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Castor Oil: Everything you need to know about its history, uses, and benefits

Castor Oil: Everything you need to know about its history, uses, and benefits

castor oil, castor oil packs, Cleanse, cleansing, constipation, detox, digestion, facial care, Hair, Hair growth, health, Liver cleanse, Liver Detox, Other, skin care, skin health | 10 comments

Queen of the Thrones Castor Oil over a pack

Castor Oil: Everything you need to know about its history, uses, and benefits

Written by: Joanna Teljeur M.A.

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

Est. reading time: 7 minutes

Are you seeing Castor Oil products everywhere and wondering if it’s just another fad? 

It seems like everyone has jumped on the Castor Oil bandwagon, right? But you’re there scratching your head trying to figure out if you should take it seriously. 

While there seem to be some benefits, they contrast with your memory and notion of what Castor Oil is all about. You may have been a lucky one where your mother or grandmother would give you Castor Oil weekly to clean out your gut! Is this you? Well, you’re not the only one confused about the merit of this golden oil.

Castor Oil seems to live in many people’s memories as something pretty unpleasant. Even its name, Ricinus communis, has a strange vibe. The name is Latin for tick and was chosen because Castor beans look like ticks engorged with blood. Not exactly an inviting image, is it?

And it goes on! The Castor Oil plant is widely known for being extremely poisonous. In fact, eating as few as 2 raw Castor Beans can be fatal, and the protein, ricin, that’s found in the beans has been used as a biological weapon!  

So, what’s going on here?  

Have you ever wondered how something so potentially dangerous could be in use for over 4000 years by countless people from dozens of countries? Why has it been touted for centuries as a magical, golden elixir that can provide benefits from healthier hair to better sleep and digestion? And why has it had such a monumental resurgence – hailed across social media as a kind of ‘cure-all’? 

Well, in this blog, we’re going to find out the backstory of Castor Oil, what it does and doesn’t do, and how this common plant grew to become an historic wellness icon. 

The History of Castor Oil

The story begins in the prehistoric era in a South African cave where ancient people were using the Castor Oil Plant as a poison around 24,000 years ago1. Archeologists found traces of wax with the residue of ricinoleic acid on a stick that was apparently used as a poison applicator.

Fast forward a few thousand years and the Egyptians, who were aware of the Castor Bean’s toxicity, were using Castor Oil for pharmacological purposes as an abortifacient, a laxative, and a remedy for baldness2. Apparently, even Queen Cleopatra used Castor Oil on her skin, hair, and eyes to enhance her natural beauty. 

In Greece, around 400 BCE, Hippocrates was using Castor Oil as a laxative3,  and in Ayurveda, it is used even today as a remedy for bronchitis, fever, cough, skin diseases, constipation, inflammation, and colic1. 

And in Unani Medicine (Arabic traditional medicine), Castor Oil was used orally as a purgative and topically for boils, lumbago, ringworm, asthma, and amenorrhea1, while on the Mediterranean coasts of Europe, Castor leaves and Castor leaf juice was used on the breasts of postpartum women to encourage lactation.

So, the Castor Oil Plant seems to have begun its journey as a weapon, but it makes you wonder how it evolved into the therapeutic realm that it inhabits today, agreed?

Well, remember how the Castor Oil Plant’s Latin name means tick because the seeds or beans resemble a blood-filled tick? Maybe this was a sign to the ancients? You see, according to the Doctrine of Signatures, the appearance of an object can give you clues to its helpful or harmful potential. Perhaps the ancient people thought that the beans of the Castor Oil Plant could suck the life out of their enemies? Who knows – but the fact remains that they definitely saw something powerful in the plant.

Today, Castor Oil is everywhere as a wellness elixir, but the Castor Oil Bean is still poisonous because of the lectin protein, ricin. It’s toxic to humans because it can attach to the cell membrane of human red blood cells4.

Now, you’re probably wondering if you’ll have any ill effects from using Castor Oil? Fair enough, but the good news is that during the extraction process, Castor Oil becomes ricin-free which means it is completely non-toxic5. Whew!

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Castor Oil in the Modern World

The use of the Castor Oil Plant as a medicinal remedy continued to gain a lot of traction. Over the centuries, it’s been called Palma Christi which means the Palm of Christ, and Kiki by the Greeks which means bringing good luck. 

It even had a leading role in the Biblical story of Jonah who sat under a towering Castor Oil Plant for shade. The plant must have held some huge cultural significance for it to remain in the story for over 2000 years.

But over time, Castor Oil’s uses started to expand. By the late 1800s, it played an important role in manufacturing as an effective lubricant, and scientists were revisiting the plant for its toxic elements that could be harnessed and used as chemical warfare. Since then ricin has had nefarious uses as a biological weapon. 

Then, in the early 1900s, Edgar Cayce introduced Castor Oil as a healing elixir in North America. He popularized the Castor Oil Pack and was celebrated as a skilled “bedside healer,” incorporating these oil-soaked packs as a central part of his therapeutic treatments, regardless of the specific health condition or ailment. This approach attracted significant attention and gained recognition within the natural health community.

