Castor Oil for a Gentle Colon Cleanse: Packs, Tradition and Safety

Castor oil is a thick, pale golden oil pressed from the seeds of the castor plant, Ricinus communis. For thousands of years it has been one of the best-known traditional remedies for cleansing the bowels. Taken by mouth, it acts as a strong stimulant laxative, which is why it was a classic household "clean out." Applied outside the body as a warm castor oil pack over the belly, it is used in many natural health traditions as a gentle, soothing ritual to support digestion and relaxation. Both uses are old, and both deserve respect, because castor oil is powerful.

This teaching covers the history, the much gentler pack method, what is known about taking it by mouth, and the cautions to read before you begin.

A very old remedy

Castor seeds have been found in ancient Egyptian tombs, and the Ebers Papyrus, one of the oldest medical texts, around 1550 BCE, mentions castor oil. In Ayurveda, castor oil (eranda taila) is used both inside and outside the body. In twentieth-century America, the psychic healer Edgar Cayce recommended castor oil packs so often that they became a staple of natural health.

The key compound is ricinoleic acid, which makes up about 90% of castor oil. Researchers have found that it activates certain receptors in the intestines that make the muscles contract, which explains its laxative effect. Castor oil is still recognized in the US as an over-the-counter stimulant laxative for occasional constipation.

Note: castor oil itself is not the same as ricin, a toxin found in the raw seeds. The oil is processed so that it does not contain ricin. Never eat raw castor seeds.

The castor oil pack: the gentler way

A castor oil pack does not go inside the body at all. You soak a cloth in castor oil and rest it on your skin, usually over the abdomen or the liver area on the right side, with gentle warmth. People describe it as deeply relaxing, and many use it to support a sense of easy digestion and to help them unwind. Research on packs is limited, so we share it as a traditional comfort ritual.

You will need: cold-pressed castor oil in a glass bottle, a piece of wool or cotton flannel, an old towel or wrap, a hot water bottle or heating pad, and old clothes or sheets (castor oil stains).

How:

1. Fold the flannel to cover your belly or right side, and soak it with castor oil until it is damp but not dripping.
2. Lie down on an old towel. Place the flannel on your skin.
3. Cover it with a cloth or plastic wrap, then place a warm (not hot) water bottle on top.
4. Rest for 30 to 60 minutes. Breathe, read, meditate or listen to music.
5. Remove the pack and wipe the oil off with a warm cloth, or wash with a little baking soda and water.
6. Store the flannel in a glass container in the fridge and reuse it several times, adding a little oil each time.

Many people do this a few evenings a week as a calming ritual.

Taking castor oil by mouth

Taken by mouth, castor oil usually works within a few hours, often 2 to 6, and can be quite strong. If you choose to use it for occasional constipation, follow the directions on the product label exactly and do not take more than directed. Have a bathroom nearby and drink plenty of water.

Please do not use castor oil by mouth:

• During pregnancy, as it has traditionally been used to bring on labor and can cause contractions
• For children, unless directed by a practitioner
• If you have stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or a possible blockage or appendicitis
• If you have inflammatory bowel conditions
• For more than a short time. Regular use of stimulant laxatives can lead to dependence, dehydration and mineral imbalances

A gentle note on "colon cleansing"

The idea of cleansing the colon is very old. Your colon also has its own wonderful cleansing systems: fiber, water, movement and a healthy community of gut bacteria keep things moving naturally. For most people, the kindest daily colon support is more water, more fiber from vegetables, fruit and whole foods, fermented foods, and movement. Read Irregular Bowel Movements and Why Your Gut Needs Fermented Foods.

Making the pack a sacred pause

While the pack rests on your belly, place your hands over it and breathe into your solar plexus, your center of personal power. Silently say, "I release what I no longer need to carry. I digest my life with ease." A pack becomes more than oil and heat when it is also a moment of letting go.

This is part of our Gentle Detox Series. Continue with Detox Binders and The Liver.

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