Does the Moon make your Hormones go Crazy?

Does the Moon make your Hormones go Crazy?

Does the Moon make your Hormones go Crazy by Queen of the Thrones

Does the Moon make your Hormones go Crazy?

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

Est. reading time: 13 minutes.

Mother Nature’s Medicine: The Moon, Menstruation, Seed Cycling & Castor Oil Packs

Have you ever wondered if the full moon is controlling everything from your sleeping patterns to how irritable you feel when you’re stuck in traffic? Is the moon like a puppet master directing your every move? It’s possible, right?

In case you didn’t know, it’s no coincidence that your menstrual cycle is the same number of days, as the days on the calendar, as is the full rotation of the moon around the earth.

Everything is interconnected and the moon is controlling much more than you think. Makes sense, agreed? You’re in the right place because we’re going to discuss how the moon cycles impact your hormones and help you discover the pros and cons of seed cycling for hormone imbalance.

Beyond the days of your monthly menstrual cycle, it has an impact on every aspect of your physiology, not only your hormones.

It’s most notable in your moods and key symptoms of unbalanced hormones, your problems with your period and infertility, and even your low levels of the nightime hormone melatonin, affecting how well you sleep1.

Mother Nature’s Medicine: Seed Cycling and your period problems.

You see, mother nature carries many secrets up her sleeves on how to work with the moon cycle, for your menstrual problems.

Eating seeds is one way, in what is known as the practice of seed cycling, and is said to possibly support healthier periods cycles.

Single seed cycling by Queen of the Thrones

However, another easier, often better tolerated alternative for those who can’t eat seeds frequently and repetitively, as required in seed cycling, is ” Single” Seed Cycling done with Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Packs.

The Difference between Seed Cycling and “Single” Seed Cycling

The traditional seed cycling protocol alternates what seeds to eat at different times of the month according to your hormones and the moon: flax, pumpkin, sesame and sunflower seeds.

One downfall for many women with hormonal problems is that these seeds can cause digestive distress when repeatedly consumed, creating a leaky gut or aggravating a pre-existing condition.

Additionally, it can become a hassle preparing the seeds, coordinating when to eat each kind, and finding new recipes to keep things exciting. Many often start this protocol with the best of intentions but give up shortly after starting. Sound familiar?

“Single” Seed Cycling, on the other hand, soothes digestive distress and is simply less hassle, by using Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Packs for Liver , instead of eating seeds.

“Single” Seed Cycling is supportive for your well-being, working from the outside in.

Therefore, it’s a great alternative if you’re tired of taking so many supplements and would rather do a self-care practice as easy as wearing a Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Pack for Liver or using the Queen of the Thrones® Hormone Balance & Detox Kit, on a different part of the body, at different times of the month according to the moon cycles.

Plus, there’s an additional bonus with “Single” Seed Cycling with Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Packs.

You see, because there are many more benefits with using Castor Oil Packs, which are a traditional therapy that have been used as a traditional therapy that have been used for wellness since the beginning of time, first with the Egyptians and even the father of medicine, Hippocrates.

The benefits of these Castor Oil Packs, beyond supporting hormone cycling include, but are not limited to supporting:

Sounds good, am I right? It’s clearly a natural choice that’s so much easier to do, with so many benefits. Makes sense, agreed?

 

Queen of the Thrones benefits of Castor oil Packs.

Mother Nature’s Medicine: Chronobiology for your menstrual cycle

It’s nice to have options and tools to support the optimization of your period and hormone balance, that work with the rhythms and cycles of nature, right? This is a branch of medicine known as chronobiology.15

So, since we are biological beings, these practices aren’t simple folklore, but show clinical practice evidence that we are affected by the moon. Plus, this is one of many ways our bodies keep time.

We may not be as intensely possessed by the moon as say a werewolf, but hey, we all have our hormonal moments now, don’t we? Some of us do become rabid beasts at that time of the month when the moon is shining bright, right?

Think of it like this: You’ve had a bad day, you look at the calendar and you see it’s a full moon. Is it a coincidence?

