7 Top Best Uses for Castor Oil

7 Top Best Uses for Castor Oil

Top Best Uses for Castor Oil by Queen of the Thrones

7 Top Best Uses for Castor Oil

Written by: Victoria Williams R.H.N. Victoria Williams Director of Operations at Queen of the Thrones Victoria Williams R.H.N.
Victoria is Head of Operations at Queen of the Thrones®. Victoria obtained a Pre-Health Science Certificate with Honours from Georgian College, which ignited her passion for natural wellness and nutrition.
Full bio

Medically reviewed by: Melanie Swackhammer B.A.

Est. reading time: 7 minutes.

Use #6 is our favorite!

Have you been curious about how you can use Castor Oil and/or Castor Oil Packs? Maybe you’ve been told to give them a try from your practitioner but would love to know more.

You see, Castor Oil Packs are a legendary practice that dates back to ancient times. Traditional Chinese medicine, Indian Ayurveda, Ancient Egyptians, and Mediterraneans all used Castor Oil for its rejuvenating health and beauty benefits. Amazing, agreed?

The castor bean plant has even been given the special name of the ‘Palm of Christ’, as Castor Oil is mentioned in the Bible as an anointing oil.

Plus, Castor Oil on its own or on a Castor Oil Pack (more on Castor Oil Packs soon), has been called an absolute game-changer by many who have used them.

Would you love to know 3 tried & true Castor Oil Pack protocols used by practitioners so you can restore your body from the inside out?

But, you might be wondering, “what are the best uses of this oil?” Well, you’re in the right place because this blog will uncover the 7 best uses of Castor Oil (supported by science). You’ll see why and how the topical use of Castor Oil may be your new go-to for your natural wellness routine.

Are you ready?

One of the first and most important functions is that…

#1. Castor Oil supports lymphatic drainage

Did you know that your lymphatic system plays a crucial role in fighting against infections and balancing your fluid levels?

And when your lymphatic system is clogged, like your hair-filled shower drain, your body can’t cleanse properly and you might feel lethargic because your body’s fluids are unbalanced.

This also means you might have too much harmful bacteria, making you feel like you just came off the tilt-o-whirl. Does this sound like you?

So, where does Castor Oil come into play? Well, when applied topically on your skin, Castor Oil works its way into your tissues and stimulates lymphatic drainage via the Peyer’s patches1, a small group of lymphatic tissues.

 

You can further enhance the effect of Castor Oil with a Castor Oil Liver Pack. The compression of the Pack placed over your liver area (over your right rib cage), combined with the movement of your breathing muscles, acts like a pump for your lymphatic system, encouraging lymphatic drainage.2

Plus, you can also enhance lymphatic flow by simply adding a Dry Brush to accompany your Castor Oil Pack practice so you can…

  • Reduce inflammation that’s taking up space in your body.
  • Increase circulation so you can truly reconnect to your body.
  • Engage your lymphatic system and organs to help your body cleanse naturally.

Amazing, right?!

Another wonderful use for Castor Oil is…

#2. Using it as an anti-aging tool

You see, Castor Oil is rich in fatty acids, which contain skin-nourishing nutrients like omega 6 and 9, vitamin E, and polyphenols3,4 like quercetin.

These nutrients have anti-aging5 properties that reduce wrinkles, dark circles, and puffiness under the eyes. Sounds wonderful, agreed?

So, you can use a Castor Oil Eye Compress as a vehicle for your Castor Oil to work its anti-aging magic. Plus, the Eye Compress stimulates both the circulatory and lymphatic systems.

Bonus tip: You can also use Castor Oil as an eye makeup remover and a gentle moisturizer.

So, that brings us to our next use for Castor Oil. Are you ready?

#3. You can use Castor Oil for thicker eyelashes and brows

Various factors like stress, bacterial growth, immune reactions, thyroid and hormonal imbalances can cause thinning of eyebrows and eyelashes. Can you relate?

So, regular use of a Castor Oil Eye Compress (while you sleep) can nourish the hair follicles and enhance circulation6. All you need to do is apply Castor Oil to your lashes and brows, and your Eye Compress helps keep the oil from rubbing off. Makes sense, right?

Plus, wearing an Eye Compress7,8,9 to bed helps to naturally balance your sleep hormone, melatonin10,11, so you can sleep deeper. Would you love that?

Queen of the Thrones recommend Castor Oil Packs to sleep well and recharge
So we talked about your brows and lashes, but what about using Castor Oil for the hair on your head? We have all the information you need in this blog post. When used on your scalp, the Castor Oil Hair Growth Kit nourishes, hydrates, and repairs hair deeply from your roots to tips.

So what’s next?

#4. Castor Oil also helps naturally manage inflammation

You may have heard that Castor Oil can be used as a natural anti-inflammatory for your bowels, right? Have you also heard that it can be helpful for inflammation during your period and for inflammation in general?

But how does it work? Well, Castor Oil stimulates the smooth muscles12 of the digestive tract as well as the uterus.

Have you noticed that you poo more often before and during your period? That’s because the same hormones and messengers of the body stimulate your digestive tract to move and your uterus to expel the blood.13

By acting on your smooth muscles, Castor Oil Packs can even help with your cramping.

While we’re on the subject of pain, it’s important to discuss another common cause of pain — inflammation, which can be found all over your body in varying degrees.

Castor Oil Packs are wonderful, natural tools for inflammatory pain.

You see, the unique active component of Castor Oil — ricinoleic acid — is an anti-inflammatory14 and analgesic (pain reliever)15 agent. So, that paired with the gentle compression of your Castor Oil Pack works together so the Castor Oil can permeate deeper into your skin.

Queen of the Castor Oil helps naturally to manage inflammation
You can also use Castor Oil to support arthritis, sore joints, lower back, hip and sciatic pain. Plus, it can be used on your skin as an anti-inflammatory for breakouts/acne and on your gums. Amazing, agreed?

Are you wondering how exactly Castor Oil Packs work and if you can get the same anti-inflammatory benefits from just rubbing Castor Oil on your liver/abdomen? Find out everything you need to know in this blog post.

The best part? Castor Oil not only fights inflammation but also…

#5. Fights unhealthy bacteria and promotes healthy bacteria

You see, a balance between healthy and harmful bacteria is crucial for your skin and scalp health.

So, when applied to the skin, scalp, and mucus membrane, Castor Oil can help to support a healthy microbiome.16,17,18,19

Cleansing your skin with Castor Oil can help balance the bacteria propionibacterium acne,20 which can cause skin breakouts.

When you use Castor Oil on your scalp, it can naturally balance the microbiome of the scalp and may help reduce inflammation of hair follicles and dandruff relief. Amazing, agreed?

And, now, it’s time for our favorite use of Castor Oil. Ready?

#6. Castor Oil + a Castor Oil Pack supports constipation relief

Your digestive system is much more complicated than just the food you eat because your gut is also highly regulated via hormonal and nervous system pathways. In fact, your gut is known as the second brain.

But why? Because it relies on the brain to tell it what to do and is the only organ that can work independently.

This means you could take it out of the body and it’d function entirely on its own. This system is called the enteric nervous system, which dictates what goes on in the gut. How interesting is that!

But, there are only a few ways to engage the gut’s action. The easiest is the tried and true Castor Oil Liver Pack.

Studies have shown that Castor Oil Pack over the liver helps to relieve constipation and improves the smooth muscle function of the digestive tract.21 This allows you to get rid of all the junk in your digestive system and start having regular healthy bowel movements. Sounds wonderful, agreed?

Traditionally, Castor Oil has been recommended by pharmacists to be taken orally as a strong stimulant laxative.21,22

However, Castor Oil Packs have been shown to be just as effective and better tolerated for relieving constipation when applied topically as a gentle Castor Oil Pack, compared to conventional laxatives.

The cherry on top? Castor Oil Packs can also reduce stress23,24,25,26 and support balanced hormones, similar to a weighted blanket, which brings us to the last best use of Castor Oil…

#7. The topical use of Castor Oil supports natural hormone balancing

Do you find it difficult to sleep, feel tired, or have digestion problems?

