Castor Oil Packs: the how and why of this natural detox
If your lymphatic system is sluggish or you know you need a detox, you may lean towards lemon water and dry brushing. We totally approve of both, but we wanted to give you another way to boost your detox efforts and boost your lymphatic circulation. Enter: Castor Oil Packs.
Loved by Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Ayurvedic medicine, and naturopathy practitioners, castor oil packs have the ability to promote healing and reduce inflammation. They may also help improve elimination and circulation, especially of the lymphatic system by stimulating lymph and liver function. The best part? It’s so easy to do. All you need is an hour to relax - you could even combine it with a face mask and a candle to make it a full ‘reset’ ritual.
How to Make a Castor Oil Pack
what you need:
soft, clean, organic flannel, wool, or cotton cloth -
we love this reusable one to prevent wasteCastor oil - our favorite is from Queen of Thrones
a glass bowl
a hot water bottle or other non-electric heating pad
Old clothes that you don't mind getting stained
a plastic bag (if using loose cloth, not a wrap)
a large towel
What to Do
Put on older clothes. Castor oil, like most oils, can stain. Leave your Stella McCartney loungewear in the drawer.
Take a piece of organic flannel and place it in a bowl. Add enough castor oil to the bowl to saturate the cloth.
Have your hot water bottle or heating pad warmed and handy.
Place your towel where you’ll be laying down. Remember that the oil can stain, so choose your location wisely.
Once you lie down and feel comfortable, place your saturated flannel on the area you want to detox.
Cover the pack with plastic.
Place the heating pad or hot water bottle over the pack and let it sit for at least 45 to 60 minutes. During this time, you can rest or read a book.
When the time is up, remove the pack and clean the area with water and a bit of baking soda.
You can keep the pack in a plastic bag in a cool place or the refrigerator. I keep mine in a sealed glass jar in one of my kitchen cabinets. Just add another tablespoon of castor oil for the next session.