Maybe, maybe not.

What’s the research about the moon, seed cycling & hormones?

Preliminary research is in the works, one study of interest done at old age homes couldn’t find a connection between weird mood changes and the full moon.16

However, it was done with an elderly population in an old age home, at a time in life when hormone levels are at their lowest. With moods and the moon being highly interconnected to your hormones17, not the best people to study to find the truth. Agreed?

So if one study that may have not had the best methodology says it’s not connected, it doesn’t mean it’s hocus pocus. It just means we need more research or clinical practice.

Clinical experience: The moon, hormones & seed cycling

Just ask any nurse who has worked an emergency shift on a full moon, they will give you their side of story, usually including how crazy and full of patients the hospital can get on those crazy full moon eve’s.

It’s enough to make sure you look at the calendar for where the moon cycle is at before booking an important procedure or going under the knife! Agreed?

You see, what I love about research is that it can come in the forms of clinical study, but also from a clinical practitioner’s perspective through patient observation.

The traditional seed cycling protocol, along with the easier reinvented “Single” Seed Cycling was developed along these lines, from functional integrative medicine practices and health and wellness coaches, much like yourself.

Even though these protocols have little scientific research, as in double blind placebo controlled studies, the gold standard in medicine. The lack of this research doesn’t make it wrong, it just hasn’t been studied that way yet, and may very well never be studied that way for various reasons, two of which I’ll discuss here.

Queen of the Thrones single seed cycling using castor oil packs

Mother nature only likes to be tested in her natural environment

The most important one being that mother nature isn’t the type to be put into a box and given only 2 variables to work with.

Mother nature is a product of her environment, and as such, there are millions of variables at play in the environment, the temperature, the wind, the sunlight, the food and nourishment, the exercise, the practices, the social contact, and the list goes on and on.

So, this makes it hard to study scientifically, especially using a double blind placebo scientific method. There are simply too many variables to test in nature and natural environments. Makes sense, right?

Mother nature doesn’t have deep pockets to pay for studies

The lack of funding for studies such as these impacts the understanding of the true effect of this practice. Deep pockets like those in the pharmaceutical industry fund studies that go towards new drugs, not natural medicine protocols.

Moreover, what we do know helps illuminate our choices of care in integrative and functional medicine settings.

As a practitioner, when you’re prescribing protocols like seed cycling, it’s often a combination of an in depth understanding of physiology of how the body works from a “functional” perspective”, as well as the knowledge of the ingredients used, such as flax seed, well known for its effects in hormonal wellness.18

Combining these, along with clinical observation and experience of the practical use of mother nature’s tools, like the traditional seed cycling protocol or “Single” Seed Cycling, using Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Packs, are both ethical protocols because they’re not likely to cause harm and may even provide benefit beyond what is hypothesized.

Except in the case of traditional seed cycling. Although seed cycling is one of the most highly popularized natural food and lifestyle-based practices for hormone balance, it has the worst compliance.

But why?

Well, because of digestive disturbances from repetitively eating the seeds and the hassle of preparation, seed cycling has the worst compliance. Makes sense, agreed?

The “Single” Seed Cycling protocol with Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Packs is an easier, often more tolerated alternative that overcomes these objections.

Seed cycling’s goal: Naturally balance your hormones with the moon.

So, if you want a clearer understanding of your physiology, simply start by tracking what you see in your monthly fluctuations.

I’m sure you’ve already noticed how some weeks of your monthly cycle you feel much different than others, am I right?

Some weeks you feel bloated and tired, while others have you experiencing hormonal fluctuations that leave you crying, craving, or wanting more of your partner or yourself, and then the next moment you’re completely withdrawn. Can you relate?

Queen of the Thrones how castor oil packs contribute to menopause

You see, hormonal balance is when you experience less ups and downs over your monthly moon guided period cycle. Makes sense, agreed?

It’s time to understand…

  1. Why your body does what it does.
  2. What role the moon plays in your monthly menstrual cycle and your hormone unbalance.
  3. An extra tool you should have in your self care tool box to support your hormonal balance.

