Castor oil packing has become a popular wellness practice, particularly as a natural way to support digestion, control inflammation, and boost healthy aging. Supporters say placing castor oil–soaked cloths on the skin may help with a range of health concerns.

However, research into these effects is limited. What matters most is whether its purported benefits amount to anything meaningful in the long run.

If You Want to Try Castor Oil Packing

Experts have differing opinions on the effectiveness of castor oil packing. This practice involves soaking a fabric in castor oil and applying it to the skin.

“This is a traditional remedy that is used for a wide range of ailments, from pains to liver disease to constipation,” Wajahat Mehal, MD, director of the Yale Fatty Liver Disease Program and the Yale Metabolic Health & Weight Loss Program, told Health.

Research on castor oil is older.1 “It has not been extensively investigated,” said Dr. Mehal.

“The two best-studied benefits of castor oil packing are for constipation relief and certain skin conditions,” Joaquin Villegas, MD, a family medicine physician with UTHealth Houston, told Health.

The FDA has only approved castor oil as a stimulant laxative. “However, castor oil packs applied to the abdomen can be beneficial in reducing constipation symptoms,” said Dr. Villegas.

“There’s no evidence castor oil packing works, but it’s unlikely to be harmful,” said Dr. Mehal. “That being said, I suggest that no one try castor oil packing.”

“For skin benefits, castor oil helps reduce skin redness and itching and can moisturize the skin,” said Dr. Villegas. “Although there are mixed results on this, castor oil packs can also be used over joints to reduce the pain from arthritis.”

Castor oil may benefit skin health and relieve joint pain. However, there are no studies demonstrating its ability to detoxify.23

“Castor oil packing is not a cure-all,” said Dr. Villegas, pointing out that the practice may do more harm than good. “There are some potential side effects, including skin irritation or allergies, abdominal cramping, and nausea.”

Who Should Avoid Castor Oil Packing?

According to Villegas, the following groups of people should avoid castor oil packing:

• People who are pregnant or breastfeeding
• People who are concerned about allergic reactions and haven’t conducted a “patch test” to ensure they can safely apply castor oil topically.4
• People with an open wound

How Do You Make a Castor Oil Pack?

The first step of making a castor oil pack is to cut a piece of wool or cotton into a rectangular piece of the desired size.

Pour castor oil into a container and soak the fabric until it is completely soaked. Alternatively, you can drizzle castor oil onto the fabric until it is thoroughly soaked.

Then lie on a towel (to avoid dripping castor oil) and place the soaked fabric on the area you want to treat. Then place a piece of plastic over it, followed by a towel. Finally, place a heating pad or hot water bottle over the towel, as heat is thought to enhance the effects.

Leave the castor oil pack on for 30 minutes to an hour. When you’re done, store the soaked cloth in a container for reuse at a later time.

Avoid leaving the castor oil pack on for longer than one hour since the heat could cause heat injuries, especially if used on a sensitive area.

Applying castor oil packs should not be an everyday thing; aim for a maximum of three times a week.

It’s important to avoid heating the castor oil pack directly, since fabric can be flammable.5 Instead, place the heating pad or hot water bottle on top of the towel.

“The most common issue I have heard about is patients heating the castor oil pack in a microwave,” said Villegas. “Patients should avoid this since it can cause smoke and possibly a fire.”

Choosing the Best Castor Oil

Villegas advises patients who are picking out a castor oil product to do the following:

• Read the ingredients on the label.
• Castor oil is naturally odorless, so avoid fragrances.
• Look online for reviews about a particular brand or manufacturer to avoid particularly bad offenders.