Castor oil has been around for a long time, and it continues to be one of the best holistic healing oils available. You can use it to maintain healthy-looking skin, improve the shine of your hair, and even reduce inflammation. In fact, it’s even known to improve digestion and can help with things like constipation.
While castor oil packs are helpful, you may have heard that you shouldn’t use them for menstruation. So, why shouldn’t you use castor oil packs for menstruation? The short answer is that it can make symptoms worse, but every situation is unique.
Read on to learn everything you need to know.
What Is Castor Oil?
Castor oil is a unique type of oil that comes from the Ricinus communis plant. It’s extracted from the seeds of this plant and has been used for centuries to help with digestion, pain, and other ailments. In fact, Cleopatra claimed that she used castor oil to improve the whiteness of her eyes. Now, while that may or may not be true, one thing is known for certain – castor oil is loaded with ricinoleic acid.
The ricinoleic acid found in castor oil is a fatty acid and the source of many of the oil’s benefits. You’ll find that castor oil has omega-6, omega-9, vitamin E, and plenty of other nutrients that aid the body’s natural ability to heal.
What Is a Castor Oil Pack?
A castor oil pack is a combination of castor oil and a piece of wool, cotton, or cloth. The material is soaked in castor oil and then wrapped in plastic before being placed on part of your body. Castor oil packs have been around for centuries and are used to assist with joint pain, inflammation, red skin, digestive issues, and much more.
Why Shouldn’t You Use Castor Oil Packs During Menstruation?
Castor oil packs are a great way to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and feel better overall. While this is the case, it’s not always a good idea to use it during menstruation due to how it can impact bleeding and comfort levels. In fact, you’ll find that using castor oil during your period can result in even more intense symptoms.
Learn more about why you shouldn’t use castor oil packs during menstruation below.
More Bleeding Is Possible
People who have heavier menstrual cycles with heavy periods of bleeding may want to avoid castor oil. This is because a castor oil pack stimulates blood flow to the uterus. While this may sound beneficial, this can lead to even heavier bleeding. Unfortunately, this can make it challenging to manage the bleeding. That said, it’s not usually unsafe – just uncomfortable and a hassle to stay on top of.
Thankfully, you’ll know if this is something that’s going to be an issue after the first few times you try it. Furthermore, this doesn’t happen to everyone, and people who have light periods may not even notice the difference.
Possible Discomfort
Many people may rush to use castor oil during menstruation because it’s known to reduce inflammation, pain, and discomfort. While this may sound like it will relieve menstrual discomfort, unfortunately, the opposite is often true. In fact, using castor oil packs during a period can lead to more discomfort and worse period cramps.
That said, this doesn’t happen to everyone. Also, some people report that castor oil packs can ease discomfort, so your mileage may vary.
Why Shouldn’t You Use Castor Oil Packs During Menstruation? Our Final Thoughts
Using castor oil packs during a period may not be a good idea. A castor oil pack can increase blood flow and cause more discomfort, so you may want to stick to aspirin or other traditional pain relievers. That said, it’s important to remember that this isn’t true for everyone. For some people, castor oil packs may even help with period symptoms, so it may be worth it to try out a castor oil pack to see how your body reacts.
If you plan on using castor oil during menstruation, we recommend using a pure castor oil; this ensures that you have the best chance of receiving the benefits instead of ending up with even more pain, bleeding, and discomfort.