Would you love that?

“Single” Seed Cycling protocol with Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Packs is a simple way for you to support your hormones so you can align with the moon and mother nature, the easy way.

Can the solar eclipse affect hormones?

Many have speculated about the moon’s influence on human behavior and physiology. From myths about full moons affecting moods to beliefs about lunar cycles influencing menstrual cycles. However, what about the lesser-discussed solar eclipse? Could it also have an impact on our hormones?

As we gear up for the much-anticipated solar eclipse of 2024, it’s worth exploring the relationship between this event and our hormonal balance. 

What exactly is a solar eclipse?

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, temporarily blocking the sun’s light. During this captivating event, the sky darkens, and observers may witness the sun’s corona, creating a spectacle that has fascinated civilizations throughout history.

What is an eclipse by Queen of the Thrones

But does this cosmic display have any tangible effects on our bodies or our hormones? While there’s limited scientific research specifically linking solar eclipses to hormonal changes, there could be a potential connection.

One area of interest is the influence of solar eclipses on melatonin production. Melatonin, often dubbed the “sleep hormone,” regulates our sleep-wake cycles and plays a crucial role in maintaining our body’s circadian rhythm. Some believe that the sudden darkness during a solar eclipse could disrupt melatonin levels, leading to temporary sleep disturbances or alterations in mood.

Can the solar eclipse affect the menstrual cycle?

Now, what about the menstrual cycle? Can a solar eclipse affect it? While there’s no direct scientific evidence linking the two, some individuals claim to experience changes in their menstrual patterns coinciding with celestial events.19 

It’s essential to approach such claims with a critical eye, recognizing that many factors influence hormonal fluctuations and menstrual cycles. Stress, diet, exercise, and overall health play significant roles in hormonal balance, often overshadowing any potential effects of celestial events like solar eclipses.

While the solar eclipse of 2024 promises to be a captivating sight, its impact on our hormones remains largely speculative.

Hormone-Balancing Carrot Juice Recipe

During the solar eclipse and other celestial events, maintaining hormonal balance is great for your self-care. Carrots, energetically resonating with the color of the sun, are believed to ground and support the body during these times.

Queen of the Thrones hormone balancing beat juice

Here’s a simple recipe for a hormone-balancing carrot juice:

Ingredients:

  • 4 large carrots, washed and trimmed
  • 1 small piece of ginger (about 1 inch), peeled
  • 1 medium-sized apple, cored and sliced
  • 1/2 lemon, peeled

Instructions:

  • Cut the carrots into smaller pieces to fit into your juicer chute.
  • Add the carrots, ginger, apple, and lemon to the juicer.
  • Turn on the juicer and process the ingredients until you get a smooth, vibrant juice.
  • Pour the juice into glasses and serve immediately.

Enjoy the refreshing and hormone-balancing benefits of this carrot juice during the solar eclipse and beyond.

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. Kronfeld-Schor N, Dominoni D, de la Iglesia H, Levy O, Herzog ED, Dayan T, Helfrich-Forster C. Chronobiology by moonlight. Proc Biol Sci. 2013 Jul 3;280(1765):20123088. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2012.3088. PMID: 23825199; PMCID: PMC3712431.

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

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

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. 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.

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

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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. PMID: 26814466

10. 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.

11. 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.

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. PMID: 12571120.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. Kronfeld-Schor N, Dominoni D, de la Iglesia H, Levy O, Herzog ED, Dayan T, Helfrich-Forster C. Chronobiology by moonlight. Proc Biol Sci. 2013 Jul 3;280(1765):20123088. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2012.3088. PMID: 23825199; PMCID: PMC3712431.

16. Cohen-Mansfield J, Marx MS, Werner P. Full moon: does it influence agitated nursing home residents? J Clin Psychol. 1989 Jul;45(4):611-4. Doi: 10.1002/1097-4679(198907)45:4<611::aid-jclp2270450417>3.0.co;2-f. PMID: 2768501.