If yes, it’s likely you have higher stress levels, which ultimately affects your hormones.

The soft compression of your Castor Oil Packs on your skin calms your entire system and stimulates the release of feel-good “love and connection” hormones so you can naturally promote the production of our feel-good neurotransmitter dopamine25, as well as our love and connection hormone, oxytocin.23

Topical use of Queen of the Thrones Castor Oil supports natural hormone balancing

Plus, oxytocin also lowers cortisol (your stress hormone) and balances blood pressure,27 leading to healthy levels of progesterone.

Why does this matter? Well, studies show a connection between higher anxiety levels and high progesterone levels.28

But remember, rest and relaxation take practice when you use Castor Oil consistently. The best part? Your Castor Oil Pack gives your body a chance to practice over and over again, so be gentle with yourself.

But with all practices, it’s as important that when you do it, you make sure to do it with the right ingredients, and as with all natural health products, quality matters.

Especially in this case. The Castor Oil and the material placed against your skin should always be of great quality.

Your checklist for good quality Castor Oil (like Queen of the Thrones®):

  • 100% pure
  • Organic
  • Cold-pressed & extra virgin
  • Hexane-free
  • Bottled in amber glass

Your checklist for a good quality Castor Oil Pack (like Queen of the Thrones®):

  • Organic cotton, wool, or linen touching the skin
  • No synthetic blends or chemically treated materials touching the skin (i.e., velour, bamboo)
  • No uncomfortable belts, buttons, or velcro

So, you see not just Castor Oil, but the Castor Oil Pack is a tried and true self-care tool with anti-aging qualities for both health and beauty since the beginning of humanity.

Try it for yourself to see!

Are you a practitioner, health coach or wellness influencer? If you’re interested in recommending our easy-to-use tools and practically applying them in your health and wellness professional practice, in clinic, or online with the people you serve, you can join now!

Click here for references

1. Holmes GM, Browning KN, Babic T, Fortna SR, Coleman FH, Travagli RA. Vagal afferent fibres determine the oxytocin-induced modulation of gastric tone. J Physiol. 2013 Jun 15;591(12):3081-100. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2013.253732. Epub 2013 Apr 15. PMID: 23587885; PMCID: PMC3832121

2. Moore JE Jr, Bertram CD. Lymphatic System Flows. Annu Rev Fluid Mech. 2018 Jan;50:459-482. doi: 10.1146/annurev-fluid-122316-045259. PMID: 29713107; PMCID: PMC5922450.

3. Marwat SK, Rehman F, Khan EA, Baloch MS, Sadiq M, Ullah I, Javaria S, Shaheen S. Review – Ricinus communis – Ethnomedicinal uses and pharmacological activities.Pak J Pharm Sci. 2017 Sep;30(5):1815-1827. PMID: 29084706

4. Patel, V. R., Dumancas, G. G., Viswanath, L. C. K., Maples, R. & Subong, B. J. J. Castor oil: properties, uses, and optimization of processing parameters in commercial production. Lipid Insights 9, 1–12, (2016). PMID: 27656091

5. Mary Fu, BA, MA Jennifer Brusewitz, ND Castor Oil & Age-Related Cataract – A Case for the Therapeutic Order NDNR Posted May 1, 2018 In Anti-Aging

6. Coonen. L.P “Herodotus on Biology”. The Scientific Monthly. Vol. 76. No. 2, 1953. Pp.63-70. JSTOR.

7. Rong-fang Hu, Xiao-ying Jiang, Yi-ming Zeng, Xiao-yang Chen, You-hua Zhang. Effects of earplugs and eye masks on nocturnal sleep, melatonin and cortisol in a simulated intensive care unit environment. Published online 2010 Apr 18. PMID: 20398302

8. Khoddam H, Maddah SA, Rezvani Khorshidi S, Zaman Kamkar M, Modanloo M. The effects of earplugs and eye masks on sleep quality of patients admitted to coronary care units: A randomised clinical trial. J Sleep Res. 2022 Apr;31(2):e13473. doi: 10.1111/jsr.13473. Epub 2021 Sep 12. PMID: 34514653.

9. Miller MA, Renn BN, Chu F, Torrence N. Sleepless in the hospital: A systematic review of non-pharmacological sleep interventions. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2019 Jul-Aug;59:58-66. doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2019.05.006. Epub 2019 May 24. PMID: 31170567; PMCID: PMC6620136.

10. Bitar, R.D., Torres-Garza, J.L., Reiter, R.J. and Phillips, W.T. 2021. Neural glymphatic system: Clinical implications and potential importance of melatonin. Melatonin Research. 4, 4 (Dec. 2021), 551-565

11. Li Y, Zhang J, Wan J, Liu A, Sun J. Melatonin regulates Aβ production/clearance balance and Aβ neurotoxicity: A potential therapeutic molecule for Alzheimer’s disease. Biomed Pharmacother. 2020 Dec;132:110887. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110887. Epub 2020 Nov 2. PMID: 33254429.

12. Sorin Tunaru,a Till F. Althoff,a Rolf M. Nüsing,b Martin Diener,c and Stefan Offermannsa,d,1 Castor oil induces laxation and uterus contraction via ricinoleic acid activating prostaglandin EP3 receptors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Jun 5; 109(23): 9179–9184. Published online 2012 May 21. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1201627109 PMID: 22615395

13. Camerino C. The New Frontier in Oxytocin Physiology: The Oxytonic Contraction. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Jul 21;21(14):5144. doi: 10.3390/ijms21145144. PMID: 32708109; PMCID: PMC7404128.

14. Boddu SH1, Alsaab H2, Umar S3, Bonam SP2, Gupta H2, Ahmed S3. Anti-inflammatory effects of a novel ricinoleic acid poloxamer gel system for transdermal delivery. Int J Pharm. 2015 Feb 1;479(1):207-11. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2014.12.051. Epub 2014 Dec 24.

15. Vieira C et al. .Effect of ricinoleic acid in acute and subchronic experimental models of inflammation. Mediators Inflamm. 2000;9(5):223-8. PMID: 11200362.

16. Saxena R, Mittal P, Clavaud C, Dhakan DB, Hegde P, Veeranagaiah MM, Saha S, Souverain L, Roy N, Breton L, Misra N, Sharma VK. Comparison of Healthy and Dandruff Scalp Microbiome Reveals the Role of Commensals in Scalp Health. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2018 Oct 4;8:346. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00346. PMID: 30338244; PMCID: PMC6180232.

17. Andrade IM1, Andrade KM2, Pisani MX1, Silva-Lovato CH1, de Souza RF1, Paranhos Hde F1.Trial of an experimental castor oil solution for cleaning dentures. Braz Dent J. 2014 Jan-Feb;25(1):43-7.

18. Badaró MM, Salles MM, Leite VMF, Arruda CNF, Oliveira VC, Nascimento CD, Souza RF, Paranhos HFO, Silva-Lovato CH. Clinical trial for evaluation of Ricinus communis and sodium hypochlorite as denture cleanser.J Appl Oral Sci. 2017 May-Jun; 25(3):324-334.

19. Salles MM, Badaró MM, Arruda CN, Leite VM, Silva CH, Watanabe E, Oliveira Vde C, Paranhos Hde F. Antimicrobial activity of complete denture cleanser solutions based on sodium hypochlorite and Ricinus communis – a randomized clinical study.J Appl Oral Sci. 2015 Nov-Dec; 23(6):637-42.

20.Orchard A, van Vuuren S. Commercial Essential Oils as Potential Antimicrobials to Treat Skin Diseases. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2017;2017:4517971. doi: 10.1155/2017/4517971. Epub 2017 May 4. PMID: 28546822; PMCID: PMC5435909.

