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How To Use Castor Oil Packs For Daily Detox Support

April 12, 2023 Affiliates, Blog, Guest Blog, Podcast Comments Off on How To Use Castor Oil Packs For Daily Detox Support

Your easy self-care routine for detox and cleansing

Written by: Victoria Williams, R.H.N. From Queen of the Thrones®

The word detox is thrown around a lot these days, and for good reason. Detox is just as important for your wellness as getting enough sleep at night or drinking enough water.

You’ve heard of hundreds of ways to support your body’s daily detox. From lotions and potions, to teas and supplements, everyone knows how important this process is in today’s toxic world, agreed? 

But we’re going to keep it simple and focus on 1 easy self-care practice you can do every night that makes all of the other things you’re already doing work better: Castor Oil Packs.

 

First, what’s the difference between detox and cleansing? 

Detoxification is the process your body uses to break down toxins, hormones, heavy metals, etc. and packages them for elimination.

Cleansing is the way that your body eliminates the waste, either through bowel movements, urine, sweat, breath, or your period.

It’s kind of like taking out your garbage: Detoxification is when you throw all of your waste into a garbage bag and package it up for garbage day. And cleansing is when you take it to the curb and the garbage truck takes it away. That’s always a great feeling, agreed?

 

What role does the liver play in detox?

Out of all the organs in your body, your liver is the heavy-lifter of detoxification. 

It filters toxins from your blood the way an air filter cleans pollutants from the air. When the filter is clogged, it doesn’t work very well, and the same is true for your liver. This is why it’s the best place to start for overall detox and cleanse support.

What is a Castor Oil Pack?

So, you might be wondering: What the heck is a Castor Oil Pack, and how it does it help with natural detox, right? 

A Castor Oil Pack is Castor Oil applied to an organic cotton compress and worn over the liver area. 

Castor Oil comes from pressing the seeds from the Castor bean plant (A.K.A. the Palm of Christ) – a native of Africa, India, and the Mediterranean region. It’s a thick, golden oil that is rich in antioxidants and super nourishing for the skin, hair and nails.

Castor Oil Packs have been around for centuries and were popularized in North America in the 1900s by a bedside healer named Edgar Cayce. They’re a favorite of naturopathic doctors, functional medicine practitioners, massage therapists, and chiropractors, but in some circles they were thought of as “fringe” or “woo-woo”. 

How do Castor Oil Packs work? 

You might be thinking this too… How could oil on a piece of cotton impact your insides, right? Finally, in recent years, scientific research has helped unlock the mystery of how Castor Oil Packs work.

You see, Castor Oil is made up of 90% ricinoleic acid, a fatty acid known for its antimicrobial1, antiviral2 and anti-inflammatory3 properties. 

The soft, gentle compression of the Castor Oil Pack on the skin helps move the body into a relaxed state via stimulating receptors in the skin4 5, similar to a hug or a weighted blanket.

The pack also stimulates somatic visceral reflexes via dermatomes and Traditional Chinese Medicine meridians that are thought to be connected to detox and cleansing organs including the liver, gallbladder, stomach, kidneys, adrenals, and colon. 

Stress is a factor in all types of dis-ease 

Castor Oil Packs simply help move the body into the parasympathetic ‘rest and digest’ state where detox and cleansing are optimized. 

The power of the relaxed state is not to be underestimated in our fast-paced high stress world, agreed?  There are stressors all around us, from obvious things like traffic jams or pressure at work, to subtle things like plastics in your environment or the blue light from your phone screen. 

After all, stress is a factor in all types of dis-ease. From cancer, to autoimmunity, to mental health, to hormonal imbalances; stress aggravates symptoms. So, self-care practices that help balance your stress are KEY.

Quality of materials for your Castor Oil Packs

Your goal is to detox, not re-tox, right? Quality is important when it comes to choosing your Castor Oil Pack!

For your oil: Look for 100% pure, certified organic, hexane-free Castor Oil always in a glass bottle. If you have Castor Oil in a plastic bottle, throw it away! Castor Oil is an amazing carrier oil, so it can carry any substance with it (good or bad), into your skin. It should never be bottled in plastic. 

For your pack: Always go for organic cotton, linen, or wool touching your skin. Avoid cotton blended with synthetic fibers (ie. cotton velour) or materials like bamboo that are highly treated with chemicals. 

The Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Pack Kit is ideal because it’s made with organic cotton, a protective “less mess” layer and comfortable straps that tie it onto your body. 