17. Albert K, Pruessner J, Newhouse P. Estradiol levels modulate brain activity and negative responses to psychosocial stress across the menstrual cycle. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2015 Sep;59:14-24. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.04.022. Epub 2015 May 7. PMID: 26123902; PMCID: PMC4492530.

18. Phipps WR, Martini MC, Lampe JW, Slavin JL, Kurzer MS. Effect of flax seed ingestion on the menstrual cycle. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1993 Nov;77(5):1215-9. doi: 10.1210/jcem.77.5.8077314. PMID: 8077314.

Disclaimer

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

How to Cleanse & Detox with Castor Oil Packs for Balanced Testosterone

How to Cleanse & Detox with Castor Oil Packs for Balanced Testosterone

How to Cleanse & Detox with Queen of the Thrones Castor Oil Packs for Balanced Testosterone

How to Cleanse & Detox with Castor Oil Packs for Balanced Testosterone

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: Marisol Teijeiro, N.D. (inactive) & Melanie Swackhammer, BA.

Est. reading time: 12 minutes.

 

Why Men Need to Cleanse and Detox While They Sleep

It’s that time of year again, my friend. When we start our search for a quick and easy cleanse and detox practice so we can look good now and feel better after a long winter of lack, right?

Lack of sun, lack of energy & balance, lack of exercise, lack of a healthy diet…the list goes on, agreed?

One thing we certainly aren’t lacking is a build-up of stress and toxins (also known as ‘garbage’), and the discomforts of possible leaky gut symptoms we experience because of them, wouldn’t you agree?

Then what happens? Well, you start to feel like your body is backed up with all that ‘garbage’. Kind of like a house that never gets visited by the weekly garbage truck. Can you see it?

Cleansing and Detoxing your body is easier with Queen of the Thrones Castor Oil Packs

Your easy way to cleanse & detox to boost energy levels

And, for most people, the idea of cleansing and detoxing is crunching on carrot sticks, while almost drowning yourself in 8 cups of water all day and then joining a hot yoga class twice a week after work. And this alone is a deterrent to the thought of even attempting a cleanse, especially for men. Would you agree?

Because, let’s face it, after working in a mentally and physically demanding environment all day, the last thing he wants to do is anything at the end of it.

Even though he would LOVE to feel good with an energy boost from a balanced production of hormones such as testosterone, to start his car rebuild in the garage or finish drywalling the basement, or even for a romantic night out on the town with his partner, he just can’t find the energy.

With the months of fighting with heartburn that feels like fire is going to barrel up your throat like a rocket launcher, to the weeks of constipation that feels like a football is lodged in your large intestine, on top of having to be mentally and physically present every day, how can the idea of anything else be of interest anyway?

Not to mention hobbies and date nights become just another task that is put off over and over again

Cleanse and Detox While You Sleep

Discover how to Reduce Stress and Inflammation with Queen of the Thrones Castor Oil Packs

So, how can we as health care practitioners help with improving energy, balance hormones, regulate gut inflammation and address those uncomfortable, energy-draining symptoms from the overburden of toxin accumulation from those long winter months?

With the Queen of the Thrones® Day & Night Detox Kit!

A simple and easy-to-use tool kit to improve hormonal balance and optimize overall health and well-being.

And to restore balance in his day-night cycle by regulating the inflammation in the gut while you or your partner sleeps…it just doesn’t get any easier!

This is a super important step in a detox process, especially for men, to ensure optimal production of his testosterone levels while he sleeps, which will have him waking with that burst of energy he needs to seize the day!

You know the feeling, right? Instead of waking in a sluggish, foggy state, you wake up before your alarm and jump out of bed ready to knock off the list of “to-do’s” that you have been wanting to get done for so long with gusto!

The reality is that without optimal functioning of our clogged-up cleansing and detoxing organs, we tend to wake feeling tired and sluggish more often than not. Would you agree?

Liver detox with lifestyle changes & Castor Oil

(Not Castrol ‘Motor’ Oil!)

So, here is when we begin the practice of cleansing and detoxing. In the morning, on waking, with the dry brushing tool.

