How Castor Oil Packs help with constipation from ozempic for weight loss

How Castor Oil Packs help with constipation from ozempic for weight loss

Queen of the Thrones Castor oil pack for constipation problems

How Castor Oil Packs help with constipation from ozempic for weight loss

Written by: Heather Tanti R.P.N (non-practicing)

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

Est. reading time: 7 minutes

Beginning the road to weight loss can be a rollercoaster of emotions filled with highs and lows, agreed? And for those relying on the support of medications like Ozempic for weight loss, the journey can sometimes take an unexpected turn- cue the common, but frustrating side effect: constipation.

It’s more than just a physical discomfort; it’s a hurdle that stands in the way of your wellness goals.

So, let’s unravel the connection between Ozempic, weight loss, and the often overlooked self-care hero – Castor Oil Packs.

What is Ozempic used for?

Queen of the Thrones what is ozempic drug
Ozempic for weight loss is on the rise in popularity lately, and at times for quite controversial reasons. You see, in 2012, Novo Nordisk’s research team formulated Ozempic (also known as semaglutide), to create a diabetes treatment that would last longer than the one offered currently- liraglutide.1

Although Ozempic was designed to regulate blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes, its rise to fame was unexpected. Ozempic’s side effect of rapid weight loss soon caught the public’s attention, turning it into a highly sought-after drug, especially for celebrities.

Ozempic for Diabetes

Originally, Ozempic was created as a once-weekly injection that helps lower blood sugar in type 2 diabetics by helping the pancreas make more insulin. 

This medication replicates the effects of a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, which our bodies naturally produce in our intestines. This hormone suppresses our appetite by signaling to our bodies that we feel full and slows down the rate at which our stomachs empty. 

As a result, individuals with obesity and related health issues have experienced weight loss with ozempic, as it helps them feel fuller faster.

Ozempic for weight loss

Although Ozempic is not primarily marketed as a weight-loss medication, research conducted by Novo Nordisk, the drug’s manufacturer, indicates that individuals who take semaglutide – the active ingredient in Ozempic – may experience weight loss.3

Although weight loss may not be the primary intended result of taking Ozempic, it can still be a significant advantage for individuals who are struggling with weight issues. It’s important to note though, that Ozempic should only be taken under the guidance of a healthcare professional. 

Additionally, incorporating lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet and regular exercise are essential components of any successful weight loss plan.

Possible side-effects of Ozempic for weight loss

Queen of the Thrones side effects of ozempic

With every new medication comes an array of potential side-effects, agreed? Are you guilty of tuning out on those long-winded drug commercials listing their side-effects? I know I am! Ozempic is no exception when it comes to potentially unpleasant side-effects as you’re about to see.

Ozempic and constipation

When taking a medication that slows your digestive system, such as certain appetite suppressants, your stomach will take longer to empty. This results in a feeling of fullness that lasts longer, but it may also lead to a slowdown in bowel movements, delayed gastric emptying, and difficulty passing stools.4 Yikes!
While Ozempic encourages the body to make more insulin (which is great for managing blood sugar levels), insulin also slows down how fast the gut moves, which means you poop less often!5

And because Ozempic makes you feel fuller longer, it may also mean you end up drinking less fluids during the day, which is a huge contributing factor to Ozempic constipation.

So keep those fluids up!

Ozempic and stomach pain

Some users of Ozempic have reported experiences with flu-like symptoms, including cramps and pain.6 And because this medication has been known to alter stomach acid secretion, it can disrupt the digestive system’s food movement, resulting in abdominal discomfort.

At times, abdominal pain can be a result of gastroparesis (a condition characterized by delayed stomach emptying), which can be caused by medications such as Ozempic.7 While this delay can have some encouraging effects, such as suppressing hunger and aiding weight loss efforts, it can also result in stomach discomfort.

Ozempic Face

Have you heard of ‘Ozempic face’? This is a trending topic lately as a side-effect to this medication, leaving some users of Ozempic to experience sagging and aging of facial skin.

Doctors who prescribe Ozempic often don’t talk to patients about its possible effects on the face. It’s common for users to turn to plastic surgery for help with these changes, but it can be difficult for surgeons to handle facial changes caused by quick weight loss. 

Procedures like dermal fillers, skin tightening, and surgery are often used to help restore facial volume and excess skin.8

Queen of the Thrones how ozempic affects the face

Therefore, addressing the potential impact of Ozempic on facial changes is so important, and ensuring open communication between healthcare providers and Ozempic users about this side-effect can help individuals on their weight loss journey to be more aware.

Ozempic risks

Risks associated-with the use of Ozempic by Queen of the Thrones

Allergic reactions

It is important to pay close attention to any possible signs of an allergic reaction when starting a new medication. 

These symptoms may include:

  • Redness, swelling, rash, and itching at the injection site
  • Rash, itching, or hives on the skin
  • Shortness of breath
  • Wheezing or difficulty breathing
  • Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or other parts of the body9.

 

Additionally, it is important to inform your healthcare provider of any allergies you have before starting a new medication. This will help them determine the best course of treatment for you and minimize the risk of an allergic reaction! 

Now, let’s shift our gaze to the potential link between diabetic retinopathy and Ozempic.

Diabetic retinopathy

Are you familiar with diabetic retinopathy? This is a condition that affects the eyes and is primarily seen in people with diabetes. 

Now, you might be wondering “How does Ozempic fit into this?”

Some studies suggest a potential link between Ozempic and an increased risk of diabetic retinopathy. Patients who were treated with Ozempic and had poorly controlled blood glucose over a prolonged period, often experienced a higher number of events related to diabetic retinopathy complications.10

 

Queen of the Thrones explains how diabetic retinopathy is caused

It is important to note that the link between Ozempic and diabetic retinopathy is not fully understood, and more research is needed to establish a clear causation. However, if you are taking Ozempic and notice any changes in your vision, or experience any symptoms related to diabetic retinopathy, it is important to seek medical attention.

Hypoglycemia

What exactly is hypoglycemia? 

Hypoglycemia refers to ‘low blood sugar’, a common occurrence in diabetics that can be dangerous. 

Think of it as a rollercoaster- sudden dips that can leave you feeling shaky, dizzy, sweaty, and downright uncomfortable.11

While Ozempic aims to help manage blood sugar levels, we’re all biochemically unique and for some people it may contribute to hypoglycemia. 

So, how do you learn to spot the signs and take action if you’re experiencing low blood sugar? Awareness is key. Keeping a close eye on your glucose levels, and having snacks on hand in those moments is important.

*Note that any unusual or uncomfortable side-effects/symptoms should always be reported to your healthcare provider.*

Increased risk of thyroid cancer

One Ozempic risk that has sparked conversation is the potential association with increased thyroid cancer risk.12 

While the relationship between Ozempic and thyroid cancer isn’t completely clear, some studies have hinted at an increased risk.

So, should this raise alarm bells? Not necessarily.

However, it’s important to note that the overall risk of developing thyroid cancer is still relatively low. Understanding that every medication comes with potential risks allows us to make informed choices about what may be best for our unique needs.

In the meantime, the Queen of the Thrones® Thyroid Castor Oil Pack makes an excellent self-care companion, giving your thyroid natural TLC.

