The castor oil pack · A guide by Dr. Marisol
Castor oil packs: a simple guide, without the mess
What a castor oil pack is, where it comes from, and how to do one in 4 easy steps.
Hi, I'm Marisol. Castor oil packs have been at the heart of my work for more than 15 years.
For years I watched women fall in love with the idea of a castor oil pack, then give up. Not because they did not like it. Because of the mess: dripping flannel, plastic wrap, a heating pad, and oil on the sheets.
So in 2018 I set out to make it simpler, and tested the new design with my patients. This guide explains what a castor oil pack is, where it comes from, what research says (and does not say), and how to do one the easy way. Every source is listed at the end.
Where it comes fromA very old oil, a newer ritual
Castor is one of the oldest crops people have grown. It was first grown in Eastern Africa, and later spread to India and China[2].
The castor oil pack, as we know it today, became popular in North America in the 1900s. Edgar Cayce, a well-known figure from Virginia Beach, often recommended it[3]. Later, a doctor named William McGarey wrote a whole book about them[4].
Since then, many naturopathic doctors and wellness practitioners have kept the ritual alive. I am one of them.
The old wayHow a castor oil pack is usually made
If you look up how to make a castor oil pack, you will find something like this[1]:
The traditional DIY pack
-
Soak the flannel
Soak 3 or 4 layers of wool or cotton flannel in castor oil until it is dripping.
-
Cover it
Lay the flannel on your skin and cover it with plastic, like plastic wrap or a garbage bag.
-
Add heat
Put a heating pad or hot water bottle on top.
-
Lie still
Rest for 45 minutes to an hour, then wipe the oil off with a warm towel.
-
Store it
Keep the flannel in a covered container in the fridge, and reuse it up to about 30 times.
It works as a ritual. But here is what women kept telling me: it drips, it slides, it stains the sheets, and you have to lie very still.
There is one more thing to know about the heating pad. Health writers warn not to fall asleep while it is on[1]. Doctors who treat burns have seen deep burns from heating pads left on the skin during sleep, even at low heat[5]. That is one reason my pack uses no heating pad at all.
Side by side
The old way vs a reusable pack
3 to 4 layers of flannel, soaked until dripping
One layer of organic cotton, 1 to 2 tablespoons of oil
Plastic wrap or a garbage bag
A built-in less-mess outer layer
A heating pad or hot water bottle
Your own body warmth. No heating pad
Lie very still so nothing slides
Soft stretchy straps around your waist
Not with a heating pad on
Yes, made to sleep in
A covered container in the fridge
Fold it into its bag
DIY method: Healthline [1]. Reusable pack: Queen of the Thrones® [8].
What makes it differentWhat is inside a reusable castor oil pack
When I redesigned the pack, I kept the parts that matter and took away the mess. Here is what ours is made of[8]:
- The soft side: 100% unbleached organic cotton. This is the side that touches your skin and holds the oil.
- The outer layer: a less-mess layer of polypropylene, the same material used in many food containers. It keeps the oil in the pack and holds in your own warmth.
- The straps: soft, stretchy nylon. No buckles, zippers or Velcro, so you can sleep in it.
- The life of a pack: about 60 evenings. Then it is time for a fresh one.
What does organic cotton mean? Organic cotton is grown without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, and without genetically engineered seed[6]. It is soft and breathable, which matters for something you wear for an hour or a whole night.
You asked
Do I need to add heat?
No. The outer layer holds in your own body warmth, so no heating pad is needed[8].
That also means you can wear it to bed, which is how many women end up using it.
Dr. Marisol
Let's be honestDo castor oil packs work? What research says
This is the question I get most, so I want to answer it the way I would for a friend.
There is very little research on castor oil packs. Doctors who have reviewed what exists say they cannot treat any medical condition[1]. So I will not promise you anything a study has not shown.
Here is what we do know. Castor oil is mostly one fatty acid, called ricinoleic acid, and it is one of the thickest plant oils there is[2]. That thickness is why it stays in the cotton and on your skin. An expert panel that reviews cosmetic ingredients found castor oil safe for use in cosmetics[7].
