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

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

Gluten and dairy sensibilities by Queen of the Thrones

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

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

Medically reviewed by: Melanie Swackhammer B.A. 

Est. reading time: 7 minutes.

The clue to having gut glue

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What is Gluten?

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

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

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

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

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

Gluten isn’t all bad

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

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

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

 

 

Let’s get scienc-y for a minute.

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

Most people can manage undigested gluten.

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

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

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

What about dairy?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What about dairy?

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

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

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

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

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

Let’s talk anatomy for a second. Ready?

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

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

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

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

 

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

This is not it.

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

Plus, milk is considered as a complete food.

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

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

What can you do about your digestion problems?

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

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

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

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

Click here for references

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4 Scientifically Backed Ways To Support Your Breast Health

4 Scientifically Backed Ways To Support Your Breast Health

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

4 Scientifically Backed Ways To Support Your Breast Health

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.

 

Hint: It Also Involves Your Circadian Rhythm

“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 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 often when women are at their weakest emotionally and physically — after surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy — when they start making significant lifestyle changes.

And while this is common, it’s not ideal for changing your perspective on what really matters when a problem strikes. So, you can start making changes right now to support your breast health.

Would you love to know how you can use Castor Oil to support your breast health? Now’s your chance to get 2 easy DIY Castor Oil recipes so you can support your breasts and lymphatic flow.

The old adage “prevention is better than 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 number.

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 responsible for less than 10% of the cases.2

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

It’s crucial to understand that it might not be easy to talk about your breast changes. You might be aware of certain changes happening but feel uncomfortable discussing them, right?

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 reassurance to understanding your unique body and the best steps to take.

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, and 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.

“What causes increased fluid?” A common reason for increased fluid volume is inflammation. In flammation 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 heal itself.

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 breast.

But, if your lymph vessels are blocked, this can cause your breast to 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.

Let’s dive into more about this and the connection between your…

Circadian rhythm and breast health

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.

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 aspects.5

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

The 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. Makes sense, agreed?

How can I keep my breasts healthy?

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 health. Are you ready?

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

1. Eat healthy because food matters

You are what you eat. Have you heard this before? Some ways you can support your breast health 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

2. Counting sheep to sleep? Not anymore

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.
  • 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 and makes you feel sleepy because it supports melatonin production.9,10
Queen of the Thrones eye compress supports better sleep

It’s truly relaxing, and it also delivers anti-inflammatory nutrients like vitamin E, polyphenols, and omegas and stimulating lymphatic flow.11,21,13

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

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

Did you know that a well-functioning lymphatic system is crucial for your breast health?

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

You see, a Fascia Massage Roller acts as a gentle massage around your breasts so you can naturally increase 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, moving the Fascia Massage Roller relieves 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 toxins, protecting and boosting breast health.15

Plus, wearing a Castor Oil Pack for Liver may also support breast health.. 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 acts like a pump to your lymphatic system, encouraging lymphatic drainage. 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, gallbladder, and more.16

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 oxytocin feedback loop activating the vagus nerve, shifting the body into a rest and digest state where liver detox is optimized.17

This direct effect of the Castor Oil Pack compress stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system. Amazing, right?

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

Without the pack, Castor Oil will not penetrate as deeply and act much more like a skin emollient, so the full range of benefits of the oil are enhanced with the pack itself.

Even though the Castor Oil Pack is traditionally worn over the liver for breast health, you can also wear a pack over the breasts. But don’t use the same pack for your liver as you do for your breasts.

It’s unknown if substances with toxicity may come out via the skin with Castor Oil Packs, especially over the liver since it’s the hub for cleanup of toxic substances in our bodies. To prevent the transfer of toxins to sensitive areas, only use the designated pack on its respective area.

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?

So, gorgeous, your breast health is in your hands. Try and add these four healthy 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!

How do Castor Oil Packs work?

How do Castor Oil Packs work?

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

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.

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?

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!

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.