21. Sorin Tunaru,a Till F. Althoff,a Rolf M. Nüsing,b Martin Diener,c and Stefan Offermannsa,d,1 Castor oil induces laxation and uterus contraction via ricinoleic acid activating prostaglandin EP3 receptorsProc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Jun 5; 109(23): 9179–9184. Published online 2012 May 21. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1201627109PMID: 22615395

22. Arslan GG, Eşer I. An examination of the effect of castor oil packs on constipation in the elderly. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2011 Feb;17(1):58-62. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2010.04.004. Epub 2010 May 18. PMID: 21168117

23. Walker SC1, Trotter PD2, Swaney WT2, Marshall A3, Mcglone FP4. C-tactile afferents: Cutaneous mediators of oxytocin release during affiliative tactile interactions? Neuropeptides. 2017 Aug;64:27-38. doi: 10.1016/j.npep.2017.01.001. Epub 2017 Jan 19. PMID: 28162847

24. Rolls ET et all. Representations of pleasant and painful touch in the human orbitofrontal and cingulate cortices. Cereb Cortex. 2003 Mar;13(3):308-17. PMID: 12571120

25. Francis S, Rolls ET, Bowtell R, McGlone F, O’Doherty J, Browning A, Clare S, Smith E. The representation of pleasant touch in the brain and its relationship with taste and olfactory areas. Neuroreport. 1999 Feb 25;10(3):453-9. PMID: 10208571

26. Löken LS, Wessberg J, Morrison I, McGlone F, Olausson H. Coding of pleasant touch by unmyelinated afferents in humans. Nat Neurosci. 2009 May;12(5):547-8. Epub 2009 Apr 12. PMID: 19363489

27. Uvnas-Moberg K1, Petersson M.[Oxytocin, a mediator of anti-stress, well-being, social interaction, growth and healing]. Z Psychosom Med Psychother. 2005;51(1):57-80. PMID: 15834840

28. Reynolds TA, Makhanova A, Marcinkowska UM, Jasienska G, McNulty JK, Eckel LA, Nikonova L, Maner JK. Progesterone and women’s anxiety across the menstrual cycle. Horm Behav. 2018 Jun;102:34-40. doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2018.04.008. Epub 2018 Apr 24. PMID: 29673619.

Disclaimer

Disclaimer: Any opinions, advice, statements, services, offers, information or content expressed or made available by third parties, including information providers, are those of the respective authors or distributors. Neither Queen of the Thrones® nor any third-party provider of information guarantees the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any content. This communication does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Information provided does not replace the advice of your health care practitioner. If you happen to purchase anything we promote, in this or any of our communications, it’s likely Queen of the Thrones® will receive some kind of affiliate compensation. Still, we only promote content and products that we truly believe in and share with our friends, family and patients. If you ever have a concern with anything we share, please let us know at care@queenofthethrones.com. We want to make sure we are always serving Our Queendom at the highest level.

Sleep troubles: Why It Happens And What You Can Do

Sleep troubles: Why It Happens And What You Can Do

Sleep troubles: Why It Happens And What You Can Do by Queen of the Thrones

Sleep troubles: Why It Happens And What You Can Do

Written by: Melanie Swackhammer Melanie Swackhammer Melanie Swackhammer Copy Manager
Melanie has always had an interest in writing educational content about health and wellness, which originally sparked while working for Diva International Inc., makers of the DivaCup.
Full bio

Medically reviewed by: Victoria Williams R.H.N.

Est. reading time: 5 minutes.

Have you ever asked yourself, “why do I keep having sleep troubles?”

You toss and turn in your bed, waiting for sleep to find you. Or your mind is racing, and it seems impossible for you to sleep. Can you relate?

And the result: daytime drowsiness, fatigue, or lack of concentration. It’s frustrating, right?

Well, you aren’t alone. Millions of people around the globe have trouble going to bed.1 The only silver lining is that it’s possible to promote restful sleep by making small changes or using self-care tools.

And while you’re here, would you love to know how tried and true natural health tools, like Castor Oil Packs can help you sleep well?

This eGuide includes all the details you need!

However, before diving into the tips, let’s understand the importance of sleep.

You see, a peaceful slumber is crucial for your health because it allows your body to rest and repair. Makes sense, agreed?

The time you spend sleeping is also the time you spend cleansing, renewing and recharging. It’s kind of like your cell phone – you have to plug it in every night and let it charge.

Otherwise, it goes into low battery mode; the screen light dims, it moves slowly and maybe it shuts down completely.

Best recommendations of Queen of the Thrones for better sleep

But, a good night’s sleep allows you to bring your 100% fully charged light to the world!

With this in mind, let’s talk about the causes of insomnia and other sleep problems. Are you ready?

Why can’t you sleep?

Having sleeping troubles can be really confusing and frustrating, especially if you don’t know that sleep patterns can differ from person to person.2 But, you’re not alone because sleep problems can easily be put under the same umbrella.

Have you ever heard the saying, ‘march to the beat of your own drum’? Well, you have a unique pattern and rhythm in your bodies that truly march to your own unique beats.3

You see, your body has a set cycle, and many of your functions follow this rhythm.

This is especially true when looking at your:

  • Stools (yes, we’re talking about the good ‘ol number 2)
  • Sleep
  • Stress

So, when thinking about your sleep duration and the quality of your sleep, it makes sense that your sleep patterns are just as unique as you are. Make sense?

Sleeping well is based on balanced hormones and neurotransmitters like melatonin, cortisol, oxytocin, and GABA.4

The timing of how you sleep (or can’t sleep) may actually show you which hormones or neurotransmitters you’re lacking, or have too much of!

Sleep problems and their link to hormone imbalance by Queen of the Thrones

Could your sleep pattern be responsible for why you can’t sleep?

You’re probably familiar with the popular social references of being a ‘night owl’ or ‘morning glory’, right?

You see, we each have naturally ingrained rhythms. Understanding your sleep patterns and your body’s natural rhythm is important because that’s what sets up your body’s ability to cleanse, and the majority of your body’s cleansing happens while you sleep.

So, let’s dive into the 4 types of sleepers.5

Sleeper type # 1: Can’t fall asleep

You try to go to bed, but you toss and turn, unable to fall asleep no matter how late it gets.

Sleeper type # 2: Can’t stay asleep

Sure, you can fall asleep, but somehow you always seem to wake up in the middle of the night to either pee or for no reason at all.

Sleeper type # 3: Tired but wired

Your body feels tired, and you go to bed, but then you toss and turn all night. Annoying, right?

Sleeper type # 4: Overall anxious

So you might be tired, but it’s almost like that tired feeling is completely taken over by your anxiety, and all you can feel is tingling all over and pounding in your chest.

What can you do about your sleep problems?

Do you see yourself in any of these types of sleepers?

Start by…

  • Having a consistent daily sleep routine: It’s ideal to sleep and wake up at the same time every day.
  • Being active: Regular exercise supports melatonin production, your sleep hormone.6 It can also sync your other body systems with your circadian rhythm.
  • Avoiding caffeine in the evening: Caffeine is a stimulant that can keep you awake.
  • Limiting screen time: The blue light from your tablet/cellphone alters your melatonin production, disrupting your circadian rhythm.7
  • Wearing a Castor Oil Eye Compress to bed: Using this compress makes you feel relaxed as your Eye Compress gently blocks out distracting lights and makes you feel sleepy because it supports melatonin production.8,9,10
  • Wearing a Castor Oil Pack for Liver: The gentle compression of the cotton flannel compress against your skin has a calming effect on your nervous system which promotes the production of your “feel good” hormones dopamine11,12 and oxytocin.13,14,15

The release of oxytocin creates a feeling of trust and safety in the body and reduces stress.16 This lowers cortisol and allows melatonin to be released and that helps us fall asleep.

Learn about the consequences of bad sleeping with Queen of the Thrones

You see, many factors can affect the natural flow of our bodies, so be gentle with yourself if you feel like your sleep patterns are off. Understanding your unique sleep pattern helps you know why your bodies do what they do.

The good news is, we’ve created a guide for you so you can be on your way to not only understanding your sleep patterns but also knowing about factors affecting your sleep pattern and how you can manage your sleep problems with Castor Oil Packs.

Would you love that?

While you’re still here, would love to start the New Year with a tried & true 7-day food-based, supplement-free cleanse so you can cleanse naturally, sleep better, reduce cravings, and enhance your energy?

