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

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

castor oil, castor oil packs, Cleanse, cleansing, constipation, detox, digestion, facial care, Hair, Hair growth, health, Liver cleanse, Liver Detox, Other, skin care, skin health | 0 comments

Queen of the Thrones Castor Oil over a pack

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

Written by: Joanna Teljeur M.A.

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

Est. reading time: 7 minutes

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

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

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

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

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

So, what’s going on here?  

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

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

The History of Castor Oil

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Castor Oil in the Modern World

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

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

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

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

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

Why is Castor Oil so special?

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

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

How is Castor Oil extracted?

Queen of the Thrones Castor Oil extraction process

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

Expeller Pressing

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

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

Cold Pressing

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

Chemical Extraction

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

Jamaican Method

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

What is Castor Oil used for today?

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

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

Castor Oil for Skin

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

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

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

Castor Oil for Hair

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

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

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

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

Castor Oil for Eyes

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

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

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

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

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

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

Castor Oil for Self-Care Practices

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

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

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

Castor Oil for Constipation

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

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

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

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

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

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

Castor Oil in Traditional Medicine

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

How to Use Castor Oil for Oil Pulling

Learn what is Castor Oil pulling by Queen of the Thrones

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

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

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

How to Oil Pull with Castor Oil

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

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

Quality of Castor Oil

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

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

Castor Oil Facts

Types of Castor Oil

Main types of Castor Oil by Queen of the Thrones

The 2 most frequently used types of Castor Oil:

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

Castor Oil Nutirtion

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

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Click here for references
  1. Polito L, Bortolotti M, Battelli MG, Calafato G, Bolognesi A. Ricin: An Ancient Story for a Timeless Plant Toxin. Toxins (Basel). 2019 Jun 6;11(6):324. doi: 10.3390/toxins11060324. PMID: 31174319; PMCID: PMC6628454.
  2. Ebers, G. Papyros Ebers: Das Hermetische Buch über die Arzneimittel der Alten Äegypter; Hinrichs, J.C., Ed.; Wilhelm Engelmann: Leipzig, Germany, 1875. 
  3. Totelin, L.M.V. Hippocratic Recipes: Oral and Written Transmission of Pharmacological Knowledge in Fifth- and Fourth-Century Greece; Brill: Leiden, The Netherlands; Boston, MA, USA, 2009. [Google Scholar]
  4. Jenkins RE, Tanner JA. The structure of the major protein of the human erythrocyte membrane. Characterization of the intact protein and major fragments. Biochem J. 1977 Jan 1;161(1):139-47
  5. No Authors Listed. Final report on the safety assessment of Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glyceryl Ricinoleate, Glyceryl Ricinoleate SE, Ricinoleic Acid, Potassium Ricinoleate, Sodium Ricinoleate, Zinc Ricinoleate, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Ricinoleate, Glycol Ricinoleate, Isopropyl Ricinoleate, Methyl Ricinoleate, and Octyldodecyl Ricinoleate. . Int J Toxicol. 2007;26 Suppl 3:31-77.
  6. Nitbani FO, Tjitda PJP, Wogo HE, Detha AIR. Preparation of Ricinoleic Acid from Castor Oil:A Review. J Oleo Sci. 2022;71(6):781-793. doi: 10.5650/jos.ess21226. PMID: 35661063.
  7. Van Erp H, Bates PD, Burgal J, Shockey J, Browse J Castor phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferasefacilitates efficient metabolism of hydroxy fatty acids in transgenic Arabidopsis. Plant Physiol. 2011 Feb;155(2):683-93. Epub 2010 Dec 20.
  8. Goto E1, Shimazaki J, Monden Y, Takano Y, Yagi Y, Shimmura S, Tsubota K. Low-concentration homogenized castor oil eye drops for noninflamed obstructive meibomian gland dysfunction.Ophthalmology. 2002 Nov;109(11):2030-5.
  9. Bonini S1, Coassin M, Aronni S, Lambiase A. Vernal keratoconjunctivitis. Eye (Lond). 2004 Apr;18(4):345-51.
  10. Vieira C et al. .Effect of ricinoleic acid in acute and subchronic experimental models of inflammation. Mediators Inflamm. 2000;9(5):223-8
  11. Izzo AA1, Mascolo N, Capasso F. Nitric oxide as a modulator of intestinal water and electrolyte transport. Dig Dis Sci. 1998 Aug;43(8):1605-20.
  12. Prajna NV, Pillai MR, Manimegalai TK, Srinivasan M Use of Traditional Eye Medicines by corneal ulcer patients presenting to a hospital in South India.Indian J Ophthalmol. 1999 Mar;47(1):15-8.
  13. Marwat SK1, Rehman F2, Khan EA1, Baloch MS1, Sadiq M1, Ullah I1, Javaria S1, Shaheen S1. Review – Ricinus communis – Ethnomedicinal uses and pharmacological activities.Pak J Pharm Sci. 2017 Sep;30(5):1815-1827.
  14. Alookaran J, Tripp J. Castor Oil. 2022 Nov 21. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 31869090.
  15. Arslan GG, Eşer I. An examination of the effect of castor oil packs on constipation in the elderly. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2011 Feb;17(1):58-62. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2010.04.004. Epub 2010 May 18. PMID: 21168117.
  16. Sorin Tunaru,a Till F. Althoff,a Rolf M. Nüsing,b Martin Diener,c and Stefan Offermannsa,d,1 Castor oil induces laxation and uterus contraction via ricinoleic acid activating prostaglandin EP3 receptors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Jun 5; 109(23): 9179–9184. Published online 2012 May 21. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1201627109 PMID: 22615395
  17. Andrade IM, Andrade KM, Pisani MX, Silva-Lovato CH, de Souza RF, Paranhos Hde F. Trial of an experimental castor oil solution for cleaning dentures. Braz Dent J. 2014 Jan-Feb;25(1):43-7. doi: 10.1590/0103-6440201302327. PMID: 24789291.
  18. Kim H1, Oh S1, Gye MC1, Shin I1,2. Comparative toxicological evaluation of nonylphenol and nonylphenol polyethoxylates using human keratinocytes. Drug Chem Toxicol. 2018 Oct;41(4):486-491. Doi: 10.1080/01480545.2017.1391829. Epub 2017 Nov 10.
  19. Amar SK1, Goyal S2, Srivastav AK3, Chopra D3, Ray RS2. Combined effect of Benzophenone-2 and ultraviolet radiation promote photogenotoxicity and photocytotoxicity in human keratinocytes. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2018 Jun;95:298-306. Doi: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2018.04.003. Epub 2018 Apr 4.