In the 1960s, with the growing popularity of health food stores across North America, Castor Oil became a fundamental and easy-to-find natural remedy. Today, you can find Castor Oil everywhere online and in health food stores reflecting its enduring popularity and widespread use by naturalists, naturopathic doctors, herbalists, and other proponents of alternative wellness practices.

Why is Castor Oil so special?

Castor Oil has  “…been confirmed as a bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, and antiherpetic agent, due to the ricinoleic acid.”6

Unlike other well known oils, Castor Oil is the only one that contains ricinoleic acid, and this is what makes it so special. Basically, ricinoleic acid is an unsaturated fatty acid with a hydroxyl end on the twelfth carbon, also known as a fatty hydroxyacid. I know – welcome to chemistry class! All you need to know is that this gives Castor Oil super-useful properties like being soluble in alcohol, and this allows it to have so much versatility in many different industries7.

How is Castor Oil extracted?

Queen of the Thrones Castor Oil extraction process

The journey from Castor Bean to the highly sought-after Castor Oil is an interesting process. The composition and quality of the oil are highly affected by the mode of extraction: Expeller-pressed, cold-pressed, chemical extraction, and Jamaican method which gives you Black Castor Oil. 

Expeller Pressing

Expeller pressing, also known as the “screw press” method, is a method that uses a machine that exerts intense friction and pressure to extract the oil. Unlike some other extraction processes, expeller pressing doesn’t involve the addition of heat. 

However, due to the friction generated during the pressing, heat naturally forms in the range of approximately 140-210°F. Once the seeds undergo this pressurized process, the oil is separated. 

Cold Pressing

In contrast to expeller pressing, cold-pressed Castor Oil extraction involves minimal heat. This process starts with placing Castor seeds in a press, followed by crushing to extract the oil. Notably, during the pressing process, the temperature remains lower, usually around 122°F. This method produces lower yields. 

Chemical Extraction

Processed this way, the Castor Beans are crushed, then a chemical solvent (usually hexane) is used to help extract the oil. While this may be more cost effective, adding hexane can compromise the quality of the oil. This is why high-quality, organic Castor Oil will always be hexane-free.

Jamaican Method

With this method, the beans are roasted and then crushed. After that, water is added and the mixture is slow-boiled. Unlike the other extraction methods, this process creates a thick, blackish brown oil that is more alkaline than golden Castor Oil.

What is Castor Oil used for today?

Well today, as you’ve surely noticed, Castor Oil’s legacy continues to evolve. Organic Castor Oil has found a solid home in several flourishing industries including:

  • The skincare and cosmetics industry 
  • The haircare industry
  • The holistic wellness and self-care industry
Uses of Castor Oil by Queen of the Thrones

Castor Oil for Skin

The way Castor Oil works its magic on your skin is thought to be linked to its chemical makeup. This rich, light golden oil is loaded with polyphenols, essential fats, and other nutrients that work especially well for supporting the appearance of more vibrant and youthful looking skin. 

It’s non-comedogenic, meaning it can be used to support pimples, rashes, eczema and other skin problems. 

And as you can imagine, it’s gained wild popularity as a way to plump up your delicate skin, especially around your eyes, where it is used to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Not only that, but when you smooth it onto your eye area, Castor Oil may help support longer, thicker lashes and fuller brows! 

Castor Oil for Hair

Cherished for its skin moisturizing properties, Castor Oil has gained tons of popularity for the notion that it may support hair growth and enhance hair thickness which is why you see it in so many hair care products. 

Depending on your unique hair and skin type, darker skin and thicker, curlier hair may benefit more from Black Castor Oil, while lighter skin and thinner hair may do better with Golden Castor Oil.

Thanks to its hair-loving nutrients like like polyphenols, omega fatty acids, and Vitamin E, Castor Oil may help support:

    • Signs of aging hair
    • Shine and luster
    • Thickness
    • Texture
    • Dry and/or itchy scalp
    • Color treated or heat-damaged hair

Castor Oil for Eyes

Castor Oil for eyes has become a hot topic with a fair amount of controversy surrounding it. But here’s what we know at the moment: Research on the ocular application of Castor Oil appears that it may help to alleviate dry eyes8.

In instances of conjunctivitis, where redness of the eye is a prominent symptom, a solution containing 2% cyclosporine is safely used9. In this type of scenario, it seems unlikely that Castor Oil functions merely as a carrier oil. Instead, it may contribute to the therapeutic effect because of its anti-inflammatory properties10 and promotion of nitric oxide production11. 

Castor Oil is actually a common ingredient in eye solutions that work as artificial tears because of its ability to help support lubrication and also keep moisture in the eye. 

Historically, Castor Oil has been used in Southern India as a remedy for maintaining ocular health and enhancing the beauty of the eyes and cornea12, and other cultures have developed their own unique traditions with similar applications of Castor Oil for various purposes13.

Castor Oil has gained a lot of popularity as a way to grow thicker eyelashes and fuller eyebrows. The big questions seem to be: Is it safe, and does it work?

Well, the nutrient make-up that helps support hair on your scalp may also support brows and lashes. As for safety: You should always exercise caution with anything around your eyes and only use high quality organic oil. For use IN the eyes, only specialized sterile Castor Oil is safe. 