Well, the 7-day Genesis Cleanse (a Mediterranean Castor Oil Pack cleanse) is back by popular demand so you can help balance your body, mind & spirit by having the tools you need to guide you on how to cleanse better naturally.

The best part? You’re invited to register for The Genesis Cleanse before registration closes on December 31st!

Would you love to learn more before registration closes?

Are you a practitioner, health coach or wellness influencer? If you’re interested in recommending our easy-to-use tools and practically applying them in your health and wellness professional practice, in clinic, or online with the people you serve, you can join now!

Click here for references

Sleep Foundation. What To Do When You Can’t Sleep. Available from: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/insomnia/treatment/what-do-when-you-cant-sleep on 13 Dec 2022

Jawabri KH, Raja A. Physiology, Sleep Patterns. [Updated 2022 May 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551680/

3. Duboc H, Coffin B, Siproudhis L. Disruption of Circadian Rhythms and Gut Motility: An Overview of Underlying Mechanisms and Associated Pathologies. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2020 May/Jun;54(5):405-414. doi: 10.1097/MCG.0000000000001333. PMID: 32134798; PMCID: PMC7147411.

4. Ono D, Honma KI, Honma S. GABAergic mechanisms in the suprachiasmatic nucleus that influence circadian rhythm. J Neurochem. 2021 Apr;157(1):31-41. doi: 10.1111/jnc.15012. Epub 2020 Jul 3. PMID: 32198942.

5. MedicalNewsToday. What is biphasic and polyphasic sleep? Available from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319425

6. Kruk J, Aboul-Enein BH, Duchnik E. Exercise-induced oxidative stress and melatonin supplementation: current evidence. J Physiol Sci. 2021 Sep 1;71(1):27. doi: 10.1186/s12576-021-00812-2. PMID: 34470608; PMCID: PMC8409271.

7. Bonmati-Carrion MA, Arguelles-Prieto R, Martinez-Madrid MJ, Reiter R, Hardeland R, Rol MA, Madrid JA. Protecting the melatonin rhythm through circadian healthy light exposure. Int J Mol Sci. 2014 Dec 17;15(12):23448-500. doi: 10.3390/ijms151223448. PMID: 25526564; PMCID: PMC4284776.

8. Miller MA, Renn BN, Chu F, Torrence N. Sleepless in the hospital: A systematic review of non-pharmacological sleep interventions. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2019 Jul-Aug;59:58-66. doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2019.05.006. Epub 2019 May 24. PMID: 31170567; PMCID: PMC6620136.

Rong-fang Hu, Xiao-ying Jiang, Yi-ming Zeng, Xiao-yang Chen, You-hua Zhang. Effects of earplugs and eye masks on nocturnal sleep, melatonin and cortisol in a simulated intensive care unit environment. Published online 2010 Apr 18. PMID: 20398302.

10. Khoddam H, Maddah SA, Rezvani Khorshidi S, Zaman Kamkar M, Modanloo M. The effects of earplugs and eye masks on sleep quality of patients admitted to coronary care units: A randomised clinical trial. J Sleep Res. 2022 Apr;31(2):e13473.doi: 10.1111/jsr.13473. Epub 2021 Sep 12. PMID: 34514653.

11. Francis S, Rolls ET, Bowtell R, McGlone F, O’Doherty J, Browning A, Clare S, Smith E. The representation of pleasant touch in the brain and its relationship with taste and olfactory areas. Neuroreport. 1999 Feb 25;10(3):453-9. PMID: 10208571 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10208571

12. Löken LS, Wessberg J, Morrison I, McGlone F, Olausson H. Coding of pleasant touch by unmyelinated afferents in humans. Nat Neurosci. 2009 May;12(5):547-8. Epub 2009 Apr 12. PMID: 19363489

13. Walker SC1, Trotter PD2, Swaney WT2, Marshall A3, Mcglone FP4. C-tactile afferents: Cutaneous mediators of oxytocin release during affiliative tactile interactions? Neuropeptides. 2017 Aug;64:27-38. doi: 10.1016/j.npep.2017.01.001. Epub 2017 Jan 19. PMID: 28162847 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28162847.

14. Rolls ET et all. Representations of pleasant and painful touch in the human orbitofrontal and cingulate cortices. Cereb Cortex. 2003 Mar;13(3):308-17. PMID: 12571120 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12571120

15. Carter CS, Kenkel WM, MacLean EL, Wilson SR, Perkeybile AM, Yee JR, Ferris CF, Nazarloo HP, Porges SW, Davis JM, Connelly JJ, Kingsbury MA. Is Oxytocin “Nature’s Medicine”? Pharmacol Rev. 2020 Oct;72(4):829-861. doi: 10.1124/pr.120.019398. PMID: 32912963; PMCID: PMC7495339.

16. Uvnas-Moberg K1, Petersson M.[Oxytocin, a mediator of anti-stress, well-being, social interaction, growth and healing]. Z Psychosom Med Psychother. 2005;51(1):57-80. PMID: 15834840 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15834840

Disclaimer

Disclaimer: Any opinions, advice, statements, services, offers, information or content expressed or made available by third parties, including information providers, are those of the respective authors or distributors. Neither Queen of the Thrones® nor any third-party provider of information guarantees the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any content. This communication does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Information provided does not replace the advice of your health care practitioner. If you happen to purchase anything we promote, in this or any of our communications, it’s likely Queen of the Thrones® will receive some kind of affiliate compensation. Still, we only promote content and products that we truly believe in and share with our friends, family and patients. If you ever have a concern with anything we share, please let us know at care@queenofthethrones.com. We want to make sure we are always serving Our Queendom at the highest level.

How to know if you’re sensitive to gluten or dairy?

How to know if you’re sensitive to gluten or dairy?

Gluten and dairy sensibilities by Queen of the Thrones

How to know if you’re sensitive to gluten or dairy?

Written by: Victoria Williams R.H.N. Victoria Williams Director of Operations at Queen of the Thrones Victoria Williams R.H.N.
Victoria is Head of Operations at Queen of the Thrones®. Victoria obtained a Pre-Health Science Certificate with Honours from Georgian College, which ignited her passion for natural wellness and nutrition.
Full bio

Medically reviewed by: Melanie Swackhammer B.A. 

Est. reading time: 7 minutes.

The clue to having gut glue

Having frequent digestive problems means not knowing when it will strike. During an important work presentation, a first date, or at the movies. Can you relate?

You’re at the mercy of loose stools, constipation, painful gas or bloating. And these symptoms might especially come after specific food items, unfortunately, many of which are your favorite, including pizza, fettuccine alfredo, or grilled cheese. This may make you wonder if gluten and dairy are the cause of your stomach problems?

Well, it might not be that one or the other is causing problems. It’s more so the combination of gluten with dairy.

You see, studies have shown that poor food combining can produce fermentation, indigestion, putrefaction, gas and bloating! 1

Like consuming dairy with wheat, this combination could create, what I like to call, “gut glue”! Yes, you read that right… gut GLUE!

Frequent consumption of these food combinations may result in exhausting and frustrating problems.

The good news: knowing what to have or avoid can allow you to feel fresh and be healthy even after consuming your favorite food items.

While you’re here, would you love to know how you can use Castor Oil Packs to support your gut health, and ease digestive problems?

Before we talk about gut glue, I would love to discuss a bit about gluten and dairy on their own.

What is Gluten?

Gluten is a protein commonly found in barley, wheat, and rye.

If you have tried gluten-free cookies, you know they are typically drier and crumble easily.

This is because gluten protein provides the elasticity associated with pasta and baked products.

And these gluten-free products are becoming increasingly popular, as the media has made many believe that this protein is bad for your health. Sound familiar?

But before getting on the gluten-free bandwagon, let’s understand whether it’s really all bad.

Gluten isn’t all bad

Frankly, what thoughts come to your mind when you think about gluten?

For most, it is sticky bowels or bloating, agreed?

However, it’s essential to understand that humans have been consuming gluten as long as the discovery of bread. It’s a great source of soluble fiber, protein, and other nutrients.

 

 

Let’s get scienc-y for a minute.