How to Seed Cycle for Hormone Imbalance with Castor Oil Packs.

How to Seed Cycle for Hormone Imbalance with Castor Oil Packs.

Single Seed Cycling and Queen of the Thrones Castor Oil Packs for a Better Hormonal Health.

How to Seed Cycle for Hormone Imbalance with Castor Oil Packs.

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

Est. reading time: 16 minutes.

So, you’ve heard of the seed cycling protocol as a way to support hormone imbalance, right?

You may have even researched what it’s all about, but thought that maybe it wasn’t for you, or it seemed too complicated, is this you?

While an interesting protocol, seed cycling for hormone imbalance requires the patient to ingest seeds like flax, pumpkin, sesame and sunflower on specific weeks of their cycle.

This may seem like a viable, natural option for balancing the body, right?

But, what if women with hormonal imbalances are unable to tolerate eating seeds or oils, leaving them doubled over in pain?

Balance your hormones with Queen of the Thrones Castor oil Packs instead of seeds

The seed cycling protocol can then become problematic, doing more harm than good.

Are you with me? Thankfully, there’s an even easier way, are you ready? Keep reading!

Could Castor Oil Packs topically be the answer?

Both ingesting oils and consuming excessive amounts of seeds can actually cause gut health issues, as they can irritate the gut lining. No thank you, right?

This is where Castor Oil Packs come in, working from the outside in, the topical alternative to ingesting seeds or tolerating the oral intake of oils.

So many treatments require the oral route. With this comes issues like proper absorption, and irritated gut responses like leaky gut syndrome. Already a common concern for those with Hormonal unbalance.

Because of this, eating the seeds or drinking the oils leads to a lot of time, energy and money being spent for little improvement in return.

What are the benefits of Castor Oil Packs?

A Queen of the Thrones®️ Castor Oil Pack helps the body better absorb and utilize what it is taking in.

What does that mean exactly? Basically, everything just works better as a result of this practice, likely due to its parasympathetic promoting aspects of the actual compress,1-2 ones that stimulates your natural oxytocin production.

Plus, the feeling of the oil supports natural dopamine production,1A-2A making this tool a wonderful way to support hormonal imbalance as well as a feel-good option.

Plus, the anti-inflammatory action, nitric oxide promoting Castor Oil, supports gut health, biofilm breakdown and microbiome balance,3-4-5 making it a true foundational treatment, not only for cleansing and constipation, as commonly used, but in a regular health practice too.

Queen of the Thrones®️ Castor Oil Packs are known to help you feel better (in most cases).

If our original goal is to make food our medicine and encourage a healthy diet, then Queen of the Thrones®️ Hormone Balance & Detox Kit are an essential part of your wellness toolbox.

In some cases, immediate symptomatic relief 6-7 of digestive symptoms like constipation, gas and abdominal bloating and sleep problems8-9-10-11 flood the system due to the mechanistic actions of the compress itself.

This, in turn, presents with an overall feeling of wellbeing and “feel good” sensations. Similar to how you feel better when you put a “bandaid” on it.

Making sense so far? Great!

Castor Oil Packs are NOW easier to comply with

The seed cycling protocol asks a lot from patients. They must know and understand their cycle, making sure they are ingesting the correct seeds on the proper week. It can be a lot of time and effort to coordinate and a more challenging protocol to gain compliance, agreed?

Even though Castor Oil Packs, done the old way were horrible for compliance, Queen of the Thrones®️ Castor Oil Packs, on the other hand, are an excellent ally to enhance compliance of the once messy, now easy practice, not only in hormonal imbalance but also in immune, gut mucosal, microbiome, and liver metabolism balance.

Not to worry though, this new way to support your hormones and gut health is easy, comfortable and convenient! Allow me to introduce you to…

The ‘Single’ Seed Cycling Protocol with Castor Oil Packs

Enter the ‘seedless’ seed cycling protocol, a method developed to balance hormones in an easier, more supportive way. Sounds good, agreed?

