own rhythm, so the best way you can support this process is to stay consistent with your Castor Oil Pack self-care routine.

How to use Castor Oil in the belly button

Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• • Queen of the Thrones® Organic Castor Oil
  • Rosemary essential oil
  • Organic ginger or lavender essential oil

Blend 1: Belly Blend for Digestion

• • 2 teaspoons Organic Castor Oil
  • 2 drops ginger or lavender essential oil

Blend 2: Wellness Blend for Inflammation Balance

• • 2 teaspoons Organic Castor Oil
  • 2 drops rosemary essential oil

Directions:

Mix the oils until well combined, and store in a glass jar, preferably amber. If you don’t have amber glass, store in a glass container away from sunlight.

1. Rinse or clean out your belly button, and let it dry.
2. Lie down somewhere comfortable, like your bed or couch. Try to relax, and put any stressful thoughts at ease.
3. Add 3 drops of your favorite oil blend into your belly button, and let it absorb for a few minutes until the temperature becomes lukewarm.
4. Massage the remaining oil delicately around your navel area in a clockwise manner until fully absorbed.

Please note: These recipes make enough for multiple servings – you only need about 3 drops in your belly button at one time. If you’re typically sensitive to essential oils, you may reduce the dilution to 1 drop of essential oil per 2 teaspoons of Castor Oil. You may want to conduct a patch test before first use. Although rare, hypersensitivity reactions can occur, in which case discontinue use.

Side effects of applying Castor Oil in belly button

While Castor Oil is generally safe for most people, there are some potential reactions to consider.

Skin Irritation: Although rare, some individuals may experience a hypersensitivity reaction. You may want to patch test before applying Castor Oil extensively.

Digestive Issues: If ingested, Castor Oil is a laxative that can cause digestive discomfort, cramps, or diarrhea. Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil is for topical use only. Please only consume Castor Oil under the supervision of your physician. 

The practice of putting Castor Oil in your belly button is a fascinating tradition with potential benefits for hair growth, liver wellness, and better digestive functioning. 

Just remember, it’s essential to exercise caution! Always choose high-quality organic Castor Oil bottled in glass, like Queen of the Thrones®. Be sure to consult with your healthcare professional before trying any new remedy, especially if you have underlying health conditions or allergies. 

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