Thyroid Pack applied to the neck by Queen of the Thrones

Pancreatitis

Believe it or not, pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), is a risk associated with Ozempic use. Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a serious medical condition that results from inflammation of the pancreas, which produces digestive enzymes and hormones that regulate blood sugar levels13, making it a vital organ your body relies on.

Awareness is key, and knowing the signs to watch for- such as abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting- will help you to be proactive in your wellness while on Ozempic.

Malnutrition from Ozempic for weight loss

While Ozempic is designed to help with weight loss and type 2 diabetes management, there is a possibility that it may contribute to malnutrition.14  

Why is that? Well, the mechanism behind this lies in Ozempic’s ability to suppress appetite, which leads to decreased food intake.

So, how exactly do you navigate this nutritional crossroad? Firstly, it’s crucial to listen to your body. 

Pay attention to hunger cues, and ensure you’re giving your body the fuel it needs to thrive with a nutritious diet that includes hearty proteins, healthy fats, and heaps of vegetables.

While the goal may be the off-brand use of Ozempic for weight-loss, it shouldn’t come at the expense of the vital nutrients your body needs to function.

Losing extreme amounts of weight can be dangerous, so being aware of how you are feeling, and staying in communication with your healthcare provider will ensure you are receiving guidance and support while using Ozempic.

Castor Oil Packs for constipation

Queen of the Thrones how Castor oil packs help ozempic constipation

Let’s be honest; nobody enjoys constipation… Stomach bloating, cramping, sharp pains… Can you relate? 

Ozempic constipation can be supported with Castor Oil Packs– a natural ally that might just add a touch of comfort when you need it most.

So how exactly do these packs work their magic? 

Castor Oil Packs are a time-tested remedy known for their potential to support balanced inflammation15, colon cleansing16, less-stress17, and best of all- more regular bowel movements!

Plus, Castor Oil Packs can be used with any medication or supplement, bringing you a reliable source of self-care you can feel good about. It often helps them work better!

Queen of the Thrones® heatless, less-mess Castor Oil Packs are your easy solution to this ancient practice that was once messy and complicated. 

Would you love to learn more about self-care with Castor Oil Packs? Check out this blog!

Keep reading to discover just how easy it is to get started with a Castor Oil Liver Pack for Ozempic constipation support and overall wellness.

How to use your Liver Castor Oil Pack

One of the best things about Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Packs is how easy they are to use. There’s no big list of steps needed to get started with your self-care, making it a fan-favorite for wellness made simple.

Check it out for yourself!

How to use Queen of the Thrones Castor oil pack

It gets even better my friend. You see, we didn’t just stop at the Castor Oil Pack for your liver, we took self-care further, encompassing a whole body approach to holistic wellness with:

Don’t you just love Mother Nature’s ability to bring you natural wellness solutions? 

So, if you’re navigating the ups and downs of Ozempic and its side effects, Castor Oil Packs are your go-to for simple, natural support for constipation, thyroid care, and hormone balance!

Conclusion

As we resurface from the world of Ozempic side effects, remember that your well-being is important and valued. And just like a well-prepared adventurer equips themselves with tools for the road, you’re now armed with insights into how Castor Oil Packs can help bring you comfort while navigating Ozempic constipation.

It’s important to note that while Castor Oil Packs can be a helpful addition to your constipation, they should not be used as a replacement for medical advice or guidance. As always, consult with your healthcare provider before trying any new remedies or practices. 

Taking care of your wellness is a journey, and with the right resources, you can navigate it successfully!

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. Dhillon S. Semaglutide: First Global Approval. Drugs. 2018 Feb;78(2):275-284. doi: 10.1007/s40265-018-0871-0. PMID: 29363040. 
  1. Ard J, Fitch A, Fruh S, Herman L. Weight Loss and Maintenance Related to the Mechanism of Action of Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists. Adv Ther. 2021 Jun;38(6):2821-2839. doi: 10.1007/s12325-021-01710-0. Epub 2021 May 11. PMID: 33977495; PMCID: PMC8189979.
  1. Chao AM, Tronieri JS, Amaro A, Wadden TA. Semaglutide for the treatment of obesity. Trends Cardiovasc Med. 2023 Apr;33(3):159-166. doi: 10.1016/j.tcm.2021.12.008. Epub 2021 Dec 21. PMID: 34942372; PMCID: PMC9209591.
  1. Shah M, Vella A. Effects of GLP-1 on appetite and weight. Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2014 Sep;15(3):181-7. doi: 10.1007/s11154-014-9289-5. PMID: 24811133; PMCID: PMC4119845.
  1. Stassen MP. La gastroparésie diabétique [Diabetic gastroparesis]. Rev Med Liege. 2005 May-Jun;60(5-6):509-15. French. PMID: 16035319.
  1. Filippatos TD, Panagiotopoulou TV, Elisaf MS. Adverse Effects of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists. Rev Diabet Stud. 2014 Fall-Winter;11(3-4):202-30. doi: 10.1900/RDS.2014.11.202. Epub 2015 Feb 10. PMID: 26177483; PMCID: PMC5397288.
  1. Krishnasamy S, Abell TL. Diabetic Gastroparesis: Principles and Current Trends in Management. Diabetes Ther. 2018 Jul;9(Suppl 1):1-42. doi: 10.1007/s13300-018-0454-9. Epub 2018 Jun 22. PMID: 29934758; PMCID: PMC6028327.
  1. Humphrey CD, Lawrence AC. Implications of Ozempic and Other Semaglutide Medications for Facial Plastic Surgeons. Facial Plast Surg. 2023 Dec;39(6):719-721. doi: 10.1055/a-2148-6321. Epub 2023 Aug 4. PMID: 37541662.
  1. Trujillo J. Safety and tolerability of once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonists in type 2 diabetes. J Clin Pharm Ther. 2020 Sep;45 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):43-60. doi: 10.1111/jcpt.13225. PMID: 32910487; PMCID: PMC7540535.
  1. Coon SA, Crannage EF, Kerwin LC, Guyton JE. Semaglutide once-weekly: improved efficacy with a new safety warning. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol. 2018 Nov;11(11):1061-1072. doi: 10.1080/17512433.2018.1534201. Epub 2018 Oct 16. PMID: 30296182.
  1. Cryer PE. Symptoms of hypoglycemia, thresholds for their occurrence, and hypoglycemia unawareness. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 1999 Sep;28(3):495-500, v-vi. doi: 10.1016/s0889-8529(05)70084-0. PMID: 10500927.
  1. Bezin J, Gouverneur A, Pénichon M, Mathieu C, Garrel R, Hillaire-Buys D, Pariente A, Faillie JL. GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and the Risk of Thyroid Cancer. Diabetes Care. 2023 Feb 1;46(2):384-390. doi: 10.2337/dc22-1148. PMID: 36356111.
  1. Walkowska J, Zielinska N, Karauda P, Tubbs RS, Kurtys K, Olewnik Ł. The Pancreas and Known Factors of Acute Pancreatitis. J Clin Med. 2022 Sep 22;11(19):5565. doi: 10.3390/jcm11195565. PMID: 36233433; PMCID: PMC9571992.

     

  2. Ida S, Kaneko R, Imataka K, Okubo K, Shirakura Y, Azuma K, Fujiwara R, Murata K. Effects of Antidiabetic Drugs on Muscle Mass in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Curr Diabetes Rev. 2021;17(3):293-303. doi: 10.2174/1573399816666200705210006. PMID: 32628589.