Castor Oil for Self-Care Practices

When it comes to holistic self-care and wellness practices, Castor Oil Packs have made a massive come back! Homemade Castor Oil Packs were always a popular choice to support bloating, constipation, and digestion, but more recently, less-mess packs like Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Packs have shown that their wellness uses are even more far-reaching than anyone could have imagined. 

Queen of the Thrones® has taken the traditional DIY pack and made it an easy and convenient choice for your liver, pelvic area, thyroid, and even your breasts.

And beyond personal care, Castor Oil’s versatility even extends to industries such as pharmaceuticals, food additives, and renewable energy sources. Interestingly, Castor Oil biodiesel has potential as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional fossil fuels. Strange to think that one substance can have so many diverse uses!

Castor Oil for Constipation

For all of its uses, Castor Oil is probably most famous for its use as a stimulant laxative when taken orally. In fact, it is approved by the FDA for this use14. But it’s fairly strong and can result in some, well let’s just say, explosive situations. 

But when you use Castor Oil with a pack on your abdomen, you may get a similar bowel movement action, without the harsh urgency that comes with ingesting Castor Oil.

A study in nursing home residents, for example, found that Castor Oil Packs worked as well as laxatives in helping support better bowel movements and giving the participants the feeling of evacuation. But the big difference was that the packs relieved constipation without the bloating, urgency, and discomfort that usually accompanies oral laxatives. In the end, the researchers concluded that, “…Castor Oil Packs may be used for controlling symptoms of constipation”15.

Basically, Castor Oil has the potential to stimulate the movement of smooth muscle within specific areas of your body16. Smooth muscle is primarily found in the digestive system, encompassing the stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, and anus, as well as in the uterus and walls of the vascular and lymphatic systems. 

So when you wear a Castor Oil Pack, the Castor Oil is absorbed through your skin, potentially affecting the smooth muscle in the intestines. This supports peristalsis, a rhythmic movement that sends the contents of the intestine downward for elimination. 

It’s important to note that Castor Oil should not be used during pregnancy or over an open wound.

Castor Oil in Traditional Medicine

According to a review from the National Library of Medicine, Castor Oil and the Castor Plant have been, “…widely used in traditional medicine such as abdominal disorders, arthritis, backache, muscle aches, bilharziasis, chronic backache and sciatica, chronic headache, constipation, expulsion of placenta, gallbladder pain, period pain, menstrual cramps, rheumatism, sleeplessness, and insomnia”13.
READ MORE ABOUT CASTOR OIL FOR CONSTIPATION

How to Use Castor Oil for Oil Pulling

Learn what is Castor Oil pulling by Queen of the Thrones

In Ayurvedic Medicine, oil pulling has been a technique used to clean the mouth. This is completely different from swishing with regular mouthwash. In fact, rinsing or oil pulling with Castor Oil has many more positive benefits. 

Swishing with Castor Oil for just a couple of minutes in the morning can support gum health. Why?
Because Castor Oil is one of the few natural substances that can break through biofilm – basically a protective shell that bad bacteria creates making it very difficult to eliminate17.

One of the best parts about this, is that it’s super easy to do.  

How to Oil Pull with Castor Oil

  1. Just measure about 2 tbsp of Castor Oil in a spoon and put it into your mouth.
  2. Swish it around so it coats your teeth, gums, and tongue.
  3. Spit it into the garbage.

*Do not swallow! Remember, Castor Oil is a laxative when taken orally! Also, you probably don’t want to spit it down your sink as oil isn’t good for drains.

Quality of Castor Oil

If you’re planning to use Castor Oil anywhere in or on your body, remember that you should always use 100% pure, organic, and hexane-free Castor Oil. Also, be sure to look for cold-pressed or expeller-pressed oil bottled in amber glass. 

Glass bottles are especially important, because when it’s bottled in plastic (even BPA-free plastic), Castor Oil has the potential to absorb slip agents18, UV filters19, bisphenol, and many other impurities which can find their way into your body! You should try to avoid this because these compounds can have a negative effect on your nervous and hormonal systems. 

Castor Oil Facts

Types of Castor Oil

Main types of Castor Oil by Queen of the Thrones

The 2 most frequently used types of Castor Oil:

    • Golden/yellow – This is what comes from pure, organic, expeller or cold-pressed Castor Beans.
    • Jamaican or Black Castor Oil – Made from roasting the Castor Beans and then crushing them to extract the oil

Castor Oil Nutrition

Cold-pressed or expeller-pressed Castor Oil is full of nutrients including antioxidants and fat soluble vitamins like flavonoids, phenolic compounds, fatty acids, amino acids, terpenoids, and phytosterol13.