 

7 Top Best Uses for Castor Oil

7 Top Best Uses for Castor Oil

antiinflammation, antiinflammatory, beauty, beauty routine, castor oil, castor oil packs, circulation, constipation, hormonal health, Hormone Imbalance, hormones, IBS, inflammation, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Leaky Gut, Liver Detox, microbiome, wellness | 0 comments

Top Best Uses for Castor Oil by Queen of the Thrones

7 Top Best Uses for Castor Oil

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.

Use #6 is our favorite!

Have you been curious about how you can use Castor Oil and/or Castor Oil Packs? Maybe you’ve been told to give them a try from your practitioner but would love to know more.

You see, Castor Oil Packs are a legendary practice that dates back to ancient times. Traditional Chinese medicine, Indian Ayurveda, Ancient Egyptians, and Mediterraneans all used Castor Oil for its rejuvenating health and beauty benefits. Amazing, agreed?

The castor bean plant has even been given the special name of the ‘Palm of Christ’, as Castor Oil is mentioned in the Bible as an anointing oil.

Plus, Castor Oil on its own or on a Castor Oil Pack (more on Castor Oil Packs soon), has been called an absolute game-changer by many who have used them.

Would you love to know 3 tried & true Castor Oil Pack protocols used by practitioners so you can restore your body from the inside out?

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But, you might be wondering, “what are the best uses of this oil?” Well, you’re in the right place because this blog will uncover the 7 best uses of Castor Oil (supported by science). You’ll see why and how the topical use of Castor Oil may be your new go-to for your natural wellness routine.

