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Before she goes to bed, Lisa Brezinski slathers on a thick, sticky layer of castor oil - often on her stomach, but sometimes on her neck or over her upper abdomen. Then, she wraps herself up with cotton. "It’s my little miracle oil," she said.
Brezinski and many people on social media say castor oil packs help them counter bloating and puffiness and give them glowing skin.
Castor oil has multiple uses, but when applied topically, proponents say, it helps with digestion and period cramps, reduces inflammation, supports liver detoxification, eases joint pain and boosts lymphatic drainage, which is the body’s natural process of removing waste and toxins through the lymph system, helping reduce swelling and boost circulation.
But is rubbing oil on your belly really the shortcut to peak health or just another slippery trend?
• A lifestyle for some
Brezinski is what TikTok calls a castor oil pack evangelist; her videos have millions of views. The fashion photographer and content creator said she used to have chronic inflammation, restless nights and excessive bloating.
In 2020, she wandered into a Los Angeles health food store and grabbed a bottle of castor oil and some cotton cloths. "I didn’t even know what I was doing," she admitted. She put it on the upper right part of her abdomen, where the liver is, "put a heat pack on, and within ten minutes, I could hear my stomach kind of gurgling," she said.
"Twenty minutes later, my bloating completely went down, and I just felt calm. It almost felt like a warm hug. I could not believe it," she said.
The 37-year-old, who earns a commission through an affiliate link for castor oil on her TikTok profile, started using the packs a few times a week, and she now sleeps with one every night.
"The first time I slept with it, I got the best sleep I’ve had in five years," she said.
It’s no longer just a habit. It’s her lifestyle. She’s got a whole system: a designated towel for her bed, specific sleep shirts, organic hexane-free castor oil in a dark glass bottle and cotton wraps. She also carries a travel-size bottle to use on her lips, feet and neck, and under her eyes.
For anyone looking to get into castor oil packs, Brezinski recommends easing in. She’s had flu-like symptoms from overdoing it (applying it for over 12 hours), but to her, the benefits far outweigh the risks - or the extra laundry.
The FDA classifies castor oil as a stimulant laxative because of it’s main ingredient of ricinoleic acid. The FDA has only approved it for constipation relief. Modern medical guidelines do not recommend castor oil as a first-line treatment.
• Lack of scientific research
Some people are skeptical about its effectiveness.
Brehan Crawford, who holds a master’s degree in acupuncture and Oriental medicine, said in a 2023 TikTok video that "castor oil packs are a scam but still really helpful." He said the benefits often attributed to the packs probably come from the act of massaging the abdomen, which can aid constipation, and the overall relaxation they promote. "The castor oil is irrelevant and won’t do much except stain your clothes," he said.
Others focus on the lack of scientific research. Daniel Ricciardi, a pharmacist, said in a YouTube video that "a lot of evidence [on castor oil packs] just does not exist right now, and there’s not a huge incentive for Pharma companies to fund a lot of studies for castor oil." He noted that skin irritation and allergic reactions are possible but that using castor oil is "relatively safe if not ingested orally."
Rubaina Dang, a naturopathic doctor, said castor oil packs are "one of the oldest old-school tricks in the book."
For her patients with hormonal imbalances and digestive issues, she prescribes castor oil packs to help with symptom relief. She tells those with painful periods to either soak a piece of cloth in castor oil or roll the castor oil onto their abdomen or uterus area, apply another cloth over it, and then put a heating pad over that. She advises her patients to do this 3 to 5 times per week for about 30 to 60 minutes. She said there’s no exact recommendation for using castor oil packs and people need to find what works best for them.
Dang said castor oil may lead to uterine contractions, so people should not use it during their menstrual cycle, if they are pregnant or breastfeeding. She also said not to use it on an open wound or if you are dealing with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis flare-ups.
Beyond internal benefits, castor oil can clear your skin, Dang said.
"The liver plays a big role in skin health," she explained. The liver processes hormones and filters toxins, but when it’s sluggish, that excess waste doesn’t clear properly, leading to acne and rashes. "By supporting the body’s elimination pathways, like digestion and regular bowel movements, castor oil indirectly improves skin health," Dang said.
• A nightly ritual
Not everyone opts for a full-on castor oil pack. Amelia Mei stumbled across one of her favorite influencers on Instagram raving about castor oil for bloating. Intrigued, Mei decided to give it a shot.
For the past two years, she has made it a nightly ritual to massage a dab of castor oil into her belly button. "I wake up feeling so energized now," she said. Before heading out for a big meal with friends, the 24-year-old applies a little extra to her navel - and said she never feels bloated after she does.
Charlene Osei has hidradenitis suppurativa - a chronic inflammatory skin condition that causes painful lumps under the skin - and was searching for ways to ease the constant inflammation. On top of that, her menstrual cycles were heavy and agonizing. TikTok led her to castor oil packs.
After her nightly shower, the 32-year-old goes through a ritual: First, she uses a wooden roller to massage her body; then, she slathers castor oil across her stomach and wraps her abdomen; and finally, she places a heating pad on top. "For me, I get better sleep, deeper sleep, and then I wake up wanting to use the bathroom," Osei said. "My cramps are now manageable, too."
She avoids using castor oil packs during her period, but she preps in advance - if she forgets to do it before her cycle starts, she said, the pain and heaviness are noticeably worse.
When she shared her experience on TikTok, women who had been using castor oil packs in secret flooded her DMs.
"I feel like this created a kind of community," she said. "I think people are looking for more holistic ways to get back on track."
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