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Click here for references
  1. Polito L, Bortolotti M, Battelli MG, Calafato G, Bolognesi A. Ricin: An Ancient Story for a Timeless Plant Toxin. Toxins (Basel). 2019 Jun 6;11(6):324. doi: 10.3390/toxins11060324. PMID: 31174319; PMCID: PMC6628454.
  2. Ebers, G. Papyros Ebers: Das Hermetische Buch über die Arzneimittel der Alten Äegypter; Hinrichs, J.C., Ed.; Wilhelm Engelmann: Leipzig, Germany, 1875. 
  3. Totelin, L.M.V. Hippocratic Recipes: Oral and Written Transmission of Pharmacological Knowledge in Fifth- and Fourth-Century Greece; Brill: Leiden, The Netherlands; Boston, MA, USA, 2009. [Google Scholar]
  4. Jenkins RE, Tanner JA. The structure of the major protein of the human erythrocyte membrane. Characterization of the intact protein and major fragments. Biochem J. 1977 Jan 1;161(1):139-47
  5. No Authors Listed. Final report on the safety assessment of Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glyceryl Ricinoleate, Glyceryl Ricinoleate SE, Ricinoleic Acid, Potassium Ricinoleate, Sodium Ricinoleate, Zinc Ricinoleate, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Ricinoleate, Glycol Ricinoleate, Isopropyl Ricinoleate, Methyl Ricinoleate, and Octyldodecyl Ricinoleate. . Int J Toxicol. 2007;26 Suppl 3:31-77.
  6. Nitbani FO, Tjitda PJP, Wogo HE, Detha AIR. Preparation of Ricinoleic Acid from Castor Oil:A Review. J Oleo Sci. 2022;71(6):781-793. doi: 10.5650/jos.ess21226. PMID: 35661063.
  7. Van Erp H, Bates PD, Burgal J, Shockey J, Browse J Castor phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferasefacilitates efficient metabolism of hydroxy fatty acids in transgenic Arabidopsis. Plant Physiol. 2011 Feb;155(2):683-93. Epub 2010 Dec 20.
  8. Goto E1, Shimazaki J, Monden Y, Takano Y, Yagi Y, Shimmura S, Tsubota K. Low-concentration homogenized castor oil eye drops for noninflamed obstructive meibomian gland dysfunction.Ophthalmology. 2002 Nov;109(11):2030-5.
  9. Bonini S1, Coassin M, Aronni S, Lambiase A. Vernal keratoconjunctivitis. Eye (Lond). 2004 Apr;18(4):345-51.
  10. Vieira C et al. .Effect of ricinoleic acid in acute and subchronic experimental models of inflammation. Mediators Inflamm. 2000;9(5):223-8
  11. Izzo AA1, Mascolo N, Capasso F. Nitric oxide as a modulator of intestinal water and electrolyte transport. Dig Dis Sci. 1998 Aug;43(8):1605-20.
  12. Prajna NV, Pillai MR, Manimegalai TK, Srinivasan M Use of Traditional Eye Medicines by corneal ulcer patients presenting to a hospital in South India.Indian J Ophthalmol. 1999 Mar;47(1):15-8.
  13. Marwat SK1, Rehman F2, Khan EA1, Baloch MS1, Sadiq M1, Ullah I1, Javaria S1, Shaheen S1. Review – Ricinus communis – Ethnomedicinal uses and pharmacological activities.Pak J Pharm Sci. 2017 Sep;30(5):1815-1827.
  14. Alookaran J, Tripp J. Castor Oil. 2022 Nov 21. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 31869090.
  15. 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.
  16. 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
  17. Andrade IM, Andrade KM, Pisani MX, Silva-Lovato CH, de Souza RF, Paranhos Hde F. Trial of an experimental castor oil solution for cleaning dentures. Braz Dent J. 2014 Jan-Feb;25(1):43-7. doi: 10.1590/0103-6440201302327. PMID: 24789291.
  18. Kim H1, Oh S1, Gye MC1, Shin I1,2. Comparative toxicological evaluation of nonylphenol and nonylphenol polyethoxylates using human keratinocytes. Drug Chem Toxicol. 2018 Oct;41(4):486-491. Doi: 10.1080/01480545.2017.1391829. Epub 2017 Nov 10.
  19. Amar SK1, Goyal S2, Srivastav AK3, Chopra D3, Ray RS2. Combined effect of Benzophenone-2 and ultraviolet radiation promote photogenotoxicity and photocytotoxicity in human keratinocytes. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2018 Jun;95:298-306. Doi: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2018.04.003. Epub 2018 Apr 4.

 

Here’s why you should detox using Castor Oil Packs.

Here’s why you should detox using Castor Oil Packs.

absorption, anxiety, Bowel movement, castor oil, castor oil packs, Cleanse, cleansing, constipation, detox, digestion, fatigue, gut health, Gut inflammation, hormonal health, Hormone Imbalance, hormones, inflammation, Liver cleanse, Liver Detox, Lymphatic Detox, Lymphatic drainage, Other, stress, Thyrod imbalance | 0 comments

What are the Benefits of Detoxing with Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Packs

Here’s why you should detox using Castor Oil Packs.

Written by: Brianna Salerno, Holistic Lifestyle Coach & Queen of the Thrones® Affiliate
Medically reviewed by: Melanie Swackhammer B.A.

Est. reading time: 9 minutes.

First thing’s first, let’s answer one question…

Are die-off symptoms during a cleanse or detox normal?

It’s possible, but doesn’t have to be normal. Are you wondering what I mean by that?

Well, if you have ever felt worse during a cleanse or detox, with symptoms like:

  • More than your normal constipation
  • Feeling even more exhausted with little to no energy to do the simplest things…

These are only two of the many common examples of die-off symptoms that can be experienced during a cleanse and detox.