Priming our engine with dry brushing in the morning stimulates circulation and influences that healthy flow, rhythm and harmony that our body is so much in need of.

Without this priming, we tend to experience some lag when we hit the gas in the morning, instead of that thrust of pick up and go!

Next, we want to hit the kitchen, where the beet juice is, to begin the day with gut-healing nourishment.

Because nitric acid, the powerful component in beet juice, acts as a healing performance accelerator in the regulation of inflammation in the gut by increasing circulation1, which leads to reducing & removing those fiery symptoms of leaky gut.

Queen of the Thrones Beet Juice Recipe supports circulation and reduce inflammation

Then, in the evening, apply the Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Pack to your liver region where the Castor Oil can begin the process of regulating inflammation2, while the pack brings a wonderful and calming effect on your nervous system by promoting the “feel good” hormones3:

  • Dopamine – our motivator
  • Oxytocin – our love and happiness booster
Queen of the Thrones Castor Oil Packs is a quick and easy cleanse and detox practice

The release of these feel-good hormones will then promote the release of all of the mental, emotional and physical stress from the day, and prepare you for a proper night’s sleep.

Plus, during your slumber, testosterone production begins to increase from the stimulation of circulation with every hour and, on waking, you’ll have more energy than you did the day before creating the balance in your day-night cycle your body has so desperately been craving.

The best part? Your Day and Night Detox Kit also comes with a Castor Oil Eye Compress (a sleep eye mask) so you can naturally increase melatonin4-5, your sleep hormone and gently reset your sleep-wake cycle! Amazing, right?

Cleanse with Queen of the Thrones Castor Oil Packs to balance your testosterone levels

The other best part? You can block out light at night and because it’s light in color, your Eye Compress lets light in naturally so you can wake up with the sun. Sounds nice, agreed?

King of Energy and Hormone Balance

Queen of the Thrones Day and Night Detox kit improves your health gut environment

Because a daily ritual of using your Queen of the Thrones® Day & Night Detox Kit, combined with a healthy diet and lifestyle changes, will help create a healthy gut environment rewarding you with the relief of those disruptive, painful and uncomfortable symptoms.

You’ll sleep like a king and wake to take on your day with the energy of a champion.

And when your body is no longer going 100 miles an hour while stuck in first gear, your energy will increase at a smooth pace – just like the gradual shifting of gears through butter.

 

So, take the tarp off that old beast in the garage, because you will soon be tinkering with your favorite hobbies from your newfound increase in energy and luster.

Let’s celebrate with a pint to kick off your new Queen of the Thrones® Cleanse and Detox practice.

A pint of nourishing beet juice, of course!

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. Zamani H, de Joode MEJR, Hossein IJ, Henckens NFT, Guggeis MA, Berends JE, de Kok TMCM, van Breda SGJ. The benefits and risks of beetroot juice consumption: a systematic review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2021;61(5):788-804. doi:10.1080/10408398.2020.1746629. Epub 2020 Apr 15. PMID: 32292042.

2. 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 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11200362

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 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28162847.

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

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

Disclaimer

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

How to cleanse while you sleep with Castor Oil Packs

How to cleanse while you sleep with Castor Oil Packs

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

How to cleanse while you sleep with Castor Oil Packs

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

Medically reviewed by: Melanie Swackhammer, BA

Est. reading time: 10 minutes.

 

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

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

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

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

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

The above scenario sounds all too familiar? Correct?

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

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

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

And then the question comes…

Can I cleanse & detox with a supplement?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sleeping, resting, healing and cleaning!

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

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

What about dairy?

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

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

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

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

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

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

It’s not, read on…

Because you can cleanse and detox while you sleep,

Here’s how…

What’s in a name? Well, everything.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Click here for references

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Disclaimer

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

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

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.

Does Food Sensitivity Cause My Gut Inflammation and Leaky Gut Syndrome?

Does Food Sensitivity Cause My Gut Inflammation and Leaky Gut Syndrome?

Does Food Sensitivity Cause My Gut Inflammation and Leaky Gut Syndrome by Queen of the Thrones

Does Food Sensitivity Cause My Gut Inflammation and Leaky Gut Syndrome?

