Castor Oil - Period Pain + Make Your Eyelashes Grow
Another age old remedy - Castor oil!
Did you know that Castor oil has been used for literally thousands of years - first documented in Ayurvedic and Chinese medical texts, Greek philosophers, Hippocrates (aka “the Father of medicine”) and tales tell that even Cleopatra used it back in the day in her beauty routine for her eyebrows and eyelashes. Some philosophers even reported the use of castor oil to raise the “consciousness” of patients to prepare them to heal.
Castor seed plant is native to India and the castor oil comes from the castor seed, Ricinus communis, and is a triglyceride, comprised of fatty acids, 90% ricinoleic acid.
Castor oil packs have been shown to make a significant improvement with period pain and other inflammatory conditions. This is because when applied topically to the abdomen, the oil is absorbed through the skin into the tissue and when used with heat this can help absorption into deeper layers. Due to the small particles, castor oil is one of the only oils that can penetrate through the upper layer of the skin (stratum corneum) and absorb into the dermis which is where there is an abundance of blood vessels and lymph connections to allow the castor oil to flow into visceral parts of the body.
Castor oil increases lymphocyte production and increases the circulation of the lymphatic system.
How can Castor oil help?
The lymphatic system is like the sewer system of the body. Toxins, metals, dead cells, infections and debris from all over the body are collected by the lymphatic system and bought to the liver for filtering and emptying out of the colon. Assisting with lymphatic clearance can help avoid toxin build up in the body which may help with your immune function, efficient bowel movements and reducing inflammation.
Studies published have shown castor oil packs:
They exert remarkable analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects
the increase of T11 cells (immune cells) hours after castor oil pack treatment
promote contractility and peristalsis of the digestive system (assists with constipation) via stimulation of PGE3 receptors on smooth muscle
Switches the body into the parasympathetic state (calming) & increases oxytocin (happy hormone).
I use castor oil packs for my clients with the following conditions:
menstrual irregularities
fibroids,
endometriosis
ovarian cysts
Constipation
Period pain
Clots in menstrual blood
Hair loss or thinning
Thyroid conditions
Anxiety & sleep issues
Poor detoxification
It is important to understand that you do need to use castor oil consistently 4 days per week to see improvements - not just a once off.
How to use a castor oil pack:
TIPS:
Use for 1hr minimum or all through the night
You can use everyday safely - aim for 3-4 days per week - using once per month will not make much of a difference
Areas: lower abdo for GIT issues, lower down for menstrual cramps, upper right quadrant of abdo for liver health & detoxification. You can move it around each time you do a castor oil pack.
Use a pressured Castor oil pack for the pressure benefits like this one:
FOR USA: click here
For Aus: click here
Your castor oil should always be organic, cold-pressed and extra virgin, as well as hexane-free, 100% pure and ALWAYS packaged in a glass bottle.
Not to be used in pregnancy
Method for Castor oil pack:
Pour 2 tablespoons of castor oil on a flannel cloth (OR you can use the above similar flannel pack)
Place the flannel cloth over affected area of body - lower abdo, liver, thyroid, breasts.
Cover flannel cloth with another cloth that you don’t mind getting messy but can protect the oil from soaking through - castor oil is very sticky and thick (use the flannel pack above to avoid stickiness)
Place hot water bottle or heat pack over the top of the castor oil pack to help with absorption.
Rest while the pack is in place - you can keep on overnight
After removal, cleanse the area with water
The castor oil pack can be reused
Castor oil for Eyebrows & Eyelashes
As castor oil is a triglyceride fatty acid & high in omega 3’s and vitamin E with many other beneficial minerals for hair growth I have found it to be amazing for eyelash and eyebrow growth.
How to use:
Before use, patch test the oil on the inside of your arm to make sure you to not react to it (any redness, itching, swelling please do not continue use).
Clean your eyebrow and eyelashes free of makeup
At night time, use a clean mascara wand or cotton swab (cutip) and wipe a small amount of castor oil over the eyebrows and eyelashes
Gently massage into the eyebrows
Carefully do not let Castor oil come into contact with the eyes, if it does, wash it out immediately.
Place a cotton night mask over your eyes and eyebrows to protect your pillowcase and sheets.
Wash off gently in the morning with warm water
Pressure at the temples with the eye mask and castor oil has also been shown to increase melatonin and improve deep sleep.
There is honestly so much more about castor oil that has been used thousands of years ago and all the research that is being done now to support those traditional uses to go along with it.
Enjoy your castor oil journey