Your digestive system produces the enzyme protease, which breaks down proteins. But this enzyme can’t entirely break down gluten, and undigested gluten moves through your bowels.

Most people can manage undigested gluten.

So, the nutrients from gluten are beneficial for those who can tolerate it.

Studies have linked consumption of whole grains to lower risk of stroke, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. The participants of the study daily consumed two to three servings of grains daily, including wheat.2

Moreover, gluten also acts as a prebiotic, supporting the growth of “good” bacteria in your body. It can also help imbalance of bad and good bacteria associated with gut dysbiosis.

What about dairy?

Eating dairy products is the easiest way to get vitamin D, calcium, and proteins needed for the healthy heart, bones, and muscles.

It helps maintain bone density and reduces the risk of fractures.

Studies have even suggested that the right kind of dairy may prevent heart disease.3

So, why is there so much discussion about dairy-free foods?

Well, similar to gluten, your digestive system releases the enzyme lactase to digest sugar in dairy products called lactose.

If you have a problem producing lactase, you probably have symptoms of lactose intolerance, including stomach pain, diarrhea, bloating, and nausea. Makes sense, agreed?

Moreover, evidence suggests that dairy products may improve body composition by reducing waist circumference and fat composition.4

A review of 25 studies also found that various types of yogurt were linked to the lower risk of metabolic syndrome risk factors, such as obesity, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes.5

With this in mind, let’s understand more about gut glue.

What about dairy?

My best and favorite example of this is how glue is made.

White school glue, if you didn’t know, is actually edible. You can essentially make it at home with milk, flour, and baking soda, and then the ingredient that is the pièce de résistance is vinegar.

This combination is basically what happens in your belly, when you combine bread (flour) with cheese (dairy/milk) and you swallow it down into your stomach that contains your stomach acid (like vinegar, because it’s acidic!) and bicarbonate (like baking soda).6

Guess what, you’ve got glue in your belly!

So imagine what your gut is like, if you are consuming glue.

Let’s talk anatomy for a second. Ready?

Your small intestine is lined by finger-like projections called villi, that help you absorb nutrients from your food.

Gut glue could cause these projections to get stuck together and reduce your ability to properly digest your food!

In addition, because the carbohydrates and protein don’t digest well together, you get this glue moving all along your digestive tract.

All in all, it’s rarely only one thing that is causing discomfort. It is often multifactorial and there are many contributing factors and culprits.

 

This is simply an example where combining gluten and dairy together may not be ideal for digestion (they also happen to be some of the most common food sensitivities and allergies that people deal with).

This is not it.

According to the traditional Ayurveda medicine, excessive amounts of proteins, carbohydrates and fats should not be taken together as this leads to a feeling of heaviness in the stomach.7

Plus, milk is considered as a complete food.

It contains antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, proteins, good fats, amino acids, calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, lactose, and all nutrients necessary for a healthy body.

That is why in Ayurveda it has been advised not to take wheat products with milk.

What can you do about your digestion problems?

When we choose nourishing food combinations, time our meals accordingly, and create healthy habits like proper chewing, we reduce the chances of these uncomfortable, and sometimes painful symptoms.

Plus, adding the practice of Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Packs after your meal may further help with inflammation regulation and help to improve liver detoxification, lymphatic drainage and colon cleansing, which means less digestive problems. Amazing, right?

Would you love to know how Castor Oil Packs work and how they can support your gut health?

Are you a practitioner, health coach or wellness influencer? If you’re interested in recommending our easy-to-use tools and practically applying them in your health and wellness professional practice, in clinic, or online with the people you serve, you can join now!

Click here for references

1. Cömert ED, Gökmen V. Effect of food combinations and their co-digestion on total antioxidant capacity under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. Curr Res Food Sci. 2022 Feb 17;5:414-422. doi: 10.1016/j.crfs.2022.02.008. PMID: 35243354; PMCID: PMC8866489.

2. Ye EQ, Chacko SA, Chou EL, Kugizaki M, Liu S. Greater whole-grain intake is associated with lower risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and weight gain. J Nutr. 2012 Jul;142(7):1304-13. doi: 10.3945/jn.111.155325. Epub 2012 May 30. Erratum in: J Nutr. 2013 Sep;143(9):1524. PMID: 22649266; PMCID: PMC6498460.

3. Lordan R, Tsoupras A, Mitra B, Zabetakis I. Dairy Fats and Cardiovascular Disease: Do We Really Need to be Concerned? Foods. 2018 Mar 1;7(3):29. doi: 10.3390/foods7030029. PMID: 29494487; PMCID: PMC5867544.

4. Abargouei AS, Janghorbani M, Salehi-Marzijarani M, Esmaillzadeh A. Effect of dairy consumption on weight and body composition in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials. Int J Obes (Lond). 2012 Dec;36(12):1485-93. doi: 10.1038/ijo.2011.269. Epub 2012 Jan 17. PMID: 22249225.

5. Khorraminezhad L, Rudkowska I. Effect of Yogurt Consumption on Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors: a Narrative Review. Curr Nutr Rep. 2021 Mar;10(1):83-92. doi: 10.1007/s13668-020-00344-y. Epub 2021 Jan 6. PMID: 33405074.

6. G. Lynn Carlson. A New approach to the baking soda-vinegar reaction. J. Chem. Educ., 1990, 67 (7), p 597 DOI: 10.1021/ed067p597. Publication Date: July 1990

7. Sabnis M. Viruddha Ahara: A critical view. Ayu. 2012 Jul;33(3):332-6. doi: 10.4103/0974-8520.108817. PMID: 23723637; PMCID: PMC3665091.

How to cleanse while you sleep with Castor Oil Packs

How to cleanse while you sleep with Castor Oil Packs

How to Cleanse while you sleep with Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Packs

How to cleanse while you sleep with Castor Oil Packs

Written by: Victoria Williams R.H.N. Victoria Williams Director of Operations at Queen of the Thrones Victoria Williams R.H.N.
Victoria is Head of Operations at Queen of the Thrones®. Victoria obtained a Pre-Health Science Certificate with Honours from Georgian College, which ignited her passion for natural wellness and nutrition.
Full bio

Medically reviewed by: Melanie Swackhammer, BA

Est. reading time: 10 minutes.

 

Everybody wants to cleanse when it’s spring, would you agree?

While cleansing is a natural body function, did you know it doesn’t happen just once a year? In fact, it’s a daily occurrence – correction, it’s a nightly occurrence.

Here you will learn how to cleanse while you sleep with Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Packs and the Eye Compress no matter the time of year.

So when your patients, and you, are looking for support in removing the discomforts of leaky gut and hormone imbalance symptoms from the stress they’ve been dealing with, to feel their best in their bodies with the energy of an Olympic athlete… wanting it all now, and by now they mean yesterday…

You’ll be ready to share an easy, doable, Queen of the Thrones® Day & Night Detox Kit.

The above scenario sounds all too familiar? Correct?

This is a perfect example of what you find yourself or your patient saying…

Balance your Health and Recover your Energy and with Queen of the Thrones Castor Oil Packs

“I’m so desperately wanting to clean up my life, and not just emptying my closets and decluttering my house… It’s me! I don’t have the energy to do everything I want to do. I’m constipated, always exhausted, can’t sleep and I’m so stressed, and I feel like my brain is all fogged up.”

And then the question comes…

Can I cleanse & detox with a supplement?

Cleansing with Queen of the Thrones Castor Oil Packs help to improve your health

Ah yes, the one and done supplemental band-aid prescription. Everybody wants it. Even you and you know better. But that’s ok, because it’s human nature, especially living in today’s day and age.

We want it now, and by now I mean yesterday. Can you relate?

But you look back on your life, and what have the quick fixes done for you? Nothing, because nobody benefits from it in the long run. It may feel good for a period of time but leaves you in the same place you started in. A rut. Agreed?

The key to cleansing and detoxing isn’t seasonal, it’s nightly

What Works? It’s not something you just do in the spring, although it’s a great time to start. What really shifts overtime and improves your leaky gut and hormone Imbalance, is the regular practice of supporting what your body does best.