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

Est. reading time: 12 minutes.

If you’ve been wondering, does my food sensitivity cause my gut inflammation and Leaky Gut Syndrome? the answer is yes – and well, no. Why? This is because gut inflammation and Leaky Gut Syndrome are metabolic hormonal patterns, ones that are complex and sometimes confusing.

Meaning, the answer to the million dollar question is that gut inflammation and Leaky Gut Syndrome are not ONLY caused by food sensitivity, food allergies or food intolerances. There is more going on than meets the eye.

Symptoms of Leaky Gut Syndrome and Gut Inflammation

You see, you’re right to suspect that it isn’t just bloating, constipation or IBS symptoms occurring, or that food is the only factor at play here. You are simultaneously experiencing chronic metabolic problems like:

 

  • Thyroid imbalance
  • Weight gain
  • Anxiety
  • Fatigue
  • Joint pain

These are symptoms that are all linked to gut inflammation and Leaky Gut Syndrome. Your focus on food as the culprit is natural, because you, like Hippocrates, the father of medicine, as well as other scientific researchers, strive to believe in the power food has, stating.

“Let thy food be thy medicine…when possible1.”

Food can be your medicine again, yes. But only with the right environment. When you have a healthy, balanced gut, your Leaky Gut symptoms will be reduced.

Leaky & Inflamed gut Hippocrates by Queen of the Thrones

So what else is at play, causing your gut inflammation besides food?

Many other internal and external factors are perpetrators as well.

  • Supplements
  • Probiotics
  • Prebiotics
  • The microbiome

And so many more factors all contribute to gut inflammation. Interesting, right?

There are many factors causing your gut inflammation and Leaky Gut symptoms, ones that are important to explore, yet food is a great place to start. It is with this starting point that you will discover the complexity of how your gut health truly is in your hands and how you can take steps to feel better. As Sherlock Holmes, the most famous detective would say,

“It’s Elementary, Dear Watson!”

Food Sensitivity and Your Environment for Gut Health

Queen of the Thrones Leaky Gut inflammation

So let’s dive in! As you uncover the pieces to the puzzle that make up your gut health, the first thing to note is your body’s first response to food, which is, by definition, a foreign substance complex that enters your gut, or inside world. Anything foreign has the possibility to cause an internal reaction, good or bad, depending on both the substance and the environment in which it is placed.

 

Whether or not you have a sensitivity to a specific food can be irrelevant, because when there is gut inflammation, even healthy food can become a sensitivity. This is one of the reasons why the validity of food sensitivity testing purchased online is questioned2. These kinds of tests can be misleading, to you, the consumer, and your present state of gut health.

Although these tests seem to be testing different foods, the interpretation from many integrative and functional medical doctors is that you must first determine how much inflammation is in the gut or how leaky the gut may be.

How to Examine your Gut Health Environment?

You simply cannot just look at food sensitivities without also examining the health of your gut environment.

Of course there are some foods like gluten and dairy that are associated sensitivities3, especially in women who have Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. This hormonal metabolic condition is highly linked to both gluten and dairy sensitivity and Leaky Gut Syndrome.

Whether it’s the food sensitivity or inflammation that came first, we do not know, but we do know they come hand-in-hand, and begins with generalized gut symptoms that indicate gut inflammation like:

  • Bloating
  • Constipation
  • IBS

So as the inflammation grows, Leaky Gut Syndrome develops4.

What role does leaky gut syndrome play in gut health?

Let’s take a closer look at what is occurring internally when it comes to Leaky Gut Syndrome and the related symptoms. These wide-ranged symptoms happen when inflammation irritates and disrupts the integrity of the gut wall.

Your gut health is very dependent on the gut mucosa cells that are connected via gap or tight junctions5, which act like the links of a chain that keep the healthy gut cells (epithelial cells) bound together, protecting our internal bodies from the outside world, from substances like food.