Are you ready?

One of the first and most important functions is that…

#1. Castor Oil supports lymphatic drainage

Did you know that your lymphatic system plays a crucial role in fighting against infections and balancing your fluid levels?

And when your lymphatic system is clogged, like your hair-filled shower drain, your body can’t cleanse properly and you might feel lethargic because your body’s fluids are unbalanced.

This also means you might have too much harmful bacteria, making you feel like you just came off the tilt-o-whirl. Does this sound like you?

So, where does Castor Oil come into play? Well, when applied topically on your skin, Castor Oil works its way into your tissues and stimulates lymphatic drainage via the Peyer’s patches1, a small group of lymphatic tissues.

 

You can further enhance the effect of Castor Oil with a Castor Oil Liver Pack. The compression of the Pack placed over your liver area (over your right rib cage), combined with the movement of your breathing muscles, acts like a pump for your lymphatic system, encouraging lymphatic drainage.2

Plus, you can also enhance lymphatic flow by simply adding a Lymphatic Lymphatic Dry Brush to accompany your Castor Oil Pack practice so you can…

  • Reduce inflammation that’s taking up space in your body.
  • Increase circulation so you can truly reconnect to your body.
  • Engage your lymphatic system and organs to help your body cleanse naturally.

Amazing, right?!

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Another wonderful use for Castor Oil is…

#2. Using it as an anti-aging tool

You see, Castor Oil is rich in fatty acids, which contain skin-nourishing nutrients like omega 6 and 9, vitamin E, and polyphenols3,4 like quercetin. These nutrients have anti-aging5 properties that reduce wrinkles, dark circles, and puffiness under the eyes. Sounds wonderful, agreed? So, you can use a Castor Oil Eye Compress as a vehicle for your Castor Oil to work its anti-aging magic. Plus, the Eye Compress stimulates both the circulatory and lymphatic systems. Bonus tip: You can also use Castor Oil as an eye makeup remover and a gentle moisturizer. So, that brings us to our next use for Castor Oil. Are you ready?

#3. You can use Castor Oil for thicker eyelashes and brows

Various factors like stress, bacterial growth, immune reactions, thyroid and hormonal imbalances can cause thinning of eyebrows and eyelashes. Can you relate?

So, regular use of a Castor Oil Eye Compress (while you sleep) can nourish the hair follicles and enhance circulation6. All you need to do is apply Castor Oil to your lashes and brows, and your Eye Compress helps keep the oil from rubbing off. Makes sense, right?

Plus, wearing an Eye Compress7,8,9 to bed helps to naturally balance your sleep hormone, melatonin10,11, so you can sleep deeper. Would you love that?

Queen of the Thrones recommend Castor Oil Packs to sleep well and recharge
So we talked about your brows and lashes, but what about using Castor Oil for the hair on your head? We have all the information you need in this blog post. When used on your scalp, the Castor Oil Hair Growth Kit nourishes, hydrates, and repairs hair deeply from your roots to tips. So what’s next?

#4. Castor Oil also helps naturally manage inflammation

You may have heard that Castor Oil can be used as a natural anti-inflammatory for your bowels, right? Have you also heard that it can be helpful for inflammation during your period and for inflammation in general?

But how does it work? Well, Castor Oil stimulates the smooth muscles12 of the digestive tract as well as the uterus.

Have you noticed that you poo more often before and during your period? That’s because the same hormones and messengers of the body stimulate your digestive tract to move and your uterus to expel the blood.13

By acting on your smooth muscles, Castor Oil Packs can even help with your cramping.

While we’re on the subject of pain, it’s important to discuss another common cause of pain — inflammation, which can be found all over your body in varying degrees.

Castor Oil Packs are wonderful, natural tools for inflammatory pain.

You see, the unique active component of Castor Oil — ricinoleic acid — is an anti-inflammatory14 and analgesic (pain reliever)15 agent. So, that paired with the gentle compression of your Castor Oil Pack works together so the Castor Oil can permeate deeper into your skin.

