Did you know castor oil was found in Egyptian tombs? Truth! It’s been around for a while and is such an important part of my treatment plans. The number one benefit of topical castor oil is improving lymphatic drainage. We have 2-3 times as much lymph in our bodies as we do blood and it’s basically our sewer system. Waste from regular metabolism and detoxification is carried in the lymph to be removed from the system. When lymph is stagnant, we are literally sitting in our own waste. Yikes!
Castor oil is also known to stimulate the Peyer’s patches, which are also part of the lymphatic system but super important for our immune system specifically. They sample the bacteria in our intestines and monitor and prevent overgrowth of pathogenic bugs. That means it’s an essential element of gut health & ultimately chronic illness.
Another aspect of gut health is to keep things moving along the entire tract. This prevents food from sitting in the intestines too long, fermenting and causing all sorts of problems. Castor oil (can you tell how much I love this stuff yet) helps supports the autonomic nervous system to encourage motility in the intestines and overall improved digestion.
If the toxic burden in your body is high, it is possible for topical castor oil to cause some lose stools or some detox reactions at first, which is why I think it’s always important to be working with a doctor that is familiar with its use and so you can troubleshoot to make sure it’s use is tailored to you as an individual.
I buy organic castor oil in bulk and repackage it for my patients that it is the most affordable, stored in glass and able to be refilled.
Have you been using topical castor oil? If so, what benefits have you experienced? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