And they aren’t exactly NORMAL. You see, you don’t need to experience die-off symptoms during a cleanse and detox to be successful, like some practitioners say.

I know, sometimes these symptoms make you doubt the effectiveness of a cleanse and detox that you may have started, agreed? I know it did for me.

And that’s why I’m here with you now so we can discuss die-off symptoms of cleanses and detoxes so you can avoid experiencing them.

ORDER YOUR DAY & NIGHT DETOX KIT!

Why does this matter? Well, you don’t want to feel so bad that you wished you never started a cleanse or a detox, am I right?

Even though you’ve been told it’s normal to feel worse before you feel better, it doesn’t have to be that way.

If this is or isn’t your first time hearing about die-off symptoms, either way, there’s hope.

And this is why you want to to keep reading this blog BEFORE you start your next cleanse or detox.

You see, knowledge is power when it comes to die-off symptoms of a cleanse and detox. Because, you don’t want them to prevent you from doing the best foundational health-promoting practice.

All you need is a ready-to-wear, easy, ancient health practice to support your cleanse and detox.

Did you know Castor Oil Packs can help alleviate your die-off symptoms and actually help enhance your detox? Would you love to know how?

GET YOUR DAY & NIGHT DETOX KIT!

Castor Oil Packs can support you during a candida cleanse.

May I share my story with you about how I found relief from my terrible die-off symptoms by trying out a Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Liver Pack for Liver

My name is Brianna Salerno, I’m a Holistic Health Coach and owner of Blessed Holistic Life who encourages regular parasite and candida cleanses for clients with gut inflammation to improve their gut health.

Personally, I have done multiple cleanses and detoxes just like you, and have often struggled through the die-off phase.

 

Unfortunately, sometimes detoxing may result in some pretty uncomfortably painful die-off symptoms. Have you been there before?

So, I understand your pain, my friend, because this was me too but thankfully, I finally found the relief I was needing when I had tried out the Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Pack, which helped me relieve my terrible die-off symptoms.

GET YOUR FREE EGUIDE HERE!

But, you might be wondering…

What are Die-off Symptoms of Parasite and Candida Cleanses?

The symptoms you may experience as I did before I found the Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Pack for Liver were:

  • Headaches
  • Bloating
  • Nausea
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Fatigue
  • Gas
  • Sinus Problems
  • Skin rashes
  • Insomnia
  • Aches and Pain

 

Honestly, on my last parasite and candida cleanse I started to get desperate as I was gaining weight and was bloated 24/7. Something had to give. Luckily I was scrolling on Instagram when I saw a Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Pack for Liver with a caption saying “how to help bloat.”

So, I immediately ordered and prayed for relief.

It only took one night with my new Castor Oil Pack practice to see results and I was hooked! Amazing, agreed?

Improve sleep, bloat & constipation with Castor Oil Packs!

I bought the organic ready-to-wear, less-mess Queen of Thrones® Cleanse-While-You-Sleep Castor Oil Pack Bundle that comes with the Queen of Thrones® Castor Oil Pack.

The pack felt so soft against my skin because it’s made of organic flannel. The best part? It’s so easy to use – just two easy steps.

Step 1: I poured the oil on the cloth and then came step 2, which meant wrapping it around my stomach and went to sleep.

Not only did I sleep AMAZING, I woke up with no bloat and immediately went to the bathroom! I couldn’t believe it! I tried again and the same thing happened! I was HOOKED.

I felt lighter and had way more energy too! It felt like all the toxins I was releasing were finally leaving my body and helping my gut inflammation. Sounds simply wonderful, agreed?

FIND SUPPORT WITH THE DAY & NIGHT DETOX KIT!

How does a Castor Oil Pack for Liver work?

The body naturally cleanses and detoxes when in a relaxed state. Wearing a Castor Oil Pack topically over the liver or pelvic regions shifts the body into the relaxed parasympathetic state2-3-4 because we’re often living in a stressed state.

So, that’s why it’s hard for our bodies to detoxify.

Die-off symptoms are simply our body’s attempt during a detox of what needs to come out, but because of overwhelmed systems, it can’t do its job. Makes sense, right?

So, supporting healthy functions of cleansing and detoxification by shifting the body into a relaxed state supports the moving of the bowels5-6 and enhances liver detox and reduces gut inflammation.1

This helps our body to help get rid of the toxins released during a detox or cleanse. Promoting good energy, and relieving constipation5-6 and bloating.

Castor Oil Packs: The benefits beyond cleansing & detox

Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Packs helps:

  • Increase lymphatic circulation7
  • Reduce core inflammation1
  • Stress LESS and sleep better2-3-4
  • Relieve constipation & enhance digestion5-6
  • Balance your microbiome8-9-10-11

So, if you would love to experience an easy detoxing cleanse without dreaded die-off symptoms, simply adopt a cleanse and detox practice by wearing a Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Pack for Liver nightly and let your body easily reset itself. Yes, it really is that easy!

GET YOUR DAY & NIGHT DETOX KIT HERE!

Brianna Salerno is a holistic lifestyle coach and clean beauty blogger. She has a holistic lifestyle blog where she shares the best clean non-toxic brands. She is passionate about helping others and is a huge advocate for detoxing.

To learn more about cleansing and detoxification, this is for you.