When the tight junctions become increasingly irritated and inflamed, most often by food and its components, such as sugars, fats or even fibers6, these tight gut health junctions cannot hold together. Therefore, the links in the strong chain break and the barrier that protects the body from the gut contents, becomes like a pasta strainer, instead of a brick wall, allowing everything you’ve ingested to flow out into the body.

Leaky & Inflamed gut illustration by Queen of the Thrones

Download our infographic to learn more about how the body is being bombarded by foods you may not suspect – including all those healthy supplements! Would you love to learn more about your gut health and the ways a Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Pack for Liver practice can help restore your body back to balance? Sign-up to receive our FREE eGuide!

Why isn’t Leaky Gut easily cured?

When your gut wall is disrupted, everything – all the food, supplements, probiotics, and prebiotics that entered via the oral route, pass out into your body. All the items that are meant to stay contained in your digestive system for proper digestion, processed through the cells without bypassing them, now seep through in undigested larger shapes, sizes that aren’t recognizable by the body’s defense systems, aka, the immune system.

This complex protective mechanism – your immune system, is used by the body to identify friend or foe, to achieve homeostasis or balance. Food that was once medicine now becomes a sensitivity to you, depending on how inflammed your gut is, and how leaky it has become.

How does leaky gut syndrome stress the whole body?

So your food and supplements that were once supposed to be medicine, now have the potential, depending on your unique system, to become poison to you, creating food sensitivity reactions that permeate through the entire body! No thank you, right?!

No matter how we look at it, Gut Inflammation and Leaky Gut Syndrome cause unwanted stress on the body – big time. Supplements, food, bacteria – all the things you’ve ingested – begins to respond atypically, spreading throughout your body, triggering symptoms as random as:

 

  • Migraines
  • Itchy skin
  • Eczema
  • Anxiety
  • Fatigue
rgans affected by Leaky Gut according to Queen of the the Thrones

These don’t appear related to your gut health, making food sensitivities and your health so confusing! Agreed? But everything is very much interconnected!

It’s All About Creating an Environment for Gut Health

The reality is, our bodies are always aiming to achieve good gut health and if you only focus on the food sensitivities that cause bloating, you are going down the wrong rabbit hole, my friend! Your belief may be that identifying and removing your food sensitivities will solve your gut health problems. Although it is an important first piece of the puzzle, it won’t give you the complete relief you’re seeking from your bloating, anxiety, constipation etc. It won’t give you the whole picture.

To ultimately feel better, it is essential to create an environment for good gut health. It is essential to begin the healing of your stressed gut lining, repairing the gaps and tight junctions in your gut lining caused by gut inflammation and Leaky Gut Syndrome.

Self-caring for the environment of good gut health is understanding that there is a complex interplay of more than just your sensitivity to food affecting whether you feel good or bad, have gut inflammation or are dealing with Leaky Gut Syndrome.

All disease begins in the Leaky Gut because the gut is like Grand Central Station, and where there are multiple players in the game, there is always a possibility for chaos to occur or a fight to break out8.

What Are The Many Factors at Play with Leaky Gut?

Everything you take in from the outside world, including:

  • Food
  • Supplements
  • Probiotics
  • Prebiotics
  • Emotional experiences
  • Gut microbes
  • Medications like birth control pills, antibiotics or stomach acid reducers

On top of that everything made in your body like:

  • Hormones (estrogen, progesterone, thyroid, oxytocin, cortisol etc.)
  • Neurotransmitters (melatonin, dopamine, gaba, serotonin, glycine, histamine etc.)
  • The balance of your microbiome, whether healthy, dysbiotic or overgrown with candida, or the presence of SIBO
  • The waste products you create (such as uric acid, carbon dioxide etc.)

All of this, including the cells and tissues of your body, can be attacked inappropriately when there is gut inflammation, which is why Leaky Gut is a danger signal for autoimmune disease9. This is, of course, a simplified explanation of a complex chronic metabolic gut inflammation condition. But know that both your level of gut inflammation and the state of your gut lining, are determinants of good gut health and how sensitive you may be to the food you consume.