     

  3. 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

     

  4. 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.PMID: 24789291

     

  5. 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

6 Scientifically Backed Ways To Support Your Breast

6 Scientifically Backed Ways To Support Your Breast

4 Scientifically Backed Ways To Support Your Breast Health by Queen of the Thrones

6 Scientifically Backed Ways To Support Your Breast

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.

What Circadian Rhythm, Castor Oil and Walnuts Have in Common for Breast Wellness

“I learned to put myself first.”

“It was up to me to decide what to do with my life.”

You’ll hear phrases like this from women who’ve made significant lifestyle changes following breast cancer. Can you relate?

Or maybe right now, you or the people you serve are wondering, “how can I keep my breasts healthy?”

You see, it’s fairly common for a health scare to shock people into re-examining their lives and what matters most to them. Breast cancer is no exception, and it’s understandable. 

Breast health can help you look at your life differently. In fact, on an energetic level, breast issues can correspond to an imbalance of nurturing energy, usually focused on the self. So if you’re reading this now, or if you have breast concerns or discomfort, you could look at this as a time for reflection on how you can take better care of you – and especially the wellness of your breasts.

The old adage an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure is highly relevant for breast troubles. Perhaps you’ve also heard the phrase, “a pill for an ill”. Can you relate?

Most breast cancers are linked to lifestyle factors by Queen of the Thrones

Before giving away the reason behind this statement, let’s first look at a surprising statistic.

About 30 to 40% of breast cancers are linked to lifestyle factors.1

Yes. That’s true. While many believe breast disorders/conditions are genetic, hereditary connections are only responsible for less than 10% of the cases.2

However, there are lifestyle changes you can make right now to support your breast health.

Of course, it might be difficult to talk about your breasts and any changes you’ve observed. The breast is loaded with cultural meaning and importance, so yeah – talking about your girls is a little different from discussing changes in say – your feet. . . though feet are important too.

You may even avoid examinations like mammograms or thermograms because you’re worried about discovering something abnormal.

But, visiting your healthcare professional is the best way to understanding your unique body and the best steps to take.

So, with this in mind, let’s look at a few things that can influence your breast health.

The link between inflammation and breast health

You may have noticed soreness or pain in the breasts, especially around your menstrual cycle. You aren’t alone. These symptoms affect two-thirds of women, especially during the childbearing age.3 Are you wondering why this happens? Well, the answer lies in the breast structure.

You see, breasts comprise four main tissue structures:

  • Fat tissue
  • Milk ducts
  • Glands
  • Connective tissue

The fat tissue is influenced by fluctuations in fluid volume. So, this can cause your breasts to swell, resulting in soreness or tenderness, especially right before your cycle when estrogen levels increase. 

“What causes increased fluid?” 

A common cause for increased fluid volume is inflammation. Inflammation is kind of like a fire, and what do you use to put out a fire? Water.

Inflammation is part of your body’s process of fighting against things that harm it (like infections) in an attempt to restore balance.

So, when something damages your cells, your body releases chemicals that trigger an inflammatory response from your immune system. It’s a natural process, but in today’s modern world, inflammation is often out of control.

Did you know that lymphatic blockage can also cause inflammation?4

Lymph vessels are hollow tubes in your lymphatic system that allow lymph fluid to drain out of your breasts. But, if your lymph vessels are blocked, your breasts can become red, swollen, and inflamed. Makes sense, agreed?

Swollen lymph nodes may also be present under the arm, near the collarbone, or both. Disturbed sleep can also contribute to breast inflammation.

So, let’s dive into more about this and the connection between your…

Circadian rhythm and breast health

Circadian Rhythm by Queen of the Thrones

Imagine having a hectic week, with only four hours of sleep every night for 7 days in a row. Sounds pretty terrible, right? You’d probably be irritable, frustrated, or even sad, agreed?

But, sleep isn’t only about the quantity, it’s also about quality. Even if you can sleep eight hours a day, but you wake up every two hours, you’ll wake up in the morning feeling exhausted. Is this you?

Learn with Queen of the Thrones how Circadian rhythm and breast health are related

This is because your body’s internal 24-hour clock runs in the background and regulates your sleep-wake cycle, hormones, and even cell division.

But, if your sleep-wake cycle is off, so is your circadian rhythm.

Circadian rhythms are physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a 24-hour cycle and they can affect hormones, body temperature, and digestion, not to mention how you feel when you’re sleep deprived or experiencing jet lag.

You see, different systems of your body follow circadian rhythms that are synchronized with a master clock in your brain.

This master clock is directly influenced by environmental cues, especially light, which is why circadian rhythms are tied to the cycle of day and night. Makes sense, right?

When properly aligned, a circadian rhythm can promote consistent and restorative sleep.

But, when your circadian rhythm is thrown off, it can create significant sleeping problems, including insomnia. Does this sound like you?

Research also reveals that circadian rhythms are integral to diverse breast health aspects5. Now, beyond sleep, have you ever wondered if there’s a connection between your gut health and breasts?

Gut microbia and breast health

Gut microbia are microflora in your digestive tract. While it may sound dangerous, these bacteria are helpful and regulate various body functions.

From protecting against disease-causing bacteria to regulating immune function, these bacteria support your health in various ways.6

In fact, your gut bacteria influences estrogen metabolism and adiposity, which are both associated with breast health.

Immune interactions with gut microbiota and microbial effects on host DNA also play a role in developing breast conditions. More specifically, a healthy gut microbiota has shown to play an important role in breast health because when estrogen is processed and released through your liver as bile, it ends up in your gut. If your gut bacteria are balanced and thriving, they may help control these estrogen molecules and keep them from creating carcinogenic problems in breast tissue.20 

So, keeping your gut microbiota healthy and thriving can also support better breast health.

Would you love to know more about how to balance your gut bacteria?

How can I keep my breasts well?

Now that you know the importance of breast health and the influencing factors, let’s look at four things you can do to support your breast wellness. Are you ready?

1. Eat healthy because food matters

Eating healthy is necessary for a healthy breast by Queen of the Thrones

You are what you eat. Have you heard this before? Some ways you can support your breasts nutritionally are:

  • Limiting your sugar intake
  • Eating whole foods including healthy fats, hearty proteins, and heaps of vegetables
  • Avoiding processed foods
  • Drinking plenty of water
  • Eating foods rich in flavonoids, such as broccoli, onions, celery, parsley, and green tea
  • Increasing your intake of nuts – especially walnuts

2. Get good quality sleep

Getting adequate sleep is one of the crucial steps to naturally support your breast health. Start by…

  • Having a consistent daily sleep routine: It’s ideal to sleep and wake up at the same time every day. This will help your body restore any imbalance and also help restore your circadian rhythm.
  • Being active: Regular exercise supports melatonin production, your sleep hormone. It can also sync your other body systems with your circadian rhythm.7
  • 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.8
  • Wearing a Castor Oil Eye Compress to bed: Using this compress makes you feel relaxed as your Eye Compress gently blocks out distracting lights. Some studies show that wearing an eye mask to bed may help support melatonin production.9,10
Queen of the Thrones eye compress supports better sleep
It’s truly relaxing, and when you wear an Eye Compress with Castor Oil, you may be supporting natural inflammation balance11, as well as skin-loving nutrients like vitamin E, polyphenols and omegas13.

