Using Castor Oil for Massage Benefits

Ever remember your mother or grandmother talking about castor oil when you were younger?

Once upon a time, castor oil was a folk remedy for all sorts of ailments. Mothers were fond of giving their children a daily dosing of this not-so-pleasant-tasting oil. While castor oil contains many benefits, there are fortunately much more appealing ways to access these benefits — without a heaping dose on a spoon! Castor oil has grown in popularity recently as more and more people realize its many uses, whether for thickening hair or relieving constipation (be very careful!). One of our favorites is using castor oil for massage benefits.

So Where Does Castor Oil Come From?

Castor oil is derived from the castor bean plant. It has been used for generations as a traditional cure for skin, gastrointestinal, and many other common health issues. Pressed from the seeds, pure castor oil is clear and tasteless. However, its oily texture makes its palatability questionable.

What’s in Castor Oil?

Castor oil contains large amounts of ricinoleic acid. This fatty acid enhances the absorption of other agents across your skin. Castor oil packs build on this concept to help various issues due to its several beneficial properties.

Properties of Castor Oil:

• Natural moisturizer
• Anti-inflammatory
• Anti-bacterial
• Anti-fungal
• Laxative effects
• Pain-relieving

Castor Oil for Massage, Skin, & Other Benefits

Castor oil’s unique healing qualities can be derived by topical application. It appears to be useful for a variety of skin and other conditions, including:

• Keratosis
• Dermatosis
• Wound healing
• Acne
• Ringworm
• Warts
• Sebaceous cysts
• Itching
• Hair loss
• Constipation
• Inflammation
• Arthritis
• Occupational dermatitis
• Lymphatic system congestion

As the oil is absorbed through the skin, your lymphocyte count increases. Lymphocytes are white blood cells that play an important part in our body’s immune system. As the lymph flow in the body increases, toxin removal increases, and swelling in our lymph nodes decreases.

Tips on Using Castor Oil for Massage Benefits

Castor oil adds a whole new layer of benefits to massage therapy. We’ve found the thick, rich, emollient oil best to use on dry feet or as a castor oil pack. At Balance Spa, we recommend using castor oil for massage benefits. We particularly enjoy its unique glide when working on dry, cracked feet. It makes our work easier and allows us to work deeper when needed.

At Balance Spa, we use Castor Oil in our Immuno Massages. Learn more about our Immuno Massages and schedule an appointment today! Although we use castor oil packs at the spa frequently, you can do a home version as well. You’ll need:

What You’ll Need for At-Home Castor Oil Therapy

You can get the benefits of castor oil for pain relief at home with just 5 items:

• Cold-pressed castor oil — Be sure you use one labeled for human use and not an industrial variety
• Heating pad, hot water bottle, or heated stones
• Plastic garbage bag or plastic wrap
• Two or three one-foot square pieces of wool, cotton flannel, or similar material
• A large bath towel

Steps for Using Castor Oil for Pain Relief

Castor oil can be messy. You’ll want to follow these steps to keep things clean, tidy, and relaxing:

• Step 1: Put the bath towel down between yourself and any bedding or furniture.
• Step 2: Soak the wool or cotton in oil and place it against the skin. For general use, you can put the material on your abdomen. Put the material on the affected area for lower back or other localized pain.
• Step 3: Next, put your plastic garbage bag over the soaked material and your heating pad over that. The plastic keeps the moisture from your heating pad.
• Step 4: Keep the heating pad turned to the warmest setting that is tolerable. Keep the pack in place for an hour.
• Step 5: Any remaining oil on the skin should be rubbed in for maximum effect. You can also just wipe it off.

Steps for Using Castor Oil for Massage Benefits

Castor oil’s anti-inflammatory properties make it an excellent massage oil for relieving arthritic joints, nerve inflammation, and sore muscles. You can also use it at home as a direct application on the skin for topical issues like wounds and other issues described earlier.

• Step 1: Just rub a small amount on the area.
• Step 2: Castor oil has a high viscosity, meaning it’s very thick. This is fine if you’re massaging feet or elbows. However, other parts of the body can be combined with carrier oil, such as fractionated coconut oil. You’ll get some of the benefits without the thick stickiness.
• Step 3: Wash your hands after use. Remember that some conditions, like ringworm, can spread through touch. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after applying the oil.

Is Castor Oil Safe to Use?

Using Castor oil for massage benefits is normally safe if used in moderation. However, pregnant and lactating women and people with intestinal blockage, acute inflammatory intestinal disease, appendicitis, or abdominal pain should not take castor oil without their doctor’s approval.

Note that precautions must be taken when taking the oil internally. You should always follow the directions on the package and consult your doctor or naturopathic professional before consuming it. A typical recommended dosage for the oil is no more than one-half to one full teaspoon per day. Overdosage of castor oil may result in diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or cramping.

Experiencing the Benefits of Castor Oil in Massage Therapy

Using castor oil for massage benefits brings a nice touch to your experience, whether at home or at the spa. Applying the castor oil pack to our clients’ backs and feet and our blend of immune-boosting essential oils bring amazing benefits to the body. Lowering pain and inflammation supports the immune system, helping you relax, refresh, and strengthen your well-being.

Learn more about everything included in our Immuno Massages and schedule an appointment today to unwind and rejuvenate naturally.