Sleeping, resting, healing and cleaning!

Yes, that’s right, easy practices that you repeat nightly that become as easy and mindless as brushing your teeth because you know you need to brush off the biofilm for good dental health to prevent cavities, agreed?

Well, your body is no different. There is a way to support your regular, nightly and daytime cleansing.

What about dairy?

You know as much as you, or your patients would love to do a “trendy” cleanse or detox that, for most of us, is just too hard. Too many bells and whistles to commit to, right?

Because a cleanse or detox, well that my friend, involves giving up the things you and they love, like red wine, gluten and dairy, and maybe other foods that they find on their food sensitivity testing.

Plus, they’ve either experienced before or heard about the dreadful and very possible aggravating symptoms.

Learn with Queen of the Thrones What you should avoid during a Cleanse and Detox process

And how are you going to get them, or yourself to do a complicated cleanse or detox if they don’t have the energy to do it?I mean this is why they are sitting in front of you, with ZERO energy, correct?

So, to even initiate a single task or avoid yourself or your patients experiencing another uncomfortable symptom, you are going to have to get creative. Sound too good to be true?

It’s not, read on…

Because you can cleanse and detox while you sleep,

Here’s how…

What’s in a name? Well, everything.

You know your patients are exhausted, you know the first step to healing is like when you are building a house from scratch.

You clean (cleanse or detox) up the land (your body) before building a house so you have a strong sturdy foundation. Makes sense, agreed?

But if there isn’t any energy, how can this happen?

Easily, with the Queen of the Thrones® Day & Night Detox Kit, complete with your Castor Oil Liver Pack, Eye Compress and Dry Brush.

Once you have your pack on, you then dab a couple drops of castor oil around the fine lines and wrinkles on your face, so you can reduce signs of aging, enhance circulation7 and lymphatic drainage. What’s next?

You then slip on your Eye Compress and get comfy in your bed. When your head hits the pillow you’re relaxed as your eye compress gently blocks out distracting lights and makes you feel sleepy because it supports melatonin production8-9.

Plus, your Castor Oil Liver Pack feels like a hug that naturally stimulates the production of your feel-good hormones, oxytocin10-11 and dopamine12-13, so you’re ready to drift off into a relaxing deep slumber. Wonderful, agreed?

Morning comes and you start your shower, setting aside your Dry Brush & Castor Oil for when you step out. Starting from your ankles, working your way to your heart, you gently brush small circular motions.

The best part? It’s truly relaxing but what it’s doing is delivering anti-inflammatory14 nutrients like vitamin E, polyphenols and omegas15-16 and stimulating lymphatic flow. Why does this matter in the morning? Read on!

Now, you might be wondering because your patients might ask you…

Why and how does cleansing, detox and drainage happen while I’m sleeping?

Working with the body and the natural laws, we are already privy, according to traditional Chinese Medicine Doctors, that the hour of the liver is between 1-3 am, where the majority of liver detox occurs, at 3-5am the lungs supports lymphatic drainage, and at 5-7am is when colon cleansing occurs.

So, detox, drainage and cleansing overnight in the liver, lymphatics and colon can happen overnight when you’re sleeping.

This is connected to chronobiology research, the best time to do things for your body supports what the ancient Chinese doctors already knew.

What supports cleansing overnight, wearing a sleep aid compress to naturally promote melatonin. When you wake up in the morning, naturally pump cortisol with a dry brush.

Day and Night Fluctuations ot your Rest and Alert Hormones by Queen of the Thrones

Both the liver and microbiome are most active during sleep, and there is a lot of cleaning going on, so why not:

  • Promote healthy sleep
  • Support the gut and microbiome
  • Reduce inflammation in the liver

All this to simply support and help the body naturally to do what it is supposed to do, stay clean!

To learn more about how to support the rhythm of your day and night detox cycle Click here.

Are you a practitioner, health coach or wellness influencer? If you’re interested in recommending our easy-to-use tools and practically applying them in your health and wellness professional practice, in clinic, or online with the people you serve, you can join now!

Click here for references

1. Holm T, Brøgger-Jensen MR, Johnson L, Kessel L.Glutathione preservation during storage of rat lenses in opti-sol-GS and castor oil. PLoS One. 2013 Nov 19;8(11):e79620. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0079620. eCollection 2013. PMID:24260265

2. Sikandar S, Dickenson AH. Visceral pain: the ins and outs, the ups and downs. Curr Opin Support Palliat Care. 2012 Mar;6(1):17-26. doi: 10.1097/SPC.0b013e32834f6ec9. PMID: 22246042; PMCID: PMC3

3. Arslan GG, Eşer I. An examination of the effect of castor oil packs on constipation in the elderly. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2011 Feb;17(1):58-62. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2010.04.004. Epub 2010 May 18. PMID: 21168117

4. Sorin Tunaru,a Till F. Althoff,a Rolf M. Nüsing,b Martin Diener,c and Stefan Offermannsa,d,1 Castor oil induces laxation and uterus contraction via ricinoleic acid activating prostaglandin EP3 receptors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Jun 5; 109(23): 9179–9184. Published online 2012 May 21. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1201627109 PMID: 22615395

5. Moore JE Jr, Bertram CD. Lymphatic System Flows. Annu Rev Fluid Mech. 2018 Jan;50:459-482. doi: 10.1146/annurev-fluid-122316-045259. PMID: 29713107; PMCID: PMC5922450

6. Zawieja DC. Contractile physiology of lymphatics. Lymphat Res Biol. 2009;7(2):87-96. doi: 10.1089/lrb.2009.0007. PMID: 19534632; PMCID: PMC2925033.

7. Mascolo N1, Izzo AA, Autore G, Barbato F, Capasso F.Nitric oxide and castor oil-induced diarrhea.J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1994 Jan;268(1):291-5. PMID: 8301570.

8. Rong-fang Hu, Xiao-ying Jiang, Yi-ming Zeng, Xiao-yang Chen, You-hua Zhang. Effects of earplugs and eye masks on nocturnal sleep, melatonin and cortisol in a simulated intensive care unit environment. Published online 2010 Apr 18. PMID: 20398302.

9. Khoddam H, Maddah SA, Rezvani Khorshidi S, Zaman Kamkar M, Modanloo M. The effects of earplugs and eye masks on sleep quality of patients admitted to coronary care units: A randomised clinical trial. J Sleep Res. 2022 Apr;31(2):e13473. doi: 10.1111/jsr.13473. Epub 2021 Sep 12. PMID: 34514653.

10. Walker SC1, Trotter PD2, Swaney WT2, Marshall A3, Mcglone FP4. C-tactile afferents: Cutaneous mediators of oxytocin release during affiliative tactile interactions? Neuropeptides. 2017 Aug;64:27-38. doi: 10.1016/j.npep.2017.01.001. Epub 2017 Jan 19. PMID: 28162847.

11. Rolls ET et all. Representations of pleasant and painful touch in the human orbitofrontal and cingulate cortices. Cereb Cortex. 2003 Mar;13(3):308-17. PMID: 12571120.

12. Francis S, Rolls ET, Bowtell R, McGlone F, O’Doherty J, Browning A, Clare S, Smith E. The representation of pleasant touch in the brain and its relationship with taste and olfactory areas. Neuroreport. 1999 Feb 25;10(3):453-9. PMID: 10208571

13. Löken LS, Wessberg J, Morrison I, McGlone F, Olausson H. Coding of pleasant touch by unmyelinated afferents in humans. Nat Neurosci. 2009 May;12(5):547-8. Epub 2009 Apr 12. PMID: 19363489.

14. Vieira C et al. .Eect of ricinoleic acid in acute and subchronic experimental models of inflammation. Mediators Inflamm. 2000;9(5):223-8 PMID: 11200362.

15. Marwat SK, Rehman F, Khan EA, Baloch MS, Sadiq M, Ullah I, Javaria S, Shaheen S. Review – Ricinus communis – Ethnomedicinal uses and pharmacological activities.Pak J Pharm Sci. 2017 Sep;30(5):1815-1827.