3. Use a Castor Oil Fascia Massage Roller to enhance your lymphatic flow

Queen of the Thrones Castor Oil Fascia Massage Roller Kit enhance your lymphatic flow

 

 

 

Did you know that a well-functioning lymphatic system is crucial for your breast health? It’s true! Keeping the lymph flowing through the lymph nodes in your breasts can support breast health by keeping inflammation low and, as a result, keeping your lymph nodes from getting clogged. 

The good news: there are multiple ways to support your lymphatic system, including a Castor Oil Fascia Body Roller.

You see, a Fascia Body Roller helps you do a gentle massage around your breasts so you can naturally support blood supply to your muscles, support the movement of lymphatic fluid, and assist in removing toxins from your body.

The network of lymph is directly connected to the fascia, which sits right underneath the skin.

So, fascia body rolling may help relieve muscle tension, activates your lymphatic system, and reduces pain and soreness. Plus, adding Castor Oil can further boost the benefits of the roller.

4. A simple massage can make a difference

Did you know that healthy breasts largely come from having a healthy liver?

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, negative liver emotions such as frustration, anger, and resentment can result in the accumulation of toxins in the body, adversely affecting your breasts.14

So how can you easily support your liver?

Massaging the liver aids in the removal of stagnated toxins15, protecting and supporting breast health.

Plus, wearing a Castor Oil Pack for Liver may also support breasts… But how? Read on!

Firstly, it’s mechanical, with the compression of the pack placed over the liver (under your right rib cage), in combination with the movement of your breathing muscles.

This may act like a pump to your lymphatic system, encouraging lymphatic drainage. Amazing, agreed?

Secondly, it’s neurological, because when the pack is placed on specific dermatomes, this activates the somatic visceral reflexes triggering the activity of internal detox and cleansing organs like the liver, kidney, gut, gallbladder, and more.16

Thirdly, the combination of both mechanical and neurological factors work because the pack stimulates the body’s skin receptors and natural oxytocin feedback loop. This helps activate the vagus nerve and help shifts your body into a rest and digest state17 where liver detox is optimized.

This direct effect of the Castor Oil Pack compress stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system. Plus, the penetration of the Castor Oil into your tissues may support inflammation balance.

Queen of the Thrones Castor Oil Liver Packs improves parasympathetic tone

Plus, the penetration of the Castor Oil into the tissues may help reduce inflammation via the Peyer’s patches.18

So, without the pack, Castor Oil will not penetrate as deeply and will instead act much more like a skin emollient. So, as you can see, you need the pack to experience the full range of benefits.

But, even though the Castor Oil Pack is traditionally worn over the liver for breast health, you can also wear Castor Oil Packs over your breasts.

However, don’t use the same pack for your liver as you do your breasts.

It’s unknown whether toxic substances are released via the skin with Castor Oil Packs, especially over the liver since it’s the hub for toxic cleanup in the body. So, to prevent the transfer of toxins to more sensitive areas, only use designated packs on the respective area.

Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Packs for Breasts come in 2 comfortable sizes – Small or Large.

Would you love to know how you can use Castor Oil to support your breast health? Click the button below to get 2 easy DIY Castor Oil recipes so you can support your breasts and lymphatic flow. Amazing, agreed?

5. Eat walnuts for breast wellness

Have you ever heard of the Doctrine of Signatures? You probably have without even realizing it. It’s a theory as old as ancient Greece and proposes that herbs and other substances can support the body part that they resemble. While there is some truth to this supposition, it’s important to understand that there are also some dangers. But when it comes to the health of your breasts, recent research has shown that walnuts can actually be beneficial for women with breast cancer. 18, 19
Walnuts are recommend to improve breast health by Queen of the Thrones
In fact, some research has shown that if people with breast cancer eat as little as two ounces of walnuts per day for just two weeks, the gene expression can be altered. They also found that eating walnuts can actually slow breast cancer growth and lessen the risk of breast cancer occurrence in mice19. Amazing, right? So, in this case at least, the Doctrine of Signatures really has some validity. Have you ever looked at the meat of a walnut? It bears a pretty close resemblance to blood vessels and glands in breast tissue.

6. Go blissfully bra-less

This is probably the best news you’ve heard all day, right? Well, here’s the thing, while going braless and its effect on breast health hasn’t been studied very much, there are some hints that may be something worth doing. Simply put, not wearing a bra most likely won’t cause any problems. Medical anthropologists Sydney Ross Singer and Soma Grismaijer did a study and described their findings in their book titled, Dressed to Kill. They came up with some interesting evidence suggesting that there might be a correlation between wearing tight bras and breast cancer rates.  And it makes sense if you think about it. In fact, the Arizona Center for Advanced Medicine suggests that wearing tight bras for long periods of time can actually restrict the movement of lymphatic fluid in your breasts which could compromise breast health21. So, while you probably don’t want to go bouncing into work braless, you might want to release the girls for a few hours every day. Better still, go for a walk braless or do other kinds of light exercise to help move the lymph through your breast tissue.

A recipe to help support better circulation and lymphatic flow

Now that we’ve described a few ways to help you support better breast wellness, why not get started today with this easy and enjoyable recipe to help you reconnect to your body through self-massage.

Self-Love Breast Massage Recipe

Breast massage recipe by Queen of the Thrones

Ingredients:

  1. Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil
  2. Baking Soda
  3. Organic Rosemary Essential Oil

Directions:

  1. In a small bowl, add about 3 tbsp of Castor Oil. 
  2. Then mix in a small amount of Baking Soda to form a paste. 
  3. Add 2-3 drops of Organic Rosemary Essential Oil. 
  4. Once you’ve made the paste, massage the mixture onto your breasts and armpits. 
  5. Allow it to absorb for an hour or more, then rinse.

Would you love more recipes for breast wellness? Download this free eGuide!

So, gorgeous, your breast health is in your hands. Try and add these six wellness habits as part of your life.

They will not only support your breasts’ health but also help support more energy, less stress, and a more balanced mood!

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!

Why Do You Feel Hungover After Just One Drink?

Why Do You Feel Hungover After Just One Drink?

Hungover Without Drinking Alcohol by Queen of the Thornes

Why Do You Feel Hungover After Just One Drink?

Written by: Dr. Marisol Teijeiro N.D. (Inactive)

Medically reviewed by: Victoria Williams R.H.N.  &  Joanna Teljeur

Est. reading time: 7 minutes

Here’s why sugar overgrowth in your gut contributes to hangover symptoms and what you can do to help restore balance in your gut microbiome.

I had one drink last night, and I woke up with a cluster headache, foggy brain and feeling like total sh*t. All from just one drink? One drink! What’s up with that?! This never used to happen to my body before. I mean come on… It was just ONE drink!!! Has this ever happened to you

Why do I get hangover symptoms without drinking?

So you go out and you don’t even drink alcohol, but you wake up the next morning feeling hungover. How can this be, right? It makes absolutely NO SENSE, agreed?

Actually, and to be honest, it makes perfect sense, because I’ve seen this so often in clinical practice, and I’ve experienced it myself as well. So, I’m going to explain to you why you get a hangover after just one drink or even without drinking at all – and what you can do about it.

We don’t often realize these little signs and what they tell us about our bodies. If you know me, you know I love educating about poop, but there are so many more clues about what our body says about us. This “alcohol-less hangover” is one of them, and it actually shows a lot about what is going on in our gut.