Are you a practitioner, health coach or wellness influencer? If you’re interested in…

  • Recommending our easy-to-use tools to the people you serve.
  • Practically applying them in your health and wellness professional practice in clinic or online.
  • Or becoming a Wholesale Partner

Contact us at: royalty@queenofthethrones.com

Click here for references

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 do Castor Oil Packs work?

How do Castor Oil Packs work?

absorption, bloating, castor oil, castor oil packs, Cleanse, constipation, detox, Fibroids, gut health, Gut inflammation, health, hormonal health, Hormone Imbalance, hormones, inflammation, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, irritable bowels, Liver cleanse, Liver Detox, Lymphatic Detox, Lymphatic drainage, Other, PCOS, relaxation, Sleep, stress, Thyrod imbalance, wellness | 0 comments

Learn with Queen of the Thrones How Castor Oil Packs Work and how they help you to improve your health

How do Castor Oil Packs work?

Written by: Victoria Williams R.H.N.
Medically reviewed by: Melanie Swackhammer B.A.

Est. reading time: 9 minutes.

As a health care practitioner, you may have prescribed the traditional treatment method of castor oil packs for liver detox, lymphatic drainage or colon cleansing, right?

You did this by saturating an old cloth with castor oil and applying that gooey mess to various parts of the body because you know of the great health benefits that this treatment method offers. Can you relate?

And, if you’re like me, you stopped prescribing the old way of applying castor oil packs because that 12-step method was too messy, too complicated and your patients just didn’t comply to it. And I don’t blame them, do you?

Or maybe you had your patients do it the “lazy way” by simply just rubbing on the castor oil and then having them wear an old t-shirt. Sound familiar?

But, with the application of just the castor oil without the castor oil pack, we only get half of the benefits

GET YOUR FREE EGUIDE HERE!
Queen of the Thrones Castor Oil plus the pack help you you to obtain better health results

How do Castor Oil Packs work for lymphatic drainage and cleansing?

Firstly, it’s mechanical, with the compression of the pack placed over the liver (slightly covering the lower free ribs under your right rib cage), in combination with the movement of your breathing muscles, this serves to act like a pump to your lymphatic system encouraging lymphatic drainage1. Amazing, agreed?

Secondly, it’s neurological, when placed on specific dermatomes this activates the somatic visceral reflexes triggering the activity of internal detox and cleansing organs like the liver, kidney, gut, gallbladder2 and more.

Thirdly, it’s a combination of both mechanical and neurological because the Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Pack stimulates the body’s skin receptors which stimulate the natural oxytocin3 feedback loop activating the vagus nerve, shifting the body into a rest and digest state where liver detox is optimized.

Queen of the Thrones Castor Oil Packs Help you to activate the Vagus Nerve feedback
It’s this direct effect of the castor oil pack compress that stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system4-5-6. Amazing, right?

Plus, the penetration of the castor oil into the tissues stimulates lymphatic drainage and reduces inflammation via the Peyer’s patches7.

With no pack, castor oil will not penetrate as deeply and would act much more like a skin emollient, so the full range of benefits of the oil cannot be reaped.

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Why is it important for castor oil to be in glass?

Lipotoxicity is why it is imperative to use castor oil that has only been contained in a glass bottle rather than in plastic8-9-10.

You see, castor oil is the master carrier oil, due to its structure and the molecular weight of ricinoleic acid11. And because of this amazing capability of transporting and transferring substances into the body, it is of the utmost importance to only use a high-quality oil that is organic, extra-virgin, cold-pressed, hexane-free and in glass.

And I am sure we are both on the same page when it comes to ensuring our prescriptions and protocols – like the application of Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Packs coming from a plastic-free environment – are helpful for our patients and ourselves, and not a harmful endocrine disruptive burden. Would you agree?

Why you need to replace your Castor Oil Pack?

Pouring a fresh coat of castor oil onto the Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Pack with each application is an important part of the protocol, as is replacing your castor oil pack.

Why? Well simply because we are unsure where the castor oil and toxins it collects eliminate through the body, or back into the pack through the skin.

A study compared oral castor oil metabolites and the metabolites produced with the castor oil pack and no castor oil metabolites were produced with the castor oil pack12.

This suggests that either the castor oil wasn’t absorbed or that the metabolites came out another way, perhaps via the skin into the pack.

So, to prevent possible reabsorption of any toxins that are being pulled out by castor oil, use a fresh coat of oil on every application and replace the pack every 3 months.

Plus, when it comes to fertility, it is especially important to ensure that your liver pack is placed only on the liver, the pelvic pack only on the pelvis over top of the uterus and ovaries, and the thyroid pack only on the thyroid. This is to avoid any possible transfer of toxins from organ to organ. Makes sense, right?
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Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Packs – the game changer

With the application of this new and easy way of an old traditional method, with Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Packs in your practice, your patients, in most cases, will come back to you in follow-ups feeling better – because they can easily comply – and can safely be used with any other prescriptions that you recommend.

Plus, with regular practice your patients will train their body to respond better to stress, as well as naturally liver detox, lymphatic drain and colon cleanse with the support from their Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Packs.

Then what happens is we begin to start…

Improve Parasympathetic Tone with Queen of the Thrones Castor Oil Packs

You see, this is what makes Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Packs so unique and game-changing.