So, how do you do a Castor Oil Pack for daily detox? 

Step 1: Apply 1 tbsp of organic Castor Oil to your Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Pack.

Step Two:  Place your pack over your liver area (under your right rib cage) and tie it in place with the adjustable straps.

Wear for 1 hour before bed, or even better, wear overnight to help you cleanse while you sleep. How’s that for efficiency? Plus, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the time of liver detox is between 1-3 am! 

Remember: Castor Oil is an oil and it WILL stain clothing and bed sheets, so take extra care when preparing your pack and wear an old t-shirt overtop just in case.

It’s the little things over time that make a big difference

The truth is, we can run but we can’t hide from toxins in today’s world. But we can do daily detox practices to help support our bodies to deal with them better and keep things flowing.

And who doesn’t love a little self-care in the evenings, especially when it helps you poop better, sleep better and stress less, agreed? 

 

 

References:

  1. Marwat SK, Rehman F, Khan EA, Baloch MS, Sadiq M, Ullah I, Javaria S, Shaheen S. Review – Ricinus cmmunis – Ethnomedicinal uses and pharmacological activities.Pak J Pharm Sci. 2017 Sep;30(5):1815-1827. PMID: 29084706
  2. Elkousy RH, Said ZNA, Abd El-Baseer MA, Abu El Wafa SA. Antiviral activity of castor oil plant (Ricinus communis) leaf extracts. J Ethnopharmacol. 2021 May 10;271:113878. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.113878. Epub 2021 Jan 27. PMID: 33515683.
  3. Vieira C et al. .Effect of ricinoleic acid in acute and subchronic experimental models of inflammation. Mediators Inflamm. 2000;9(5):223-8 PMID: 11200362 
  4. Walker SC1, Trotter PD2, Swaney WT2, Marshall A3, Mcglone FP4. C-tactile afferents: Cutaneous mediators of oxytocin release during affiliative tactile interactions? Neuropeptides. 2017 Aug;64:27-38. doi: 10.1016/j.npep.2017.01.001. Epub 2017 Jan 19. PMID: 28162847
  5. Rolls ET et all. Representations of pleasant and painful touch in the human orbitofrontal and cingulate cortices. Cereb Cortex. 2003 Mar;13(3):308-17. PMID: 12571120
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Natural Ways to Detox From Medical Imaging Tests

March 6, 2023 Blog, Guest Blog Comments Off on Natural Ways to Detox From Medical Imaging Tests

Jacqueline Genova, www.wellnstrong.com

Exposure to ionizing radiation is increasing rapidly in the United States.

In fact, Americans today are exposed to seven times more radiation from diagnostic medical imaging tests than they were 30 years ago due to a dramatic increase in the use of X-rays, mammograms, and CT and PET scans as diagnostic tools. Studies have shown that ionizing radiation, such as gamma rays, X-rays, and radioactive particles can cause cancer by damaging DNA.

If not properly repaired, this damage can cause harmful changes in the DNA, subsequently leading to mutations.

The chart below illustrates the radiation dosage to patients from some of these imaging tests:

Procedure Approximate effective radiation dose (mSv) Approximate comparable time of natural background radiation exposure
Computed Tomography (CT) (abdomen & pelvis) 7.7 mSv 2.6 years
CT — Abdomen and Pelvis, repeated with and without contrast material 15.4 mSv 5.1 years
CT — Chest 6.1 mSv 2 years
Chest X-ray 0.1 mSv 10 days
Positron Emission Tomography — Computed Tomography (PET/CT) Whole body protocol 22.7 mSv 7.6 years
Screening Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (3D Mammogram) 0.27 mSv 33 days

While these routine imaging procedures in conventional medicine are sometimes necessary, they do come with health risks due to the radiation they emit. For example, exposure to CT scans can increase the risk of cancer by at least 24%, with such risk lasting even years after the testing. In fact, researchers at the National Cancer Institute estimate that 29,000 future cancer cases could be attributed to the 72 million CT scans performed in the country. Furthermore, other imaging tests that don’t emit radiation, like MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging) also come with risks. For example, most doctors order the contrast dye gadolinium when ordering an MRI. Gadolinium has been shown to have toxic residual effects, especially among those with poor kidney function.

So, if you’re about to get a scan or some other type of imaging test, here are a few things you may want to consider to help your body detox from radiation exposure and heavy-metal laden contrasts:

Choose a High-Potency Supplement Containing Polyphenols
Resveratrol, quercetin, and green tea polyphenols rank among the best-studied and most potent radioprotectants. In fact, studies have shown that plant polyphenols can protect human cells against radiation-induced DNA damage.