What does a one drink hangover tell you about your gut? 

One hint? It has everything to do with your microbiome! So, read on to learn more.

Whenever you are afflicted by hangover symptoms, think of them like the drama in a Mexican telenovela. The symptoms of a hangover add turmoil, turbulence, and some painful excitement to our lives. You know, like the drama you talk about with your friends – the kind you try to figure out like a detective. You see, these hangover symptoms are the tune our basic biochemistry is singing. And for some, this singing is getting pretty loud and cacophonous which is basically an expression of our bodies in distress.

Feeling hungover after minimal amounts of alcohol or food is clearly not the norm, but when it becomes your norm, it gives us valuable information about WHY your biochemical song is out of tune.

How does sugar overgrowth affect your hangover symptoms?

Well, it all comes down to this. Any food or drink that you ingest eventually turns into one basic molecule, and that molecule is sugar.

Starches, alcohol, fruits, and vegetables all become instant forms of sugar for our bodies. Fats and proteins on the other hand, need to be modified into a different form before they can serve as an energy source, and that takes a lot longer.

Think of it like this: Alcohol, sugary pop, pastries, fruits, and certain foods like high starch breads, and basically anything that has sugar in it… is already sugar in your intestines.

And it’s important to remember that when you eat, your gut bacteria eats too!

What causes sugar fermentation and yeast overgrowth?

Your body, and especially your gut, is the home for trillions of  bacteria and yeasts that all feed on the foodstuff that we ingest.

Eight things that cause candida by Queen of the Thrones

Yeast, otherwise known as Candida albicans, can overgrow quite easily. If you have a history of taking antibiotics, birth control pills, or if you have estrogen dominance, you’re already at a higher risk for Candida overgrowth. Hmm, sounds like almost every woman that I know! Is this you too? 

So, these critters are all hanging around in the closed system known as your gut microbiome.  Now, if you’ve ever baked bread, you know that something dramatic happens when you pour sugar into a bowl with water and yeast.

What happens?  

You get a mini explosion as the yeast gobbles up the sugar. And when you leave the sugar and yeast long enough, you get fermentation. You know how the dough rises because of the yeast? That’s the same thing that happens in your belly (think bloating). 

But, in your gut microbiome fermentation creates alcohol and acetyl aldehydes that inhibit your body’s ability to detoxify and cleanse. In short, it creates the dreaded symptoms of a hangover! 

How to stop Candida overgrowth?

When you have a big buildup of yeast in your body, you are already what I like to call your very own “personal alcohol factory”, A.K.A. Super Fermenter (insert your name here). So, if you have hangover symptoms after just one drink, you’re feeling crummy because you’re already producing your own alcohol internally, and then by drinking alcohol or consuming high sugar food/drinks, your gut microbiome quickly creates more alcohol and pushes you over the edge! Believe it or not, it’s like drinking two bottles of wine, all on your own!

Basically, we are all one big biochemical factory. So, what do you do to cleanse the Candida? Well, you can start by:

  • Taking a good-quality probiotic supplement
  • Eating a low sugar, low starch diet – similar to the Paleo Diet
  • Avoiding alcohol until you get things under control

And now for my secret weapon when it comes to yeast overgrowth in the gut… the Castor Oil Pack.

It’s always about working on your microbiome, the bacteria and yeast balance in your body. Yeast grows in a gut environment that is hospitable to it. If you have slow moving intestines, low nutrient levels, high inflammation, stress and bad bacteria, your gut microbiome is becoming a comfy cozy home for yeast to set up shop.

But there is hope! Castor Oil Packs works on all of these factors to help make our gut an inhospitable place for yeasts to grow. Bye-bye one drink hangovers!

Four ways to help candida by Queen of the Thrones

How do Castor Oil Packs help balance the microbiome and support a hangover?

Have you ever heard your parents or grandparents talk about using Castor Oil as a laxative? Well, it’s true! When you drink it, it works really well as a very strong stimulant laxative, which is exactly why I don’t recommend drinking it to my patients.

But when you use Castor Oil with a less-mess Castor Oil Pack, the experience is all together different!

Castor Oil Packs may help support colon cleansing, constipation, and better bowel movements

A study was done in an old age home where the researchers compared Castor Oil Packs to conventional laxatives. Lo and behold, Castor Oil Packs were shown to be just as effective for constipation as oral laxatives but without cramping and the intense urgency to run to the bathroom1.

Better still, Castor Oil contains ricinoleic acid which has been shown to support peristalsis of the smooth muscle of the digestive tract2. In other words, Castor Oil Packs worn on your abdominal area may help support your intestines as they move waste through your system. And this is exactly what you want for better cleansing, better detox, and as a result, a more balanced microbiome.

And if that isn’t convincing enough, some recent research in periodontal medicine has shown that Castor Oil is one of the only natural substances that can break down biofilm3,4,5 – a protective layer created by bad bacteria that prevents you from killing it. What does this mean? Basically, you can only do a true Candida cleanse if you can get through the protective biofilm of the yeast… and a natural way to do this may be with Castor Oil.

In short, Castor Oil Packs may help support balance in your gut microbiome. Pretty amazing, agreed?

Castor Oil Packs may help support your gut nutrient balance

OK, so Castor Oil is a heavy hitter when it comes to nutrients. It’s a thick, rich oil replete with Omega 6 and 9, vitamin E and polyphenols6 and may also promote and preserve the antioxidants nitric oxide7 and glutathione8. So you might be wondering why this matters?

Here’s the deal – nitric oxide which has been shown to reduce Candida albicans9 while your body’s top-dog antioxidant, glutathione is essential for detoxification and cleansing.

When you wear a Castor Oil Pack with 100% pure, certified organic, extra virgin and hexane-free Castor Oil bottled in amber glass, you may help support better gut nutrient levels.

And in case I haven’t already mentioned it, Castor Oil is also an amazing carrier oil. It has the ability to penetrate the skin deeply and may carry nutrients across your skin barrier – allowing them to absorb deeper. And in this case, Castor Oil worn on your skin over your liver area in a Castor Oil Pack, may help support the absorption of these vital nutrients into your digestive tract.

Bottom line: Castor Oil Packs may help support a better balance in your gut. Brilliant, don’t you think?

Castor Oil Packs may help support inflammation balance

Remember how I said that Castor Oil contains ricinoleic acid? Well, to be more specific, Castor Oil contains 90% ricinoleic acid. This is an amazing asset, because in an animal study, ricinoleic acid has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties via reduction of substance P10

What is substance P? Well, without going into an entire biochemistry lesson, substance P is a mediator of pain. When you reduce substance P, you reduce pain. It’s that simple. 

Castor Oil may also help support PGE3 (prostaglandin E3), which creates a similar result in the body that happens when you take fish oils. Basically, Castor Oil has been shown to have anti-inflammatory11 properties, and when you wear Castor Oil Packs, you may help support a better balanced environment for your gut microbiome. And a balanced gut environment is a happy place for GOOD bacteria to thrive.

Castor Oil Packs may help support stress balance

You might be wondering if you can enjoy all these benefits by just rubbing Castor Oil on your skin. Is this you?

Well, this is where the compress part of Castor Oil Packs come into play.

You see, the gentle compression of the pack on your body may help move you into a relaxed state12, and support your love and connection hormone, oxytocin13. If you’ve ever used a weighted blanket then you know exactly what I mean. The only difference is that Castor Oil Packs are like a micro version of a weighted blanket, but they may still provide that comfy, cozy, and RELAXING sensation.