This new protocol, used by health care practitioners, helps with supporting the processes of the body that aid in the creation of a successful foundation for hormonal, metabolic and immune regulation in practice.

So, how does it work exactly?

When it comes to using your Queen of the Thrones® Hormone Balance & Detox Kit there are two essential steps to follow:

Step One:

Follicular “Estrogen” Pro-inflammatory Cleansing Phase

Estrogen is your “necessary evil” 12 as both high and low levels of estrogen cause disease. It works in close coordination with inflammation, which is also a necessary evil, helping to break down tissues in the cleaning and rebuilding processes of the body.

Did you know that Inflammation and estrogen are highly connected? And for women, your follicular phase is a state dominated by estrogen that begins on the first day of your period.

Estrogen helps with balancing of your immune system

It’s true! In healthy levels, estrogen has protective mechanisms.13 During this time, the purpose of elevated estrogen is to balance inflammation while helping with preparation of the body’s “cleaning” phase, before the magical event of ovulation.

Ovulation is where the egg will drop from the ovaries and make its way, ideally fertilized, to the uterine lining, to implant for growth. This is your body’s time to let go and let flow.

During this phase, wearing a Queen of the Thrones®️ Castor Oil Pack for Liver, placed over the liver every night, for a minimum of one hour (or overnight for best results), supports the inflammation balancing role of the liver.

After all, the liver is the “major metabolic hub” of the female body.14

Supporting liver function, with the Queen of the Thrones®️ Castor Oil Liver Pack not only during the phase of the hormonal menstrual cycle, but also during the circadian rhythm throughout the night, according to both Chronobiological medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine, is recommended from 1- 3 am.

Why? Between those hours, the most highly active phase of the liver can be supported. Pretty neat, agreed?

Remember, the liver is always the first to process things like birth control pills, antibiotics and even hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Do you know the signs of an overloaded liver? During this key hormonal phase of clearance, these symptoms most often resemble that of leaky gut syndrome.

Loving what you’re learning? You won’t want to miss out on your FREE eGuide for hormone cycling!

Castor Oil Packs over the liver also support:

  • Support digestion, absorption and elimination 15-16
  • Reduce inflammation17
  • Support the body to shift into the parasympathetic state to encourage deep sleep18-19
  • Optimize nitric oxide production20-21
  • Break down biofilm22-23-24
  • Balance microbiome25

Additionally, the compress itself, when placed on the skin, naturally supports the balance of the shift from a stressed high cortisol state that drives higher estrogen, to the healthier oxytocin state at night during the periods of rest, to help with cleansing and detoxification.

This is via the low threshold afferent C tactile receptors on the skin that feed back to the cranial nerves, specifically the vagus nerve.

This shift into the parasympathetic state is like an escape button to begin the “rest, digest and detox” function.

Wear the Castor Oil Pack for Thyroid for 1 hour each day during entire cycle (not to be worn overnight).

Queen of the Thrones anti inflammatory action supports gut health

You can think of it like a weighted blanket, working in much the same mechanism to help you rest and reset.

Castor Oil supports nitric oxide, which promotes the breakdown of the biofilm,26-27-28 and improves the microbiome, as estrogen plays a key role in liver and detox.29 Speaking of detox, while cleansing may feel new to you, it’s important to remember that…

Cleansing and detoxification is a natural bodily function

Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Packs help to prepare for ovulation

Detoxifications and cleansing happens best while we sleep, and while we are in a state of rest – which is the best time to have your patients wear their Castor Oil Packs for Liver.

These are major keys of working with Castor Oil Packs over the liver to set the foundation for hormonal cleansing and hormonal balancing during the follicular phase.

Step Two:

From the time of ovulation, the body now shifts to a higher progesterone state, where the focus moves from the liver to the pelvic region.

 

This shift often begins with “mittelschmerz”, a wonderful German word for the onset of ovulation, or the “dropping” of the egg.

As the egg travels down the fallopian tube, with the great hope of meeting sperm and creating life, progesterone can be easily robbed by the production of our stress hormone, cortisol.