High Dose Melatonin
Aim for 60 mg of melatonin the night before and the night after a scan. While many cancer patients actively take melatonin as part of their supplement protocol, melatonin has also been shown to have beneficial properties for the reduction of radiation toxicity in healthy tissue due its potent antioxidative properties.

Consume Detox Foods
Some of my favorite detox foods include spirulina, chlorella, kelp, broccoli, garlic, onions, wheat grass, lemon balm, parsley, avocados, kale, coconut oil, and pectin-rich foods like apples. These foods have been shown to protect against radiation-induced damage to cells and tissues primarily due to their high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Spirulina, chlorella, and pectin in particular act as natural binders, which bind to toxins and radioactive elements, drawing them out of the body.

Use Oxicell Cream
Oxicell cream is a glutathione cream. Glutathione, also known as the “master antioxidant,” protects the body from toxic metals, pollutants, and perhaps most importantly when it comes to scans – oxidative stress. Radiation can cause the production of free radicals, which lead to oxidative stress, which can further cause DNA damage and mitochondrial dysfunction. Using Oxicell in targeted areas before and after a scan can help to protect the body from oxidative stress by supporting the scavenging of free radicals that the scan may produce. Consider putting ¼ tsp of cream into your hands, and rub over your liver, your thyroid, and your adrenals, up to three times the day of your scan.

Take a Radiation-Neutralizing Bath Following Your Scan
Dissolve one to two pounds of salt with one to two pounds of baking soda in a hot bath, and soak for 40 minutes. Radiation is acidifying to the body, while a salt and baking soda soak is highly alkaline, which helps to neutralize radiation’s effect. Another thing to consider adding is bentonite clay. Clays are known for their ability to remove toxic metals because of their unusual structure of pores, which allow the clay to absorb large amounts of toxins. A magnetic clay bath is a great way to assist the body in a heavy metal detox and to remove radiation from the body.

Try Homeopathy
Homeopathy means “similar pathology,” and its science is based on a principle known as the “Law of Similars”.  This principle supports the proposition that any substance that can cause symptoms when consumed by a healthy individual can also combat the same symptoms in a person who is ill. Consider homeopathic remedies like X-Ray 30c, Cobaltum 30, Calc fluor 12 and Nat mur 6 to help your body detox from radiation. For example, taking one dose (3 pellets) of X-ray 30c the night before, morning of, and for three days after your scan may help mitigate the radiation effects. One of my favorite homeopathic pharmacies is Boiron, which you can find on Fullscript.

Eat a Healthy Diet
The best anti-radiation diet is one that is rich in ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) foods, which have been shown to help heal the body from radiation damage, and chelating foods (foods that remove toxins from the body). Among my favorite high ORAC foods are blueberries, walnuts, cruciferous vegetables, and cilantro. Some of my favorite chelating foods include parsley, cilantro, brazil nuts, garlic and onions.

Sweat
Sweating helps the body eliminate heavy metal toxins (e.g. mercury and cadmium), and also reduces inflammation. In addition to exercise, a great way to help the body eliminate toxins is by sweating inside an infrared sauna. If you don’t have access to one, I highly recommend Relax Sauna. It’s a powerful, portable, and budget-friendly sauna.

Use Castor Oil Packs
Castor oil is a non-volatile fatty oil that is derived from the seeds of the castor bean. Studies have shown that castor oil possesses detoxifying, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and wound-healing properties. My favorite way to use castor oil is via castor oil packs. Castor oil packs applied to the liver area have also been shown to support and improve liver function. Castor oil packs have also been shown to:

  • Increase lymphatic drainage
  • Detoxify the body
  • Improve digestion
  • Reduce pain & inflammation
  • Increase glutathione
  • Promote regularity & boost gut integrity

One of my favorite brands is Queen of the Thrones, which sells organic cotton and castor oil in glass bottles. Since castor oil absorbs chemicals from plastics (which can then enter the body), I recommend that you purchase it in glass bottles.

Hydrate
The simple act of drinking water is one of the most important pathways to detoxification. Aim to drink filtered water at least half your weight in ounces per day. If you’re looking for a high-quality filtration system, I’m a fan of Berkey Filters and

Clearly Filtered.

These are just a few protocols to follow that can help you detox, rebalance, and protect your body after radiation exposure from imaging tests.

 

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