16. Patel VR, Dumancas GG, Kasi Viswanath LC, Maples R, Subong BJ. Castor Oil: Properties, Uses, and Optimization of Processing Parameters in Commercial Production. Lipid Insights. 2016 Sep 7;9:1-12. doi: 10.4137/LPI.S40233. PMID: 27656091; PMCID: PMC5015816.

Disclaimer

Disclaimer: Any opinions, advice, statements, services, offers, information or content expressed or made available by third parties, including information providers, are those of the respective authors or distributors. Neither Queen of the Thrones® nor any third-party provider of information guarantees the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any content. This communication does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Information provided does not replace the advice of your health care practitioner. If you happen to purchase anything we promote, in this or any of our communications, it’s likely Queen of the Thrones® will receive some kind of affiliate compensation. Still, we only promote content and products that we truly believe in and share with our friends, family and patients. If you ever have a concern with anything we share, please let us know at care@queenofthethrones.com. We want to make sure we are always serving Our Queendom at the highest level.

What’s the difference between cleansing and detoxification?

What’s the difference between cleansing and detoxification?

What’s the difference between cleansing and detoxification by Queen of the Thrones

What’s the difference between cleansing and detoxification?

Written by: Marisol Teijeiro N.D. (inactive)
Medically reviewed by: Melanie Swackhammer B.A.

Est. reading time: 9 minutes.

“How can I help my body cleanse and detox naturally?”

When I first heard about cleansing and detox I was under the impression that it was just a fad that would soon disappear, know what I mean?

But, the truth is, cleansing and detoxification are just as important as getting enough sleep at night and drinking enough water. Intrigued?

Well, you’re in the right place because we’re also going to uncover simple practices you can do at home so you can know how to support natural cleansing and detoxification.

So, let’s first establish what cleansing and detoxification is

Cleansing is the ability for our bodies to eliminate waste and detoxification is the process of breaking things down (toxins, heavy metals, etc.) and packaging them to be eliminated. Make sense?

When I began my journey and dove deep into the science and learning of what natural medicine truly is, I soon realized that cleansing and detoxification practices aren’t a new-age Hollywood hippie thing like I thought.

In fact, their roots date back to before Biblical times, basically to the beginning of the conscious human!

ueen of the Thrones explains that Cleansing is the ability of our bodies to eliminate waste

More and more practitioners are realizing the benefit of incorporating these treatments and therapies into their practice, and know supplements and food aren’t going to work on their own for liver detox and lymphatic cleansing.

You see, they need help from natural cleansing tools like the Queen of the Thrones®️ Castor Oil Liver Pack because everyone is pretty much walking around with a leaky gut.

According to Queen of the Thrones Detoxification is the process of breaking toxins heavy down

Hearing the word ‘cleanse’ or ‘detox’ can immediately feel intimidating, so be gentle with yourself if you feel this way. Lymphatic cleansing, colon cleansing and liver detox is for everyone!

You see, both detoxing and cleansing help with rebalancing the system, whether you’re suffering from:

  • a hormonal imbalance (infertility, menopause, estrogen dominacne, PCOS)
  • a digestive issue (leaky gut, IBS, etc.)
  • or any of the other hundreds of labels given to problems in the body

What is the difference between cleansing and detoxification?

When I began to explore cleansing and detoxing, I thought they were used interchangeably. I was confused, and I know you might be too.

Let’s start by clarifying these important terms and then delving into the 5 most important keys to re-engaging these vital life-promoting, disease-destroying functions of our glorious bodies, shall we?

Cleansing is the ability for our bodies to eliminate waste created in our systems by the foods we eat and what we accumulate just by living on planet earth.

It’s basically removing the bad stuff to make room for the good stuff!

Detoxification on the other hand, is the metabolic transformation of a substance.

In simpler terms, it’s the processes our bodies use to transform substances, preparing them to be eliminated.

Kind of like the night before garbage day. Detox is when you package up your garbage and get it ready.

Cleansing is when you actually pick up the garbage from under your sink and carry it out to the curb. Makes sense, right?

ueen of the Thrones explains that detoxing and cleansing help with rebalancing your system

But, you might be wondering…

“How does my body cleanse naturally?”

Your body cleanses through cleansing pathways and the 5 most important pathways include:

Stools – Your stools are the primary vehicle for the elimination. After all, what we eat must come out.

Urine – Your pee is the primary vehicle that eliminates what the stools cannot, which is often excesses of heavy metals and other substances such as uric acid.

Sweat – A secondary cleansing pathway. That’s why some people like to use dry saunas as a way to cleanse through sweating. People often notice a smelly body odor if they’re having problems with constipation. This just shows how smart our bodies are! You see, our bodies are always searching for a way to get the things out that are no good for us.

Breath – This is an easy one because breath is well known for the elimination of carbon dioxide.

Periods – For women, our periods are a vehicle for eliminating toxicity.

As for women experiencing menopause, it’s researched that after losing their periods, they’ll experience hot flashes as an adaptation to continue elimination, since they’re so toxic.

So, simply put: in order for the body to cleanse, hot flashes replace periods.

Discover with Queen of the Thrones®️ how the body cleanses

What are the stages of detox within the body?

Detoxification mainly occurs in 3 phases in 4 places of the body:

 

  1. Liver – Phase 1 and 2 detoxification helps to package and transform substances that aren’t easy to eliminate via the cleansing pathways, so that’s where the liver comes in.
  2. Kidneys – Part of phase 3 happens in the kidneys, where further filtration occurs.
  3. Mucous Membranes – Part of phase 3 happens within mucous membranes and is most predominant in the gut. This is the final stage of detoxification before cleansing.
  4. Various cells in the body – All aid in the detoxification process.
Learn what are the three faces of detox with Queen of the Thrones

Both cleansing and detoxification are deeply connected, make sense?

Many of my patients have asked me where to begin when approaching a cleanse or detox.

The best part about cleansing is that it doesn’t have to be overly complicated, especially when you’re in the stage of simply exploring just how smart your body is.

So how about starting with the basics: having healthy bowel movements. Sounds easy, right?

The best part? Your Queen of the Thrones®️ Castor Oil Pack for Liver Kit is your new and easy way to support healthy bowel movements1, better absorption2 as well as colon cleansing plus lymphatic and liver detox3. Amazing, right?

So, to help you start your journey into cleansing, I’ve created a FREE easy guideline that supports natural cleansing and yes, healthy bowel movements are part of it, too.

After all, having good bowel movements starts with how you digest and absorb your food.

According to Queen of the Thrones water is one of the easiest ways for our bodies to cleanse and detox

Don’t worry, this isn’t where I tell you to drink nothing but prune juice for 3 days.

This is where I tell you that beginning to cleanse can be as easy as incorporating drinking more water into the daily rituals you already do.

Plus, cleansing is as easy as adding new natural health tools into your daily practices so you can…

  • Restore flow to your body
  • Support better absorption from your food and supplements
  • Enhance your body’s natural cleansing pathways

Are you a practitioner, health coach or wellness influencer? If you’re interested in recommending our easy-to-use tools and practically applying them in your health and wellness professional practice in clinic or online with the people you serve or become a wholesale partner, contact us at: royalty@queenofthethrones.com

Click here for references

1. Holm T, Brøgger-Jensen MR, Johnson L, Kessel L.Glutathione preservation during storage of rat lenses in opti-sol-GS and castor oil. PLoS One. 2013 Nov 19;8(11):e79620. Doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0079620. eCollection 2013. PMID: 24260265.

2. Boddu SH1, Alsaab H2, Umar S3, Bonam SP2, Gupta H2, Ahmed S3. Anti-inflammatory effects of a novel ricinoleic acid poloxamer gel system for transdermal delivery. Int J Pharm. 2015 Feb 1;479(1):207-11. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2014.12.051. Epub 2014 Dec 24.

3. Holm T, Brøgger-Jensen MR, Johnson L, Kessel L.Glutathione preservation during storage of rat lenses in opti-sol-GS and castor oil. PLoS One. 2013 Nov 19;8(11):e79620. Doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0079620. eCollection 2013. PMID: 24260265.