This biochemical pathway is primed as the body intelligence isn’t one to want pregnancy under times of stress.

Some of the stressors you may not even be familiar with that affect this key fertility stage are:

  • Gut Inflammation
  • Poor diet
  • Emotional distress
  • Excess weight
  • Drugs, and so many other factors

When there is a problem with ovulation, and getting pregnant, elevated levels of cortisol (which rob the body of natural progesterone,30 do not allow for the important nourishment of the ovaries.

During this phase, have your patient wear their Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Pack for Fertility Kit on their pelvic area every night. Here, the purpose of the Castor Oil Pack for Fertility Kit is to support the oxytocin state, causing relaxation which improves the natural levels of progesterone in the body from simply wearing the Castor Oil Pack compress.

Pretty amazing, agreed?

When beginning the “Single” Seed Cycling protocol using Queen of the Thrones®️ Castor Oil Packs, it is important to note that if your patient has NEVER done Castor Oil Packs before, it’s best for them to start either

  1. Right after the end of their period with step one over the liver or…
  2. At ovulation.

Starting your patients on their bleeding days may potentially lead to them experiencing a quite strong “letting go” sensation.

Queen of the Thrones Castor Oil Packs support reproductive health

Either starting AFTER the bleed or at ovulation will prepare them to have a better period.

Once your patient starts menstruating again, it’s time to switch back to the liver pack and so begins the simple 2 step protocol all over again.

Your patients will eventually begin to experience their symptoms less frequently over time as their body becomes regulated with their natural hormonal cycle.

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, contact us at: royalty@queenofthethrones.com

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

  1. Why does the moon make my hormones go crazy?
  2. Why is compliance so low for the traditional seed cycling protocol?
  3. Why beet juice is good for you & your patients’ gut health.
Click here for references

1. 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.

1A. 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

2. 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.

2A. 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.

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.PMID: 24789291.

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. PMID: 28678952.

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. Randomized Controlled Trial J Appl Oral Sci Nov-Dec 2015;23(6):637-42. doi: 10.1590/1678-775720150204. PMID: 26814466.

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. Patel S, Homaei A, Raju AB, Meher BR. Estrogen: The necessary evil for human health, and ways to tame it. Biomed Pharmacother. 2018 Jun;102:403-411. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.03.078. Epub 2018 Mar 22. PMID: 29573619.

13. Kovats S. Estrogen receptors regulate innate immune cells and signaling pathways. Cell Immunol. 2015 Apr;294(2):63-9. doi: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2015.01.018. Epub 2015 Feb 7. PMID: 25682174; PMCID: PMC4380804.

14. Zwighaft Z, Reinke H, Asher G. The Liver in the Eyes of a Chronobiologist. J Biol Rhythms. 2016 Apr;31(2):115-24. doi: 10.1177/0748730416633552. Epub 2016 Feb 24. PMID: 26911716.

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. 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.

18. 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

19. 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.

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

21. Izzo, Angelo. (1996). Castor oil: An update on mechanism of action. Phytotherapy Research. 10. S109-S111.

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. 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.

25. Settanni CR, Ianiro G, Franceschi F, Gasbarrini G, Gasbarrini A. From Regular Catharsis with Castor Oil to Recognizing the Importance of the Intestinal Microbiota. Dig Dis. 2020 Jan 6:1-9. doi: 10.1159/000505395. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 31905350.

26. 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.

27. 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.

28. 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.

29. Chen KL, Madak-Erdogan Z. Estrogens and female liver health. Steroids. 2018 May;133:38-43. doi: 10.1016/j.steroids.2017.10.015. Epub 2017 Nov 1. PMID: 29100781.

30. Ovulation Parallels with Inflammatory Processes Duffy, Diane M et al. “Ovulation: Parallels With Inflammatory Processes.” Endocrine reviews vol. 40,2 (2019): 369-416. doi:10.1210/er.2018-00075.

Disclaimer

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