And here is what women describe after a pack: a calm, slow evening. A reason to lie down and do nothing for an hour. Soft, hydrated skin. Waking up feeling refreshed. That is what this ritual is about.
What it is
- A calm evening ritual
- An hour that belongs to you
- Nourishing for the skin under the pack
- Simple to keep up, a few evenings a week
What it is not
- A treatment for any condition
- A quick fix
- A replacement for your doctor
- Something you have to do perfectly
Step by stepHow to do a castor oil pack in 4 easy steps
At a glance
Your castor oil pack in 4 steps
- 1Pour1 to 2 tablespoons of oil on the soft side.
- 2PlaceRight side, below the ribs. Straps around your waist.
- 3RestLie back for an hour, or sleep in it.
- 4StoreFold it into its bag for next time.
About one hour · No heating pad
-
Pour
Pour or pump 1 to 2 tablespoons of castor oil onto the soft cotton side. Spread it out. It should feel oiled, not soaked.
-
Place
Rest the pack on the right side of your abdomen, just below your ribs. Wrap the straps around your waist, snug but not tight.
-
Rest
Lie back for an hour, or wear it overnight. An old T-shirt over the top keeps your sheets extra safe.
-
Store
Take it off, fold it into its bag, and keep it for your next evening.
Where it goesWhere to place a castor oil pack
Our classic pack rests on the right side of your abdomen, just below your ribs. Your navel is a handy landmark: the pack sits up and to the right of it[8].
Where it rests
Placing your castor oil pack
- The packRight side of your abdomen, just below your ribs.
- The strapsAround your waist. Snug, never tight.
- Your navelA handy landmark. The pack sits up and to the right of it.
We also make packs shaped for other areas, like the neck and the knees. The steps are the same: oil, place, rest.
Your rhythmHow often to use a castor oil pack
Most women start with 7 evenings in a row, then settle into 3 to 5 evenings a week[8]. Think of it like any good habit: steady is better than perfect.
A simple rhythm
How often, at a glance
Your first week7 evenings in a row
After that3 to 5 evenings a week
Pack evening If you like Rest
You asked
How do I know if it is working?
I gently change the question. Instead of looking for a result, notice how you feel.
Is your evening calmer? Do you look forward to lying down with it? Does the skin under the pack feel soft? That is the ritual doing its job.
Dr. Marisol
You asked
Can I sleep in it?
Yes. That is why there are no buckles or zippers, and no heating pad. Many women put it on before bed and take it off in the morning.
Dr. Marisol
CareHow to wash and store your castor oil pack
- Wash it once: before your first use. Soak it for an hour in warm water with a little baking soda and natural dish soap, rinse, and dry it flat.
- Then do not wash it again: the oil in the cotton is part of the ritual, and washing spreads oil to the outer layer.
- No washing machine: never put a used, oily pack in the washing machine.
- Store it clean and dry: fold it into its bag between evenings.
- Replace it: after about 60 uses.
Keep your castor oil in a dark, cool cupboard too. Light and heat make oils age faster. Read why in my guide to hexane-free castor oil.
Everything for your first evening
Ritual Starter Kit
Our classic castor oil pack plus a full bottle of organic Golden Castor Oil. No guessing which oil or which pack.
- Reusable pack: organic cotton, less-mess outer layer, soft straps
- 16.9 fl oz USDA Organic, cold-pressed, hexane-free oil in amber glass
- No flannel, no plastic wrap, no heating pad
Rated 4.78 out of 5 by 5,309 customers · 30-day money-back guarantee
Already have castor oil?
The castor oil pack on its own
The same reusable pack, without the oil.
- 100% unbleached organic cotton
- Reusable for about 60 evenings
"I did not invent the castor oil pack. I just wanted women to be able to keep doing it, without the mess."
Go deeperMake it part of your evening
Pick your evenings. Put them in your calendar like any other plan.
