When I first heard that castor oil packs could help with liver health, I was skeptical. The skin is not directly touching the liver. I had heard people in holistic Facebook groups say, “Do this because it helps.” But I wanted research.
Why I was skeptical about castor oil packs
As a registered nurse, I love research. I love facts. Hearing that something helped somebody in a Facebook group wasn’t enough for me.
Then I read about a poster project in one of my holistic nursing journals. Nurses had used castor oil packs in a hospital for pain and other patient complaints. I remember reading about improvements in pain and inflammation.
That caught my attention. It was different from the recommendations I had been hearing online, and it made me interested in trying them.
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Constipation and the thyroid hormone connection
Your thyroid produces T4. Your body converts it to T3, which is like a little key that turns on your cells and helps them work.
When you don’t have enough thyroid hormone, things can slow down. If your gut slows down, you can get constipated.
Constipation was one of the reasons I became interested in using a pack over the lower abdomen, especially the lower left side.
The night my son woke me up at four
One of my teenage sons woke me up around four in the morning. His stomach really hurt.
I listened to his complaints. The pain was in the lower left part of his abdomen. From what he described, I thought it might be bloating, a gas bubble, or constipation.
He had already tried to have a bowel movement. As the son of two nurses, he knew that was going to be one of our first questions. (“Have you tried to poop?”)
My initial thought was, “Oh my goodness, I can’t even think.” It was four in the morning.
He went back to bed, and I lay there trying to go back to sleep. Then I remembered the castor oil pack.
We have rice bags all over the house. I have about three in my bedroom because my feet get so cold in the winter. I warmed one up and got a piece of fabric and some castor oil.
I put the oil on the fabric and placed it over the lower left part of his abdomen. I used a plastic bag as a barrier between the oily fabric and the rice bag.
He pulled up his blanket and went back to sleep. In the morning, he told me he felt so much better.
That was our experience. It doesn’t tell us what is causing someone else’s abdominal pain or whether a pack would help them.
Why I considered castor oil packs for liver support
My interest wasn’t only about constipation. I was also thinking about liver health.
Your liver helps process hormones and waste. It also plays a role in converting T4 to T3. That connection is why liver health matters to me when I’m thinking about thyroid function.
I have more teaching on estrogen and Hashimoto’s and T4 not converting to T3.
When I use a pack with liver support in mind, I place it below my right ribs. That’s the upper right part of the abdomen. It is a different spot from the lower left area I used for my son.
That is my reason for using it, not proof that a pack improves liver function or thyroid hormone conversion.
How I use a castor oil pack
I keep the supplies simple:
- A clean piece of fabric, preferably organic cotton
- Castor oil, preferably organic
- An oil-proof covering
- An old T-shirt or towel
Castor oil stains. The old shirt or towel is worth having ready.
This is how I put the pack together:
- Soak the clean fabric with castor oil.
- Place the fabric on clean skin over the area where I want to use it.
- Put the oil-proof covering over the fabric.
- Protect my clothing or bedding with an old shirt or towel.
I have also used a warmed rice bag over the protective layer, as I did for my son.
For my own liver-focused routine, I’ve aimed for three to five times a week, for 30 to 50 minutes at a time. I’ve also used a pack overnight without a heat pack. Those are my own practices, not a treatment schedule for you.
Wellness Mama’s castor oil pack guide also describes how to assemble a pack. Your healthcare provider can help you decide whether using one makes sense for your situation.
Castor oil packs during your period
I’ve used castor oil packs for menstrual cramps, and I find that they help me.
I’ve also come across advice to avoid using them during menstruation. I’ve never seen any (in my opinion) good reasons why not, but it’s often listed. My personal experience doesn’t settle that question for you.
Please discuss changes with your trusted healthcare provider, including whether and when to use a pack.
You can join us in the Health with Hashimoto’s Skool community and explore the courses available there. You do not have to figure your health out alone.