It’s a tad overwhelming, right? Agreed. Since food is so foundational (you have to eat it, right?) – you can’t run away from it. So, therefore, it really is the best place to start your journey to gut health! This is why functional medical doctors, integrative medicine doctors, naturopathic doctors, nutritionists, holistic medicine doctors, and other natural health experts who work with gut health, will most often start here.

How can we revive & restore a leaky gut?

The focus must be on returning your gut health back to a relaxed state, to the ‘gated community’ it was meant to be. It takes time and consistency and intentional actions like:

  • A regular Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Pack for Liver practice
  • Healthy food choices
  • Properly washing your food to remove toxins
  • Awareness of the emotional stressors
  • Properly chewing your food
  • Intermittent fasting to allow your gut to relax
  • Stress-reducing techniques like calming breathwork practices
Best ways to avoid Leaky & Inflamed Gut Queen of the Thrones

What are the next Steps to Gut Health?

There are a number of ways to support your body moving forward, to begin the process of healing your gut inflammation and Leaky Gut Syndrome. Now that you have a better understanding of how food sensitivities cause inflammation in your body and the role Leaky Gut Syndrome has to play in your persistent symptoms, you are on track to returning your body to a relaxed and nourished state. You’ve got this, my friend!

Download our infographic to learn more about how the body is being bombarded by foods you may not suspect – including all those healthy supplements! Would you love to learn more about your gut health and the ways a Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Pack for Liver practice can help restore your body back to balance? Sign-up to receive our FREE eGuide!

And as always, if you have any concerns about your symptoms or overall health, please consult your integrative doctor or trained medical professional.

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. Witkamp RF, van Norren K. Let thy food be thy medicine….when possible. Eur J Pharmacol. 2018 Oct 5;836:102-114. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2018.06.026. Epub 2018 Jun 21. PMID: 29936236.

2. Wong AWY, White HEG, Plant A, Shipman AR, Shipman KE. Issues surrounding consumer-bought food-allergy testing. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2021 Oct 16. doi: 10.1111/ced.14978. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34655248.

3. Ihnatowicz P, Drywień M, Wątor P, Wojsiat J. The importance of nutritional factors and dietary management of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2020 Jun 19;27(2):184-193. doi: 10.26444/aaem/112331. Epub 2019 Oct 2. PMID: 32588591.

4. Binienda A, Twardowska A, Makaro A, Salaga M. Dietary Carbohydrates and Lipids in the Pathogenesis of Leaky Gut Syndrome: An Overview. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Nov 8;21(21):8368. doi: 10.3390/ijms21218368. PMID: 33171587; PMCID: PMC7664638

5. Binienda A, Twardowska A, Makaro A, Salaga M. Dietary Carbohydrates and Lipids in the Pathogenesis of Leaky Gut Syndrome: An Overview. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Nov 8;21(21):8368. doi: 10.3390/ijms21218368. PMID: 33171587; PMCID: PMC7664638.

6. Usuda H, Okamoto T, Wada K. Leaky Gut: Effect of Dietary Fiber and Fats on Microbiome and Intestinal Barrier. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Jul 16;22(14):7613. doi: 10.3390/ijms22147613. PMID: 34299233; PMCID: PMC8305009.

7. Suárez LJ, Arboleda S, Angelov N, Arce RM. Oral Versus Gastrointestinal Mucosal Immune Niches in Homeostasis and Allostasis. Front Immunol. 2021 Jul 5;12:705206. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.705206. PMID: 34290715; PMCID: PMC8287884.

8. Fasano A. All disease begins in the (leaky) gut: role of zonulin-mediated gut permeability in the pathogenesis of some chronic inflammatory diseases. F1000Res. 2020 Jan 31;9:F1000 Faculty Rev-69. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.20510.1. PMID: 32051759; PMCID: PMC6996528.

9. Mu Q, Kirby J, Reilly CM, Luo XM. Leaky Gut As a Danger Signal for Autoimmune Diseases. Front Immunol. 2017 May 23;8:598. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00598. PMID: 28588585; PMCID: PMC5440529.

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.