Basically, oxytocin helps balance cortisol14 (the stress hormone). So when you have more oxytocin, you can naturally shift more easily into the relaxed state. But this can’t be achieved with Castor Oil alone. The pack is a must!

But that’s not the only benefit. Castor Oil Packs are made with soft organic cotton flannel, and that luxurious feeling combined with the warm oil on the skin may activate the pleasure centers in your brain15,16, and help support dopamine production – a feel-good hormone that helps you feel satisfied.

Castor Oil Packs may help to get rid of bad bacteria

So, now we know that hangover symptoms are a reflection of gut health and Candida (or yeast) overgrowth, let’s break down how Castor Oil Packs affect the bad bacteria in your gut.

When bad bacteria is present and flourishing in your gut, yeast sneaks in and has a blow-out party. And that party, my friends, is Candida overgrowth. So when this happens, the bad bacteria create this mucus-like film around themselves called biofilm for protection.

Not many substances are able to break down this yucky layer, but fortunately, Castor Oil is one of them3, 4, 5! And if you want to balance your gut microbiome, stop yeast overgrowth, and subsequently mitigate hangover symptoms, you’ve got to break through that biofilm as the first order of business!

So, in a nutshell, balance can be achieved in your microbiome. And when you achieve this balance, you will stop having one-drink-hangovers AND the factors that caused the yeast in the first place, like loss of good bacteria from antibiotics or estrogen dominance, may also improve! Fantastic, right?

So what’s the best thing for hangover symptoms?

Well my friends, if you’re feeling hungover with any of these symptoms…

  • A cluster or migraine headache that feels like you spent all night banging your head against a wall
  • Lethargy so bad it feels you’re carrying the world on your shoulders and can barely move
  • Dark circles under your eyes that would win in the raccoon category at your local beastly pageant
  • An extra foggy brain after only one drink (or none!)

…don’t be dismayed

There really is a natural biological cause. Truly! It’s not your fault, and there really is something that you can do about it!

Get started with your very own super easy, less-mess Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Pack.

It’s time to support your biology so you can feel better, live your best life, feel freer, and have fun! So there you go, with regular practice, over time, it is POSSIBLE to reset your gut!

Natural recipe for a hangover 

While you’re working towards better microbiome balance, you might find some hangover relief with this very easy recipe that can help replenish your electrolytes – hangover or not! One of the benefits of this recipe is that you’ll be able to support your fluid balance after drinking alcohol, after exercising, or even after being sick! 

You see, electrolytes are essential minerals that your body needs to function properly. When you replenish your electrolytes, your gut, muscles, and nerve function will all be on the receiving end of something wonderful! Besides that, it’s just delicious and refreshing! 

A Natural Electrolyte Remedy

Prep time: 2 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 cups sparkling water
  • Juice of ½ lemon
  • Pinch of Himalayan salt
  • Dash of cayenne pepper (optional) 

Directions:

  1. Pour 1.5 cups of sparkling water into a glass.
    2. Then add the juice of ½ a lemon.
    3. Add Himalayan salt, and the cayenne pepper (optional). Stir and enjoy!

Conclusion

So, the next time you feel those dreaded hangover symptoms after having only one drink, remember that your discomfort is actually your body telling you it’s a little off balance and that your gut microbiome is in need of a little TLC. 

In the meantime, you can start working towards better microbiome balance today by wearing your Castor Oil Pack regularly. 

Don’t forget to share this with your friends on social media, through email and to like us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to learn more about  joining the movement so that we can all have an improvement!

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. 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.  
  2. 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 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22615395
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Marcela Moreira Salles, Maurício Malheiros Badaró, Carolina Noronha Ferraz de Arruda, Vanessa Maria Fagundes Leite, Cláudia Helena Lovato da Silva, Evandro Watanabe, Viviane de Cássia Oliveira, Helena de Freitas Oliveira Paranhos, Antimicrobial activity of complete denture cleanser solutions based on sodium hypochlorite and Ricinus communis – a randomized clinical study.
  6. Marwat SK, Rehman F, Khan EA, Baloch MS, Sadiq M, Ullah I, Javaria S, Shaheen S. Review – Ricinus cmmunis – Ethnomedicinal uses and pharmacological activities.Pak J Pharm Sci. 2017 Sep;30(5):1815-1827.
  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.
  8. Holm T, Brøgger-Jensen MR, Johnson L, Kessel L.Glutathione preservation during storage of rat lenses in optisol-GS and castor oil. PLoS One. 2013 Nov 19;8(11):e79620. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0079620. eCollection 2013.
  9. Stasko N1, McHale K2, Hollenbach SJ2, Martin M2, Doxey R2. Nitric Oxide-Releasing Macromolecule Exhibits Broad-Spectrum Antifungal Activity and Utility as a Topical Treatment for Superficial Fungal Infections. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2018 Jun 26;62(7). pii: e01026-17. doi: 10.1128/AAC.01026-17. Print 2018 Jul.
  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.  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. PMID: 25542985 
  12. 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.
  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.
  14. 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
  15. 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
  16. 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 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19363489

 

What Is A Castor Oil Pack & Why Do It?

What Is A Castor Oil Pack & Why Do It?

What Is A Castor Oil Pack and Why Do It?

What Is A Castor Oil Pack & Why Do It?

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.

Your Complete Guide On How To Do A Castor Oil Pack

Are you wondering what to expect after using the Castor Oil Pack for Liver?

Or, are you curious to know more about the Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Pack before you add it to your daily self-care routine?

Is this you? This blog discusses everything you need to know about Castor Oil and Castor Oil Packs and how the two work together to support both your liver and overall wellness.

So, what is a Castor Oil Pack?

Castor Oil Packs are an ancient self-care practice and foundation of naturopathic and functional medicine popularized in the early 1900s by Edgar Cayce.

This traditional natural wellness practice involves applying Castor Oil to a cotton compress and wearing it on the body (typically over the liver) to support liver detox, deeper sleep, less stress, better bowel movements, and more.

The Castor Oil Pack lost its appeal because of its messy and time-consuming nature and difficulty accessing quality organic materials. Makes sense, agreed?”

So, we made this practice easy for the 21st century with the Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Pack for Liver, a tried and true modernized Castor Oil Pack that’s heatless, less-mess, and easy to use.

Would you love to know 3 vital body functions you can support with Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Packs?

Well, we have an Infographic for you that explains the 3 key benefits of Castor Oil Packs, loved and recommended by wellness practitioners.

With consistent use, Castor Oil Packs can support your body from the outside in. So much so that many people who love and use Castor Oil Packs think of it as a game changer.

Queen of the Thrones happy customer testimony

Where to wear your Castor Oil Pack?

Castor Oil Packs can be worn all over the body from your thyroid, your tummy, your pelvic area, your joints, and even your eyes – but they are thought to have the most systemic benefit when worn over the liver area. This is because the liver area is where the regulatory systems of your body all intersect and interconnect (your hormonal, immune, nervous and digestive systems). Many people assume that you need to wear your Liver Pack right on your liver to get the benefits. Is this you too? However, this is not the case. Anatomically, the liver is located near the top of your right ribcage under the right breast. It would be a little difficult to wear your pack there, agreed? 
Liver location in the body by Queen of the Thrones

The ideal placement for your Castor Oil Pack is your liver area, over top of the dermatomes connected to your liver.

