My Personal Experience With Castor Oil
Updated: Sep 15
My love of castor oil actually started a couple of years ago, and completely by accident.
I’d found some lumps in my breasts and, after having scans and a biopsy, I was told there were some abnormal cells. I was referred to a breast surgeon and, rather than removing them straight away, he wanted to wait a few months and scan me again to see how quickly they were changing.
A friend mentioned castor oil to me and suggested I try using it while doing gentle lymphatic massage around the area. I honestly didn’t know much about castor oil at the time, but thought there was no harm in adding something simple like that to my routine while I waited for my follow-up.
So I did. Most nights I would put some castor oil on and spend a little time gently massaging the area.
Four months later, I went back for another scan — and the cysts were gone.
Now, I’m not saying castor oil made them disappear — I have absolutely no way of knowing that. But I also didn’t do anything else differently during those four months, so naturally it made me wonder. That experience is really what started my little obsession with castor oil.
Since then I’ve used it for so many things. I love using it over my tummy and liver area, especially when I’m feeling bloated or uncomfortable. For me personally, I often notice the discomfort easing within minutes. It’s just become one of those simple little rituals that I genuinely love and use every night.
My daughter uses it for period pain too, usually as a warm castor oil pack, and for her it’s been incredibly effective at easing the discomfort. She often feels the pain start to settle within minutes, so it’s become one of the first things she reaches for when cramps hit.
It’s funny because it’s such a simple, inexpensive oil, but it’s probably become one of my favourite ingredients. That’s really why you’ll see castor oil popping up in so many of my products now 😂
I just genuinely love the stuff. 🤍
What Barbara O’Neill Says Castor Oil Can Help With
A gentle guide to the traditional uses of this powerful old-world remedy
Castor oil has been used for generations, but it’s become popular again thanks to educators like Barbara O’Neill, who often speaks about its ability to support the body’s natural healing and detox processes.
Here are the main things Barbara O’Neill teaches castor oil may help with:
1. Drawing Out Toxins & Stagnation
Barbara often says castor oil penetrates deeply into the tissues, helping the body to:
Pull out stagnation
Soften hardened or congested areas
Encourage natural detoxification
Support the removal of built-up waste
This is why castor oil packs are traditionally placed over areas that feel tight, blocked, or heavy.
2. Lymphatic Drainage Support
She teaches that castor oil helps the lymph system move more freely. According to her, it can assist with:
Reducing puffiness
Improving lymph circulation
Supporting detox pathways
Reducing fluid retention
This is one of the reasons so many people use it on the breasts, armpits, abdomen, and liver area.
3. Liver Cleansing & Detox Support
One of Barbara O’Neill’s most well-known recommendations is a castor oil pack over the liver. She says it can help:
Reduce liver congestion
Support natural detox functions
Boost energy
Improve digestion
Reduce heaviness or sluggishness
4. Digestive Comfort
Barbara teaches that castor oil packs placed over the abdomen can help with:
Bloating
Gas
Constipation
Cramping
General abdominal tension
Many people find this incredibly soothing before bed.
5. Pain & Inflammation Relief
She also says castor oil may help calm:
Period pain
Muscle tension
Lower abdominal discomfort
Sore or overworked areas
Joint stiffness
This is why warm castor oil packs are commonly used for monthly cycles and muscle relief.
6. Skin Healing & Hydration
Barbara highlights castor oil’s skin benefits, saying it can help:
Hydrate dry skin
Soften scars
Calm irritated patches
Support skin repair
Improve skin smoothness
Its thick, nutrient-rich texture makes it deeply nourishing.
7. Immune System Support
Barbara says castor oil packs may help activate and support the body’s natural immune responses by:
Encouraging flow through lymph nodes
Reducing swelling
Supporting detox organs
Helping the body clear waste more efficiently
8. Women’s Health & Reproductive Support
Castor oil packs are often mentioned by Barbara for their traditional uses in:
Easing period pain
Supporting pelvic circulation
Calming bloating
Reducing lower abdominal tension
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