Table of Contents
- 1. Castor Oil: An Essential Ancient Remedy
- 2. Detox Liver: Why and How
- 3. Why Castor Oil Liver Detox
- 4. Castor Oil Liver Detox Packs
- 5. How does Castor Oil Pack Detox Liver
- 6. What is a Castor Oil Liver Flush
- Liver Detox and Cleanse Tea
- 7. Other General Overall Benefits of Castor Oil and Liver Cleansing
- 8. Precautions and Side Effects
- 9. Conclusion
1. Castor Oil: An Essential Ancient Remedy
While many oils fall in the category of carrier (or vegetable) oils, castor oil is not commonly mentioned.
Derived from the castor seeds, it is pale yellow and has a lot of antioxidants in them.
It can be used both internally to cure several diseases like constipation, dysentery, and other digestive disorders as well as externally on hair to make it stronger and skin to get rid of scars, wrinkles, and cellulite.
Moreover, castor oil also helps in the detoxification of the liver.
You might not know this but its therapeutic value makes it a staple in herbalism longer than any written record exists.
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Castor oil contains what is called ricinoleic acid, a fatty acid that encourages the movement of physical and emotional energy within the body and thus plays a part in its ability to detoxify.
It also contains every color of the spectrum, another good aspect of it as colors play a large role in helping our bodies release waste material when they are no longer available as nutrients. (1)
2. Detox Liver: Why and How
The liver could be a little stressed out lately.
This hardworking organ processes everything we eat and drink and whatever else enters our body—emotions included.
Just like a sanitation worker, the liver doesn’t enjoy talking about what it does either, but unlike sanitation workers, the liver can’t call in sick.
It treats your entire weeks’ worth of food intake equally, whether it is triple cream brie or a mid-afternoon box of Red Bull.
The work is essential to keeping other more necessary organs running smoothly and weighing them down with its tasks may cause some problems down the line.
So when we’re making our lists for the day (or month), it helps to keep our liver happy by scheduling in time to help accomplish some of its goals.
Everyone benefits from a healthy working liver, including YOU!
If you’re feeling sluggish for whatever reason, let your doctor know if you suspect that your liver may be overwhelmed as well.
It could be a sign that you've been eating too much-processed foods. Or else, follow some regular self-care practices that could help support the lymphatic system more comprehensively.
Some of these ways include –
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Consume Lemon Water: Replacing your morning coffee with warm lemon water helps your body to gently begin the day with a quick boost of healthy energy.
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The lemon juice acts as an antiseptic and soothes the stomach, while also hydrating you and making you feel full without eating all those extra calories in cream and sugar. Some people like to add spices to their water as well for even more benefits, such as orange or ginger.
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Apply Castor Oil: Castor oil is a great tool for eliminating toxins from the body, reducing inflammation, and improving lymphatic function! It improves the health of your largest organ of elimination by increasing movement through a combination of massage and ingestion.
This oil, when applied to any area of skin, will increase eliminations at all levels. The easiest way to consume castor oil is directly off the spoon straight down into your tummy where it can be absorbed in an instant.
Castor oil is efficient when ingested as well as applied topically. These functions are crucial to good health - so pay attention!
When you're feeling worse than you should, slow down or take a nap instead so that your body can rest and heal on its own time.
Recommended Reading: Liver Detox For Acne
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Get Hot Bath or Infrared Sauna: It's important to remember that for your skin to properly detoxify, you need to make sure you're sweating. One way you can ensure better skin health is by entering a sauna regularly.
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With the help of an infrared sauna blanket, you can get all of the benefits of a traditional sauna without feeling too hot or overheating your body.
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Double Down Leafy Green Vegetables In Your Diet: When planning your diet, make sure you're eating a good amount of fruits and green vegetables, preferring anti-inflammatory ingredients when possible.
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Please avoid certain foods during liver detox - to keep your liver healthy as well.
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Prefer Smoothies: Natural sugar certainly isn't bad when you eat whole fruits; however, it can be very bad if you drink liver detox juices - especially ones from fruit containing high fructose corn syrup.
Fiber tends to slow down the body’s process of absorption so that its blood sugar levels rise more gradually. Thus, it is highly recommended to replace juices or soft drinks with smoothies.
3. Why Castor Oil Liver Detox
The oil derived from the seeds of this ancient plant is popularly known as the "Palm of Christ," about the shape and appearance of its leaves.
Interestingly enough, cultures around the world have used castor oil for everything from skincare to digestive care as a laxative.
Edgar Cayce, a pioneer in holistic medicine who popularized this oil in the 1940s and '50s, would first use castor oils packs that would often be layered with flannel cloths soaked with warm or chilled water to release toxins from patients' bodies and allow them to get a good night's sleep. (2)
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Moreover, ricinoleic acid in castor targets the lymphatic system, which helps your body produce or increase the production of lymphocytes.
Lymphocytes are the body's natural disease enemies and they help drain the body of any toxins and proteins that have built up over time.
This is an important process to make sure by keeping your immune system strong enough so it can fight off any nasty diseases that you may be exposed to from outside sources. (3)
Castor oil packs are just one of the many sacred tools used in different forms of traditional medicine.
There are many ways to use castor oil, including over the liver. People even opt foressential oils for detoxing their liver.
It’s a great method to help support an optimized liver function, improve detoxification and reduce inflammation in the liver area. In addition, it can be used with other treatments relating to mental health concerns, hormonal imbalance, detoxification issues, or actual organ problems within the liver.
An excellent alternative to castor oil is a 24-hour liver detox
4. Castor Oil Liver Detox Packs
Castor Oil Packs are the new age solution for wellbeing and detoxification.
They have been used for centuries by holistic practitioners but more recently people started experimenting on their own with them, and not just in the form of a small pack placed underneath their clothing but rather as a pack that is either spread over one's skin or warmed up and applied to hair or scalp.