You see, the anti-inflammatory component of Castor Oil called ricinoleic acid1 permeates the epidermis because of its molecular weight, this is where your circulatory and lymphatic vessels lie. And when placed over your liver area, these Packs activate the somatic and visceral reflexes (response to a stimulus) supporting the activity of internal detox and cleansing organs like the liver, kidney, gut, gallbladder, and more.

So, this is why it’s ideal to wear the Pack over your liver area, below your ribs on the right side of your body. This covers your T5-T12 dermatomes which support the gallbladder, liver, diaphragm, stomach, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, small intestine, appendix, adrenals, uterus and colon.  

How to use your Castor Oil Liver Pack?

It’s as easy as following the two-step process so you can support your body from the outside in.

Step One: Apply 1 tbsp of Organic Castor Oil to the soft organic cotton flannel side of your Pack. 

*Always add your Organic Castor Oil to the middle of the pack to help keep the oil from the seams, as the Pack is not 100% impermeable.

Dermatomes of the Body Supported by The Castor Oil Pack for Liver

Step Two: Place the soft cotton flannel side of your Castor Oil Pack over your liver area (under your right rib cage) and tie it in place with the soft, stretchy, adjustable straps.

*Remember: Castor Oil WILL STAIN clothing & bed sheets so take extra care when preparing your Pack. Of course, you can always wear an old t-shirt over your Pack just in case.

With regular practice, you will train your body to respond better to stress. Amazing, agreed? 

And the best part…

You can wear your Pack for one hour before bed, and even better, wear your Pack overnight to help you cleanse while you sleep.

You see, your body naturally cleanses when you’re sleeping. So, by wearing your Castor Oil Liver Pack overnight you’re supporting natural liver detoxification, lymphatic drainage2, and colon cleansing3,14

Learn how to use Castor oil Packs for liver designed by Queen of the Thrones

How do Castor Oil Packs support your liver?

Castor Oil is a unique vegetable oil derived from the castor bean. It contains 90% ricinoleic acid, a fatty acid structure strikingly similar to that of prostaglandin E1. In simple terms, it is a strong anti-inflammatory4 agent in our body. Here’s how it works… Mechanical: The compression of your Castor Oil Pack placed over the liver (slightly covering the lower free ribs under your right rib cage), combined with the movement of your breathing muscles, serves like a pump to your lymphatic system, encouraging lymphatic drainage2. Amazing, agreed? 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, gallbladder, and more. A combination of both mechanical and neurological: The Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Pack stimulates the body’s skin receptors that stimulate the natural oxytocin5 feedback loop activating the vagus nerve, shifting the body into the ‘rest and digest’ state where liver detox is optimized. This gentle compression of the Castor Oil Pack stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system6,7,8. Amazing, right?
Queen of the Thrones Castor Oil OAcks supports detox and digestion

 You can learn more about the 3 vital body functions you can support with Castor Oil Packs in your FREE infographic.

What are the key benefits of Castor Oil Liver Packs?

First, let’s look at the most important function of your Castor Oil Pack, which is to help…

1. Balance inflammation

Did you know that inflammation is part of your body’s process of fighting against things that harm it (like infections) in an attempt to heal and protect itself?

So, when something damages your cells, your body releases chemicals that trigger an inflammatory response from your immune system10. It’s a natural process, but inflammation is often out of control in today’s modern world.

When you are inflamed, your body is acidic. However, the enzymes in your body don’t function properly in an acidic environment, as they require an alkaline environment11

Inflammation is like fire, and what does a firefighter do to put out a fire? They put water on it. Central abdominal bloating and weight gain are often caused because our body sends water to the site of inflammation to ‘put out the fire’. Makes sense, agreed?

So, since Castor Oil contains ricinoleic acid, a natural anti-inflammatory1-4, it may support the natural reduction of water retention and swelling.

Castor Oil also supports detox by helping to…

2. Preserve glutathione status

Glu…tat…what?

Well, glutathione is the master detoxification agent of the body12. But, unfortunately, it can quickly be depleted mainly because of chronic diseases, including autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. 

Studies on rats have shown that Castor Oil is supportive of preserving glutathione levels13.  You see, glutathione is an antioxidant that pulls toxins out of your body, and that’s why we get depleted so quickly. 

Castor Oil also supports the elimination of waste from your body by…

3. Help move your bowels

lOne of the major processes of your body is your bowel movements. If you can’t eliminate (a.k.a go to the bathroom), you self-intoxicate.

Remember those anti-inflammatory prostaglandins that Castor Oil mimics? Well, these are the same ones that attach to the receptors of smooth muscle14 in the body, namely your gut and uterus.

So, this physical smooth muscle function moves things out of the body, and your Castor Oil Liver Pack helps stimulate it3,14 so you can go to the bathroom naturally and rid yourself of feeling backed up. Sounds wonderful, agreed?

Lastly, Castor Oil aids in maintaining your general wellness by helping your body…

4. Microbiome balance

The microbiome and bacteria in your gut are a mix of good and bad bugs. The balance of the two influences your well-being. So, when the balance is off, you feel unwell. Makes sense, right? Biofilm is a big bad barrier that bad bacteria can produce in the microbiome. It keeps the bad bugs in and the good bugs out. Unfortunately, this causes severe stress on the body, inhibiting cleansing and detoxification. Castor Oil is one of the only natural substances that can breakdown biofilm15,16,17, allowing your body to maintain a balanced ecology (environment). 
Smart Bowel movements with Queen of the Thrones Castor Oil Packs

In combination with a good diet, adequate fluid intake (water/tea), flow (urine, poop) mindset, and exercise, Castor Oil Packs are one of the cornerstones to supporting your bowels.

All in all, starting with your tried and true Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Pack for Liver, you will be able to support… 

  • Gentle liver detox
  • Colon cleansing3,14
  • Lymphatic drainage2

However, not all Castor Oil Packs are made equal.

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

  • 100% pure
  • Organic
  • 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

Try it for yourself to see!

You can also learn more about the best practices for your Castor Oil Pack with your FREE infographic. Would you love that?

Common questions

1. Why do I have to replace it after two months of regular use?

The traditional way of doing Castor Oil Packs was to use the SAME compress over and over and over. This was okay, before the industrial revolution when our environment wasn’t as toxic.

We now know that the increasing environmental toxicity impacts wellness. This is why it’s important to add fresh oil every time and replace your pack every 2 months for ease of use, comfort, and sanitation.
 

2. Why can’t I just drink Castor Oil or rub it on my skin?

Castor Oil orally is a stimulant laxative that causes cramping and makes you poop. Simply rubbing it on your skin and wearing a T-shirt overtop only gives you about 50% of the benefits. You need the pack to help move your body into a relaxed state via gentle compression to support liver detox, lymphatic drainage, and colon cleansing.

 

3. Why can’t I use organic bamboo or any old cloth?

ONLY use organic cotton, wool or linen! Other materials like ‘organic’ bamboo are highly processed with chemicals. Old clothing may be made with harmful dyes, bleach, and flame retardants that you don’t want to absorb into your body.

4. What if I’m on medications, hormone replacement therapy, birth control pills, IUDs, or supplements?

Castor Oil Packs are safely combined with any medication and supplement and may even help them work better. There are no known contraindications or interactions with medication, and they are safe to use with hormone replacements, TTC medicines, birth control pills, and IUDs.