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 TO JOIN!
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.

Click here for references

1. 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.

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: PMC3272481.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. Kim H1, Oh S1, Gye MC1, Shin I1,2. Comparative toxicological evaluation of nonylphenol and nonylphenol polyethoxylates using human keratinocytes. Drug Chem Toxicol. 2018 Oct;41(4):486-491. doi: 10.1080/01480545.2017.1391829. Epub 2017 Nov 10.

9. Amar SK1, Goyal S2, Srivastav AK3, Chopra D3, Ray RS2. Combined effect of Benzophenone-2 and ultraviolet radiation promote photogenotoxicity and photocytotoxicity in human keratinocytes. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2018 Jun;95:298-306. doi: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2018.04.003. Epub 2018 Apr 4.

10. Hafezi SA1, Abdel-Rahman WM1. The Endocrine Disruptor Bisphenol A (BPA) Exerts a Wide Range of Effects in Carcinogenesis and Response to Therapy. Curr Mol Pharmacol. 2019 Mar 6. doi: 10.2174/1874467212666190306164507.

11. PubChem [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US), National Center for Biotechnology Information; 2004-. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 643684, Ricinoleic acid; [cited 2022 Mar. 31].

12. Alves SP, Araujo CM, Queiroga RC, Madruga MS, Parente MOM, Medeiros AN, Bessa RJB. New insights on the metabolism of ricinoleic acid in ruminants. J Dairy Sci. 2017 Oct;100(10):8018-8032. doi: 10.3168/jds.2017-13117. Epub 2017 Aug 10. PMID: 28803011.

Diastasis Recti and Constipation | Two Common Postpartum Body Challenges

Diastasis Recti and Constipation | Two Common Postpartum Body Challenges

body care, constipation, health, mindfulness, Other, relaxation, stress, wellness | 0 comments

Learn with Queen of the Thrones how Diastasis Recti and Constipation are Two Common Postpartum Body Challenges

Diastasis Recti and Constipation | Two Common Postpartum Body Challenges

Written by: Kim Vopni, The Vagina Coach.

Est. reading time: 9 minutes.

There are two things that I will never forget about the early hours after giving birth to my first son Diastasis Recti and Constipation.

I remember how disconnected my upper body felt from my lower body when I got up to go to the bathroom for the first time after my baby entered the world.  I felt like I had to hold myself together.

Queen of the Thrones® explains how constipation cause inflamed belly

There are two things that I will never forget about the early hours after giving birth to my first son Diastasis Recti and Constipation.

I remember how disconnected my upper body felt from my lower body when I got up to go to the bathroom for the first time after my baby entered the world.  I felt like I had to hold myself together.

What was a fairly tight compact part of my body, was now a vacant space with very little tone.  The muscles in my abdominal wall had stretched well beyond their normal, optimal length and the rectus muscles (think 6 pack) had also moved away from their midline position – a condition known as diastasis recti.  

As I sat down to pee, I had a sudden panic attack knowing that at some point I was also going to have to poop! 

The thought of that first bowel movement after giving birth is almost scarier than the birth itself! This fear coupled with other influences I will elaborate on below, can contribute to postpartum constipation.  

Diastasis Recti and constipation are very common and with the right information, can be very well managed and don’t have to be a big deal in the early postpartum period or beyond.  Let’s look first at constipation.

Postpartum Constipation

Once the baby is born, we as parents start to diligently record every feed and every poop our baby makes.  What no one really thinks about is that the new mom would benefit from having someone do the same for her. Nutrition is a key element of postpartum healing and can play a huge role in healing and nourishing the body as well as managing bowel movements therefore reducing the likelihood of constipation. Labour typically slows down the digestive system, especially if you had an epidural and it can take a few days to get back on track.  Other things that can influence the digestive system in the early weeks postpartum are pain medications, iron supplementation and fear of pooping. A lot happens in the pelvis and to the vagina, perineum and anus – things like tearing, stitches, tenderness and hemorrhoids.  The thought of anything else passing through can be a bit stressful to say the least. Stress activates the ‘fight or flight’ response which reduces blood flow to the digestive system and can contribute to constipation. From a Chinese medicine perspective the first system that needs to be addressed in postpartum healing is the digestive system.  The digestive system is responsible for transforming food into blood and energy and if digestion is off, then the body will not benefit from the food consumed and therefore not build the blood and energy needed for healing.

Mother Roasting

It is also believed in Chinese Medicine that the body has ‘opened’ during pregnancy and birth and is therefore susceptible to ‘wind’ or ‘cold’.  New mothers have a 30 day period of “sitting in” where the mother does not go out and is instead served warm soups, stews, and broths that are easy to digest.

Korea has a 100 day period where the mother and child do not leave the home. In Japan, the mother and baby stay at the mother’s parent’s home for some pampering and one-on-one time with the baby. India and African nations include traditions of 10-40 day isolations where additional support is provided including massage, childcare and food preparation.

Other practices from places like Malaysia include belly binding and hot stones on the abdomen to help cleanse it, close it and heal it.

These practices not only allow the body time to recover from the trauma of giving birth but provide a period of mental rest that I firmly believe creates a solid foundation for mom and baby from day one.