Queen of the Castor Oil helps naturally to manage inflammation
You can also use Castor Oil to support arthritis, sore joints, lower back, hip and sciatic pain. Plus, it can be used on your skin as an anti-inflammatory for breakouts/acne and on your gums. Amazing, agreed? Are you wondering how exactly Castor Oil Packs work and if you can get the same anti-inflammatory benefits from just rubbing Castor Oil on your liver/abdomen? Find out everything you need to know in this blog post. The best part? Castor Oil not only fights inflammation but also…

#5. Fights unhealthy bacteria and promotes healthy bacteria

You see, a balance between healthy and harmful bacteria is crucial for your skin and scalp health.

So, when applied to the skin, scalp, and mucus membrane, Castor Oil can help to support a healthy microbiome.16,17,18,19

Cleansing your skin with Castor Oil can help balance the bacteria propionibacterium acne,20 which can cause skin breakouts.

When you use Castor Oil on your scalp, it can naturally balance the microbiome of the scalp and may help reduce inflammation of hair follicles and dandruff relief. Amazing, agreed?

And, now, it’s time for our favorite use of Castor Oil. Ready?

#6. Castor Oil + a Castor Oil Pack supports constipation relief

Your digestive system is much more complicated than just the food you eat because your gut is also highly regulated via hormonal and nervous system pathways. In fact, your gut is known as the second brain.

But why? Because it relies on the brain to tell it what to do and is the only organ that can work independently.

This means you could take it out of the body and it’d function entirely on its own. This system is called the enteric nervous system, which dictates what goes on in the gut. How interesting is that!

But, there are only a few ways to engage the gut’s action. The easiest is the tried and true Castor Oil Liver Pack.

Studies have shown that Castor Oil Pack over the liver helps to relieve constipation and improves the smooth muscle function of the digestive tract.21 This allows you to get rid of all the junk in your digestive system and start having regular healthy bowel movements. Sounds wonderful, agreed?

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Traditionally, Castor Oil has been recommended by pharmacists to be taken orally as a strong stimulant laxative.21,22

However, Castor Oil Packs have been shown to be just as effective and better tolerated for relieving constipation when applied topically as a gentle Castor Oil Pack, compared to conventional laxatives.

The cherry on top? Castor Oil Packs can also reduce stress23,24,25,26 and support balanced hormones, similar to a weighted blanket, which brings us to the last best use of Castor Oil…

#7. The topical use of Castor Oil supports natural hormone balancing

Do you find it difficult to sleep, feel tired, or have digestion problems?

If yes, it’s likely you have higher stress levels, which ultimately affects your hormones.

The soft compression of your Castor Oil Packs on your skin calms your entire system and stimulates the release of feel-good “love and connection” hormones so you can naturally promote the production of our feel-good neurotransmitter dopamine25, as well as our love and connection hormone, oxytocin.23

Topical use of Queen of the Thrones Castor Oil supports natural hormone balancing

Plus, oxytocin also lowers cortisol (your stress hormone) and balances blood pressure,27 leading to healthy levels of progesterone.

Why does this matter? Well, studies show a connection between higher anxiety levels and high progesterone levels.28

But remember, rest and relaxation take practice when you use Castor Oil consistently. The best part? Your Castor Oil Pack gives your body a chance to practice over and over again, so be gentle with yourself.

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But with all practices, it’s as important that when you do it, you make sure to do it with the right ingredients, and as with all natural health products, quality matters. Especially in this case. The Castor Oil and the material placed against your skin should always be of great quality. Your checklist for good quality Castor Oil (like Queen of the Thrones®):
  • 100% pure
  • Organic
  • Cold-pressed & extra virgin
  • Hexane-free
  • Bottled in amber glass
Your checklist for a good quality Castor Oil Pack (like Queen of the Thrones®):
  • Organic cotton, wool, or linen touching the skin
  • No synthetic blends or chemically treated materials touching the skin (i.e., velour, bamboo)
  • No uncomfortable belts, buttons, or velcro
So, you see not just Castor Oil, but the Castor Oil Pack is a tried and true self-care tool with anti-aging qualities for both health and beauty since the beginning of humanity. Try it for yourself to see!

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!

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Click here for references

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