How to Use Castor Oil Packs (Hint: Not in Your Belly Button)
If you’ve been on social media at all in the last year, you’ve probably seen someone putting castor oil in their belly button before bed for bloating, sleep, or hormone balance. As a naturopathic doctor, I’ll be honest: I recommend castor oil to almost all of my patients. I just don’t recommend the belly button. Here’s how to use a castor oil pack the way I do in practice, plus a few other ways castor oil can help.
Does Castor Oil in Your Belly Button Work?
Short answer: not in the way the trend claims. Your belly button is basically a scar from your umbilical cord. It isn’t a special doorway into your organs, and there’s no research showing oil absorbs better there than anywhere else on your skin.
What does matter is surface area, warmth, and where you apply it. A few drops in your navel covers about a centimetre of skin. A castor oil pack covers your whole abdomen. If you want results, go bigger.
What Is Castor Oil and Why Do Naturopaths Use It?
Castor oil comes from the seeds of the Ricinus communis plant. It’s thick, sticky, and rich in ricinoleic acid, a fatty acid that’s thought to be behind a lot of its soothing, anti-inflammatory properties.
Used topically, castor oil has a long traditional history of supporting circulation, lymphatic flow, and digestion. The strongest research we have is for constipation, and the rest is mostly traditional use and clinical experience. I like it because it’s low cost, low risk, and genuinely relaxing. It’s one of those small habits that adds up, kind of like [why I drink lemon water every morning]
If bloating, sluggish digestion, or hormone symptoms are what brought you here, castor oil is a nice support tool, but it works best as part of a bigger plan. That’s exactly what we build together in an [initial naturopathic appointment]
How to Do a Castor Oil Pack at Home
Here’s my simple routine:
1. Rub castor oil over your entire abdomen, from under your breast to your pubic bone. Be sure to get your liver, which sits in your right lower rib cage. Use cold-pressed, hexane-free castor oil, ideally from a glass bottle.
2. Cover the area with a piece of wool or cotton flannel (an old tea towel or pillowcase works in a pinch!).
3. Add a hot water bottle or heating pad.
4. Rest for 15+ minutes. This is a great time to read, breathe, or just do nothing.
5. The oil should absorb, no need to wipe it off
If the mess is what’s stopping you, a pre-made castor oil pack is worth it. You can buy reusable cloth wraps online that strap around your waist and stay in place, which makes it much easier to stick with. Look for organic material.
Pro tip: wear old clothes. Castor oil is a bit stick and can stain.
6 Better Ways to Use Castor Oil (That Aren’t Your Belly Button)
1. Castor Oil Packs for Liver and Lymphatic Support
This is my number one recommendation. Instead of a few drops in your navel, apply a castor oil pack over your entire abdomen and up over your liver (right side, under your ribcage), then add heat. Your liver does a lot of heavy lifting for hormones, including processing estrogen and cortisol, so this is a favourite with my perimenopause and PMS patients. If stress and cortisol are part of your picture, the Calm Your Cortisol Reset pairs really well with a castor oil pack routine.
2. Castor Oil Abdominal Massage for Constipation and Bloating
Massage castor oil into your belly in slow clockwise circles (that’s the direction your large intestine moves), then rest with a hot water bottle on top. Abdominal massage on its own is helpful for constipation, so pairing it with castor oil and heat is a great combo.
3. Castor Oil for Hair Growth
Use it as a scalp mask before washing, or apply a tiny amount to your eyebrows or hairline with a clean spool. Castor oil is very thick, so I like mixing it with a lighter oil like jojoba or argan. The research on hair growth is still limited, but it’s a great conditioning treatment and lots of my patients love it. Hair thinning can also be a sign of thyroid, iron, or hormone changes, so it’s worth looking deeper if you’re noticing more shedding.
4. Castor Oil Massage for Sinus and Ear Congestion
Gently massage castor oil along the sides of your neck, behind your ears, and around your sinuses (avoid your eyes), using light downward strokes toward your collarbones. Lymph moves with very gentle pressure, so think soft and slow, not deep tissue.
5. Castor Oil for Dry, Cracked Skin
Castor oil is a great moisturizer for stubborn dry spots like heels, elbows, knuckles, and cuticles. Apply at night and pop on socks or cotton gloves to let it soak in.
6. Castor Oil for Muscle and Joint Pain
Rub castor oil into sore joints or tight muscles and add heat for 20 to 30 minutes. It won’t replace a proper treatment plan, but it’s a cozy, soothing addition.
Who Should Avoid Castor Oil Packs?
Castor oil packs are low risk for most people, but skip them or check with your practitioner first if you are:
• Pregnant, or trying to conceive and in the second half of your cycle
• On your period, especially if you have heavy bleeding
• Dealing with broken or irritated skin in the area
• Living with IBD, recent abdominal surgery, or unexplained abdominal pain
Always do a patch test first, and please don’t take castor oil by mouth unless a practitioner has specifically told you to. It’s a strong stimulant laxative.
Frequently Asked Questions About Castor Oil
Does castor oil in the belly button help with bloating?
There’s no evidence that the belly button absorbs castor oil any better than the rest of your skin. If bloating is your goal, a castor oil pack or abdominal massage over your whole belly with heat is a much better option.
How long should you leave a castor oil pack on?
Fifteen to sixty minutes is the sweet spot. Some people fall asleep with it on, which is fine as long as your heat source turns off automatically.
How often should you use a castor oil pack?
Three to four times a week is a great starting point. Consistency matters more than doing it every single day.
Can you use a castor oil pack on your period?
I generally recommend skipping abdominal castor oil packs during your period, especially if your flow is heavy, since increased circulation to the area may make bleeding heavier.
Does castor oil help hair grow?
Castor oil is a great conditioning treatment for your scalp, brows, and lashes, but research on hair growth specifically is limited. If you’re noticing hair thinning, it’s worth checking your thyroid, iron, and hormones.
What kind of castor oil should I buy?
Look for cold-pressed, hexane-free castor oil, ideally in a glass bottle.
The Bottom Line
Castor oil is one of my favourite low-cost, at-home tools, I just want you to use it where it actually counts. Skip the belly button and go for a full castor oil pack, a clockwise belly massage, or a scalp mask instead. And if your bloating, hormone symptoms, or hair changes need more than a cozy evening routine, let’s figure out what’s really going on.
Ready for a plan that’s built around you? [Book Now] for an initial appointment, in person at The Junction or virtually across Ontario.
Disclaimer: Any information is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used in place of professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of a qualified health care practitioner with any questions or health concerns you may have and before starting any new treatments (including supplements).