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Making this pack is easy even for beginners. One needs some flannel and castor oil, both of which can be purchased online or from a local health food store.
Simply layer the flannel with several layers of the oil by alternating one layer of each before placing them on the affected area (never on broken skin).
This pack is great for treating respiratory issues, inflammation, and swelling in joints, detoxifying your body of environmental toxins and relieving intestinal/digestive problems.
A quick glimpse on how to make the castor oil pack –
Materials required:
- Clean, soft, and thick material; such as wool, cotton, or organic flannel
- Castor oil
- A heating pad or hot water bottle
- Glass bowl
- Plastic bag
- Cloths that could get stained
- A towel
Procedure to apply:
- Put on some old clothes.
- Take the flannel and put it in the bowl.
- Pour some castor oil into the bowl and stir it well.
- Keep your heating pad or water bottle ready.
- Place the towel on your bed, couch, or floor.
- Lie down.
- Place the flannel over the belly.
- Cover it with plastic.
- Now place the heating pad over the pack and let it be there for 45 to 60 minutes.
- After 45 to 60 minutes, remove the pack and clean your belly with a bit of baking soda.
5. How does Castor Oil Pack Detox Liver
Castor oil packs work in the same way as essential oils liver detox.
They are a great way to deliver the power of castor oil directly to the source. Having a castor oil pack will help target any area you place it on such as the abdomen, chest, or wherever else you need it to apply pressure to.
Castor oil is one of the oldest medicines known to mankind and has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine as an ultimate wellness aid and homeopathic cure. (4)
Castor oil can penetrate through all seven layers of skin where it easily comes in contact with tissues, organs, muscles, and bones without irritating them and without having any counter-effect against your body's natural functions due to its naturally gentle effects when applied internally for relief from health conditions that cause pain such as fibromyalgia.
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Castor oil is a wonderful addition to any treatment program aimed at reducing symptoms of fatty liver including elevated liver enzymes.
It can also complement other natural remedies that combat too much acidity in our livers.
In combination with other substances like artichoke and dandelion, castor oil contains Sesquiterpene Lactones (SLs) that help to cleanse and revive the function of liver cells as well as lower levels of certain fat markers associated with NAFLD. (5)
6. What is a Castor Oil Liver Flush
Your liver is your digesting and filtering powerhouse. It might not be the biggest organ in your body, but it sure makes up for its size with some of the most important functions.
Your liver is responsible for breaking down ingested material and making everything from it as well as filtering out any unwanted materials so that everything good can make its way into your bloodstream. It also has a significant role to play in your immune system – perhaps surprisingly.
As if all of this wasn't enough, it even helps regulate blood-clotting and serves as a storehouse of iron which can help make you feel less tired and more energetic if you are deficient in iron.
In this regard, keeping your liver toxic-free is of utmost importance. While we have already discussed two ways of doing it above; seeing your doctor or using castor oil packs, there is another way that could also help – consuming the ultimate liver flush detox drink.
Liver Detox and Cleanse Tea
An unhealthy diet can lead to several problems.
One common side effect of a poor diet is digestive issues. Unhealthy food can also be the culprit behind weight gain and abdominal fat among other things.
People usually wonder how they can lose the extra weight gained through unhealthy eating habits and the answer lies in something called Liver Detox and cleanse tea.
This particular blend helps naturally flush out your system so that you may begin to shed off those extra pounds, while helping to repair any damage caused by poor diet, in turn, improving liver performance.
Recommended Reading: How To Detox Your Liver Using Apple Cider Vinegar
7. Other General Overall Benefits of Castor Oil and Liver Cleansing
These are some of the other general benefits of castor oil and liver cleansing –
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Improves circulation: When your lymph system is properly functioning, it emits white blood cells and rids itself of waste products.
As your immune system works harder to stay strong, your circulation improves, which translates into more oxygen entering the cells in all parts of your body (including muscles).
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Reduces pain and inflammation: Castor oil packs have been used for centuries to aid in having a deeper sleep and even not feeling groggy the next day.
Since this historical medical marvel can reduce swelling and pain through its anti-inflammatory properties, it works at reducing your white blood cells that attack the inflamed tissue and cause those symptoms.
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The thickness of hair: Castor oil has been used for centuries as a natural treatment for all sorts of ailments. According to many advocates, it's an amazing product for conditioning and thickening hair, particularly for hair types that are damaged or thinning, although there is little scientific evidence to support these claims.
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Caters as an alternative to face wash: To clean your face with castor you can use the oil cleansing method. Start by creating a mixture of castor and olive oil in a ratio of two to one. Mix it until you have made an emulsion which means the castor has dissolved into the oil and the solution stays smooth. With this solution, apply it to a piece of cotton wool and place it around your eyes after washing them with a hot cloth.
8. Precautions and Side Effects
Castor oil packs are mostly considered safe to use.
However, some medical experts recommend not to use the pack if a woman is breastfeeding.
If one is pregnant, she should first consult with the healthcare professional/midwife before undergoing the castor oil pack treatment. (6)
The Side Effects of consuming castor oil otherwise –
- Dizziness
- Diarrhoea
- A bit low blood pressure
- Nausea
- And pelvic congestion
9. Conclusion
To conclude, castor oil comes from the castor bean and has many uses for both people and their pets. While there are plenty of oils that can be used as carrier oils, not many people know about castor oil or care to use it.
The ricinoleic acid in castor helps the lymphatic system, which is responsible for your body's production or increased production of lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are one's natural disease enemies and they help drain the body of proteins and toxins that build up over time.
Thus, while one way to detoxify the liver is by using castor oil packs, using the castor oil liver flush such as the liver detox tea could also help.