5. Isn’t it messy?

That’s why we created this LESS-mess pack. It’s not entirely messless, but LESS messy than a DIY pack. Castor Oil does stain, so always wear an old T-shirt.

6. Don’t I have to add heat?

Extra heat isn’t necessary because it’s engineered to hold in your body heat naturally.

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. 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”
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. 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. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
10. Chen L, Deng H, Cui H, Fang J, Zuo Z, Deng J, Li Y, Wang X, Zhao L. Inflammatory responses and inflammation-associated diseases in organs. Oncotarget. 2017 Dec 14;9(6):7204-7218. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.23208. PMID: 29467962; PMCID: PMC5805548.
11. Hopkins E, Sanvictores T, Sharma S. Physiology, Acid Base Balance. [Updated 2022 Sep 12]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-.
12. Silvagno F, Vernone A, Pescarmona GP. The Role of Glutathione in Protecting against the Severe Inflammatory Response Triggered by COVID-19. Antioxidants (Basel). 2020 Jul 16;9(7):624. doi: 10.3390/antiox9070624. PMID: 32708578; PMCID: PMC7402141.
13. Holm T, Brøgger-Jensen MR, Johnson L, Kessel L.Glutathione preservation during storage of rat lenses in optisol-GS and castor oil. PLoS One. 2013 Nov 19;8(11):e79620. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0079620. eCollection 2013. PMID: 24260265
14. 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
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. 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.

 

    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.

    3 Home Remedies for Fever this Cold and Flu Season

    3 Home Remedies for Fever this Cold and Flu Season

    3 Home Remedies for Fever this Cold and Flu Season by Queen of the Thrones

    3 Home Remedies for Fever this Cold and Flu Season

    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.

    How Castor Oil Packs for Kids Can Help

    It’s that time of the year again when your child will at some point pick up a seasonal cold because that’s just what kids do, agreed?

    And sometimes, their little immune systems are really put to the test and those colds are accompanied by a fever.

    So, you run to the store for your go-to fever remedy, just to find that the shelves are empty due to supply and demand. Can you relate?

    As a result, you are left to feel stressed and frustrated, am I right?

    Well, there’s no reason to be stressed, because here you’ll discover three tried and true home remedies for fever used by natural practitioners.

    As you may have guessed, one of the natural tools to support a fever is a Castor Oil Pack. A study shows that Castor Oil Packs may also help to support immunomodulation1. Sounds good, agreed?

    Keep reading so you can know the 3 ancient tried and true fever remedies used by natural practitioners to support your child’s fever naturally. You’ll also learn how Castor Oil Packs can help your child…

    Queen of the Thrones Castor Oil Packs improves your Parasympathetic tone

    But first, can a fever be dangerous?

    Fevers are a common symptom of illness and the immune response and are defined when one’s body temperature reaches 37.5 °C (99.5°F)2. Many natural wellness practitioners would agree that it’s generally not necessary to bring a fever down unless it’s causing discomfort.

    Studies have shown that fevers are rarely harmful, but, temperatures higher than 41°C (105.8°F) can be dangerous (although, rare)3.

    Three tried and true home remedies for a fever

    These natural remedies may not only help with fever, but also support your child’s immune system. Let’s have a look at these remedies and how they work. Shall we?

    1. Wet, Cold Socks

    Much like the Castor Oil Pack, this method is thought to increase circulation and enhance the immune system.

    The method goes as follows: After a warm bath, put on a thin pair of cotton socks that have been soaked in ice water (and have been generously rung out), then cover with a second pair of dry wool socks – Q for Quinn makes excellent merino wool socks for toddlers.

    During a fever, your child can wear the socks overnight and in the morning the socks will be dry. If your child sweats overnight, be sure to change their pj’s, but keep the socks on.

    You can use this remedy alone or combine it with…

    2. Cold Baths and Hydrotherapy:

    This method is thought to reduce and maintain a fever at a lower temperature, which is still beneficial when they’re sick and fighting infection.

    Lukewarm (not ice-cold) sponging or baths may help cool your child’s body and bring down their fever by enhancing circulation and reducing inflammation.

    Soak a hand towel in water and be sure to give it a good wring-out so it’s not dripping. Pat down your child’s body from head to feet. This method can be repeated multiple times.

    And the last natural remedy…

    3. Castor Oil Packs on the Liver:

    Castor Oil Packs help to improve your body’s natural ability to support liver detoxification

    Wondering how Castor Oil Packs may support a fever?

    Well, Castor Oil Packs can help to improve your body’s natural ability to support liver detoxification (toxin and pathogens), lymphatic drainage45 (circulation) and colon cleansing67 (removal), which are key factors for maintaining body temperature.

    Here’s how to use it:

    Your kid’s Castor Oil Pack practice can be done in 1 hour intervals during acute times of discomfort. Wear the pack for an hour, remove for an hour, then repeat. This practice can be done in combination with the cold sock method and between taking cool baths.

    The pack feels like a comforting warm hug for your child while relaxing their little body8-9-10-11, getting them ready for an amazingly deep, restful sleep. Afterall, sleep and rest are vital for recovery from a fever.

    Plus,  a Castor Oil Pack works from the outside-in to set the foundation for excellent gut health, which reflects in better bowel movements,6-7 balanced microbiome,12-13-14 a sense of calm and overall wellness. Sounds amazing, agreed?
    Would you love to stock up on your Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Pack for Kids now?

    Finally, always remember to stay hydrated. Dehydration can make a fever worse, so it’s important to encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids. Tea, water and broth are excellent options. 

    It’s important to consult with a healthcare professional if your child’s fever is persistent or if your child is experiencing other symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or severe pain.

    Click here for references

    References:

    1. Grady H. Immunomodulation through castor oil packs. The Journal of Naturopathic Medicine. Volume 7 Jan 1 1998; 7(1): 84-9 Corpus ID: 52838898

    2.. Green R, Webb D, Jeena PM, Wells M, Butt N, Hangoma JM, Moodley RS, Maimin J, Wibbelink M, Mustafa F. Management of acute fever in children: Consensus recommendations for community and primary healthcare providers in sub-Saharan Africa. Afr J Emerg Med. 2021 Jun;11(2):283-296. doi: 10.1016/j.afjem.2020.11.004. Epub 2021 Apr 10. PMID: 33912381; PMCID: PMC8063696.

    3.. InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. Fever in children: Overview. 2013 Dec 18 [Updated 2019 Jun 6].

    4. 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.

    5. 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.

    6. 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

    7. 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

    8. 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

    9. 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

    10. 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

    11. 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

    12. 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.PMID: 24789291

    13. 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. PMID: 28678952

    14. Marcela Moreira Salles, Maurício Malheiros Badaró, Carolina Noronha Ferraz de Arruda, Vanessa Maria Fagundes Leite, Cláudia Helena Lovato da Silva, Evandro Watanabe, Viviane de Cássia Oliveira, Helena de Freitas Oliveira Paranhos, Antimicrobial activity of complete denture cleanser solutions based on sodium hypochlorite and Ricinus communis – a randomized clinical study. Randomized Controlled Trial J Appl Oral Sci Nov-Dec 2015;23(6):637-42. doi: 10.1590/1678-775720150204. PMID: 26814466

    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.