Make it cozy. A blanket, soft light, a book or quiet music.
Add a one-minute ritual. On nights without the pack, try navel oiling.
Curious about the oil? Read my guide to hexane-free castor oil.
Why you can trust this guide
How this guide was made
- Written by
- Dr. Marisol Teijeiro, ND (inactive), founder of Queen of the Thrones® and designer of the reusable castor oil pack. She has worked in natural wellness since 2002 and is the author of two books.
- Based on
- 9 sources, including peer-reviewed research, a doctor-written and medically reviewed guide, and an expert safety review. Each fact links to its source.
- Last reviewed
- October 30, 2026. We update this guide when new research comes out.
- Our promise
- We do not promise results that research has not shown. Where there are no studies, we say so.
- Our products
- Queen of the Thrones® makes the castor oil pack and the oil in this guide. We mention them because we use them, and we keep the facts separate from the product.
- Not medical advice
- This guide is for education. It does not replace your doctor.
- Spot a mistake?
- Tell us and we will fix it.
Sources
I believe you deserve to see where information comes from. These are the sources used in this guide.
- DIY castor oil packs and how to use them. Healthline, written by Noreen Iftikhar, MD, medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, PhD, MSN, RN, updated 2024 Read the source
- Patel VR, Dumancas GG, Kasi Viswanath LC, Maples R, Subong BJJ. Castor oil: properties, uses, and optimization of processing parameters in commercial production. Lipid Insights, 2016 Read the source
- Sijswerda P. The Edgar Cayce experience. Virginia Living, 2009 Read the source
- McGarey WA. The Oil That Heals: A Physician's Successes with Castor Oil Treatments. A.R.E. Press, 1993 Read the source
- Choi MSS, Lee HJ, Lee JH. Early intervention for low-temperature burns: comparison between early and late hospital visit patients. Archives of Plastic Surgery, 2015 Read the source
- Organic cotton fact sheet. Organic Trade Association, 2025 Read the source
- Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel. Final report on the safety assessment of Ricinus communis (castor) seed oil and related ingredients. International Journal of Toxicology, 2007 Read the source
- Liver Castor Oil Pack: materials, use and care. Queen of the Thrones® Read the source
- Product transparency: organic certificate and lab results. Queen of the Thrones® Read the source
FAQs
Your castor oil pack questions, answered
A soft cloth with castor oil on it that rests on your skin for about an hour. Most women use it as a calm evening ritual.
The traditional way is to soak flannel in castor oil, cover it with plastic and add a heating pad. A reusable pack skips all of that: you add 1 to 2 tablespoons of oil and strap it on.
Pour 1 to 2 tablespoons of oil on the soft side, place it on the right side of your abdomen just below the ribs, rest for an hour or overnight, then fold it into its bag.
Our classic pack rests on the right side of your abdomen, just below your ribs, with the straps around your waist.
Not with a reusable pack. The outer layer holds in your own body warmth, so no heating pad is needed.
Yes. Our pack has soft straps and no buckles or zippers, so you can wear it overnight. Just never sleep with a heating pad on.
Most women start with 7 evenings in a row, then use it 3 to 5 evenings a week.
Wash it once before your first use, then not again. Never put a used, oily pack in the washing machine. Store it clean and dry in its bag.
About 60 uses. Then it is time for a fresh one.
Most women describe a calm, slow evening, soft skin under the pack, and waking up feeling refreshed. It is a ritual, not a treatment.
No. As a precaution, castor oil packs should be avoided during pregnancy.
Your first evening, all in one box.
Begin your castor oil pack ritual.
The reusable pack plus a full bottle of organic Golden Castor Oil. No flannel, no plastic wrap, no heating pad.
USDA Organic Oil · Organic Cotton Pack · 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
QUEEN OF THE THRONES®
This article is for general education only and is not medical advice. Dr. Marisol Teijeiro's naturopathic doctor license is inactive, and she does not diagnose or treat any condition. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. For external use only.