According with Queen of the Thrones® the digestive system gets stressed by constipation
Belly wrapping support the pelvis and abdominal wall

The belief of the need to ‘close’ the body is justified.  Diastasis Recti has been shown to happen to 100% of women in the third trimester and the gap between the muscles doesn’t always return to its pre-pregnancy state, nor does the connective tissue naturally regain its supportive tensioning role in the core. The muscles in the pelvic floor have also stretched and in some cases have been cut or torn which can contribute to challenges with core control and continence.

Belly wrapping or belly binding aims to provide temporary compression and support to the pelvis and abdominal wall in the early weeks postpartum when the muscles are temporarily hindered in their ability to contribute to core control.  

The muscles and connective tissue in the abdominal wall and pelvis are key with regards to stability and control in our inner core but so are the bones and joints. In the pelvis, the shape of the bones provides what is called ‘form closure’ while the muscles, ligaments and connective tissue contribute to what is called ‘force closure’. During pregnancy biomechanical changes occur in the body which can reduce the effectiveness of both form and force closure such as;

  • Altered posture and load bearing;
  • Altered muscle length in the pelvic floor and abdomen (both longer and shorter) which results in reduced ability for muscle force production;
  • The role of relaxing and progesterone contribute to joint laxity and when the ligaments are lax it affects the force closure.
  • The abdominal muscles are stretched to allow space for the enlarging uterus, which can lead to loss of muscle tone and strength in the abdominal region and a compromised ability to produce tension in the thoracolumbar fascia, resulting in reduced force closure in the pelvis;
  • Diastasis recti is a distortion in the abdominal wall and can impair the function of the muscles including their role in posture and pelvic stability;
  • The transversus abdominis, multifidus, diaphragm and the pelvic floor are all anticipatory muscles of the core and are required for force closure in the pelvis – all are affected by posture and alignment changes in pregnancy
  • Intra-abdominal pressure – altered mechanics and alignment mean management of intra-abdominal pressure will change

The benfits of Castor Oil include these three main functions:nutrient-rich, pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory.

Add a Fascia Massage Roller to these benefitsand you’ve now super boosted these functions.

You see, combining Castor Oil to your Fascia Massage Roller practice helps to massage the tight tissues and adhesions found along energetic pathways that can become blocked by physical or emotional trauma.

And the benefits of this practice are:

  • Breaking down of scar tissue from injury, cesarean section, surgery, and/or endometriosis
  • Fade stretch marks from weight gain or postpartum
  • Fascia release for sore muscles and tight IT bands
  • Lymphatic drainage and circulation
  • Support smoothing out cellulite

Sounds amazing, right?

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Intra-Abdominal Pressure

We can’t talk about postpartum recovery and wrapping without talking about intra-abdominal pressure.

Intra-abdominal pressure is defined as the pressure within the abdominal cavity.  It is part of our core stability system.  We need some, but not too much and we need an ability to manage the varying pressures throughout the day. When we take a breath in, the diaphragm descends and there is a compression action on the abdominal contents which acts to stabilize the pelvis and spine.  We can have too much pressure such as a Valsalva maneuverer which is an inhale, then breath hold while bearing down.  This often results in a distended abdomen and can place pressure on the pelvic organs as well.

We can’t talk about postpartum recovery and wrapping without talking about intra-abdominal pressure.

Intra-abdominal pressure is defined as the pressure within the abdominal cavity.  It is part of our core stability system.  We need some, but not too much and we need an ability to manage the varying pressures throughout the day. When we take a breath in, the diaphragm descends and there is a compression action on the abdominal contents which acts to stabilize the pelvis and spine. 

We can have too much pressure such as a Valsalva maneuverer which is an inhale, then breath hold while bearing down.  This often results in a distended abdomen and can place pressure on the pelvic organs as well.

The reverse can also be seen in a technique called “hypopressives” which decreases intra-abdominal pressure and results in a hollowing or concavity of the abdomen.  A reliance on one may result in a compromised ability to manage changes in intra-abdominal pressure such as during lifting or exercise.

Crunches were given a bad rap because they cause an increase in intra-abdominal pressure but a study found that activities like standing up from a chair or downward dog pose in yoga actually created equal or greater increases in intra-abdominal pressure which suggests that managing intra-abdominal pressure is more about HOW a person performs a movement or exercise rather than the exercise itself.

Wrapping is often considered to be a practice that increases intra-abdominal pressure and it can when done incorrectly.  Wrapping is ideally done to temporarily contribute to force closure in the pelvis with some gentle hugging of the abdominal wall.

Many mistakenly wrap only the waist and wrap very tightly in hopes that it will help heal the gap between the abdominals (diastasis recti).  Instead it increases intra-abdominal pressure, it interferes with digestion and it restricts optimal breathing patterns which can prevent healing of the abdominal wall and pelvic floor and can also contribute to constipation.

My recommendations for postpartum recovery include principles that support rest and belly wrapping in the early weeks postpartum, core retraining with pelvic floor initiated movements, a balance between hyper and hypopressive exercise and nutrition that is based on the traditional practices of mother roasting to support optimal digestion.

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: 

CLICK HERE TO JOIN!
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.