Disclaimer

Disclaimer: Any opinions, advice, statements, services, offers, information or content expressed or made available by third parties, including information providers, are those of the respective authors or distributors. Neither Queen of the Thrones® nor any third-party provider of information guarantees the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any content. This communication does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Information provided does not replace the advice of your health care practitioner. If you happen to purchase anything we promote, in this or any of our communications, it’s likely Queen of the Thrones® will receive some kind of affiliate compensation. Still, we only promote content and products that we truly believe in and share with our friends, family and patients. If you ever have a concern with anything we share, please let us know at care@queenofthethrones.com. We want to make sure we are always serving Our Queendom at the highest level.

Seed Cycle with Castor Oil Packs for Natural Hormone Balance.

Seed Cycle with Castor Oil Packs for Natural Hormone Balance.

Seed Cycle with Queen of the Thornes Castor Oil Packs for Natural Hormone Balance

Seed Cycle with Castor Oil Packs for Natural Hormone Balance.

Written by: Marisol Teijeiro N.D. (inactive) & Melanie Swackhammer B.A.
Medically reviewed by: Victoria Williams R.H.N.

Est. reading time: 8 minutes.

So you may think you know what it feels like to experience hormone imbalance because of your irregular period, cravings and mood swings, right? You’re in the right place because those aren’t the only symptoms that indicate hormone problems.

Queen of the Thrones Castor Oil Packs is the Best Alternative for Hormonal Problems

You see, it goes way beyond that with gut health issues, bloating and a myriad of other symptoms that don’t seem to be related to your hormone imbalance. But, they are all related and sadly, they have the power to disrupt the way your whole body functions.

The seed cycling protocol for hormone imbalance, which is the rotation of seeds during phases of the menstrual cycle, is a method some practitioners, like yourself utilize as a way to help balance hormones.

You’re probably thinking, where’s the evidence? Is it all clinical practice and anecdotal research? How exactly does it work? And is it the most efficient option for improving hormonal imbalance?

Let’s take a deeper look…

Is the seed cycling protocol the most effective method?

Even though the ingredients used in this protocol have nutritional, phytochemical and hormone-balancing merit, research in all aspects of natural hormonal balance is truly in its infancy.

Much is still needed to be uncovered, and one finds the discrepancy between studies, making it difficult to get the facts regarding the efficacy of the ingredients and the total benefit of this protocol.

As an example, flax seeds, in a 1999 study, were considered, due to their lignan content, to enhance the excretion of healthy estrogen metabolites, suggesting that a dose-dependent relationship of flax seeds, up to 10 grams per day, over a 3-7 week period, potentially reduced breast cancer risk.1

10 years later, in a 2010 study, the results weren’t mimicked. Daily intake of flax seeds in the study, as high as 15g/day, by the end of a 12 week period, demonstrated an increase in urinary excretion of the healthy metabolite.2 The opposite of the initial study, concluding more research is needed to get the answer.

It’s common in Integrative and Functional Medical Practitioners’ health practices to use urinary hormone metabolites, like those used in these studies to understand the changes and hormonal fluxes experienced in hormone metabolites with treatments.

And, as always, research is ongoing.

Practitioners should prescribe the single seed cycling protocol and Queen of the Thrones Castor Oil Packs for hormone imbalance

Is seed cycling an effective method to support hormone imbalance?

Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Packs improve Gut health and Absorption

While ingesting seeds like flax, pumpkin, sesame and sunflower are great sources of fiber, improving gut health, consuming too much can lead to an inflamed gut lining and other unwanted gut health issues. .3

You see, you don’t need to be ‘overfeeding’ yourself the same foods over and over again each day, this often is just a recipe for gut inflammation and leaky gut.

In seed cycling therapy, the healthy fats present in the seeds are thought to play a role in supporting hormonal levels. One study done on lactating cows demonstrated that feed high in Omega-6 impacted and nourished the endometrial lining by stimulating the prostaglandin E2 receptor (PGE2), an anti-inflammatory immune system messenger.4

This is similar to the effect of Castor Oil Packs done on the pelvic region. .

Please be reminded that what happens in a cow with 2 stomachs that is lactating and eating a purely vegetarian diet is likely very different from what occurs in your human body. Makes sense, agreed?

But at the end of the day, eating seeds, like flax, pumkin, sesame and sunflower, may offer many other benefits beyond hormonal balancing effects even just being a source of fiber and can support gut health.

At the very least, improving the frequency of bowel movements that we know optimizes gut health and indirectly has benefits on hormonal balance.

I don’t know about you, but I’m good with trying natural foods (trying to make my food my medicine) even if it’s not understood how and why it works – but like anything keeping things in balance and not overdoing it is key.

Could there be an easier way to support natural hormone balancing? Well, let me ask you this, have you ever considered…

Castor Oil Packs for hormone regulation

Queen of the Thrones®️ Castor Oil Packs can be used by practitioners as a “Single” Seed Cycling protocol alternative to the traditional seed cycling protocol.

The Castor Oil Packs for this practice can be found in your Hormone Balance & Detox Kit.

Castor Oil Packs, when worn daily on different parts of your body (over the liver, over your pelvic region, over your thyroid) on different weeks of your cycle, can be a beneficial alternative to orally consuming seeds. 

Queen of the Thrones Castor Oil Pack are the best remedy for Hormone Imbalance

This topical application regulates gut irritation, calming the body and brings your hormones back to a state of balance.

Because we know that hormonal balance must be supported in order to prevent disease, the practice of “Single” Seed Cycling for hormone imbalance makes the use of Queen of the Thrones®️ Castor Oil Packs a true foundational treatment in regular health practice.

To deepen your knowledge, here are a few blogs you’ll want to read as well:

  1. Why does the Moon Makes your Hormones go Crazy?
  2. Why is compliance so low for the traditional seed cycling protocol?
  3. Can you seed cycle with oils instead of eating seeds?
  4. How you can “Single” Seed Cycle with Castor Oil Packs (without eating seeds).

 Are you a practitioner, health coach or wellness influencer? If you’re interested in recommending our easy-to-use tools and practically applying them in your health and wellness professional practice, in clinic, or online with the people you serve, you can join now!

Click here for references

1. Haggans CJ, Hutchins AM, Olson BA, Thomas W, Martini MC, Slavin JL. Effect of flaxseed consumption on urinary estrogen metabolites in postmenopausal women. Nutr Cancer. 1999;33(2):188-95. doi: 10.1207/S15327914NC330211. PMID: 10368815.

2. Sturgeon SR, Volpe SL, Puleo E, Bertone-Johnson ER, Heersink J, Sabelawski S, Wahala K, Bigelow C, Kurzer MS. Effect of flaxseed consumption on urinary levels of estrogen metabolites in postmenopausal women. Nutr Cancer. 2010;62(2):175-80. doi: 10.1080/01635580903305342. PMID: 20099191.

3. Strowig T, Henao-Mejia J, Elinav E, Flavell R. Inflammasomes in health and disease. Nature. 2012 Jan 18;481(7381):278-86. doi: 10.1038/nature10759. PMID: 22258606.

4. Dirandeh E, Towhidi A, Pirsaraei ZA, Saberifar T, Akhlaghi A, Roodbari AR. The endometrial expression of prostaglandin cascade components in lactating dairy cows fed different polyunsaturated fatty acids. Theriogenology. 2015 Jan 15;83(2):206-12. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2014.09.011. Epub 2014 Sep 19. PMID: 25312818.

Disclaimer

Disclaimer: Any opinions, advice, statements, services, offers, information or content expressed or made available by third parties, including information providers, are those of the respective authors or distributors. Neither Queen of the Thrones® nor any third-party provider of information guarantees the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any content. This communication does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Information provided does not replace the advice of your health care practitioner. If you happen to purchase anything we promote, in this or any of our communications, it’s likely Queen of the Thrones® will receive some kind of affiliate compensation. Still, we only promote content and products that we truly believe in and share with our friends, family and patients. If you ever have a concern with anything we share, please let us know at care@queenofthethrones.com. We want to make sure we are always serving Our Queendom at the highest level.