Every now and then pains and aches are an aspect of existence. It’s not a question of whether you’ll sense them but rather what you will use to relieve them. The majority of discomfort, whether from a lengthy run, less than perfect night’s rest, or hours hunched over work traces back to similar fundamental causes – inflammation. Blood and immune cells are transported by the body to a position of discomfort or minor injury, and the local response generates swelling, heat, and soreness.
Holistic health approaches don’t try to decrease this response. Instead, they collaborate with it, by providing the body with what is necessary to put an end to the reaction and restore equilibrium. The main difference makes a difference. Natural health cures at their most effective don’t hide symptoms. They eliminate the barriers to healing.
The Science Behind Topical Oil Application
Ricinoleic acid is the main fatty acid found in castor oil. It gives castor oil most of its healing properties. What makes it unique is the way it interacts with prostaglandin receptors within the skin and underlying tissue. Prostaglandins are the compounds that trigger pain and inflammation in your body. Ricinoleic acid binds to those receptors and reduces their pain-causing and inflammatory response. This is what makes castor oil products effective for pain relief. It’s not just that your skin feels warm, it’s true pain relief.
According to a study in Phytotherapy Research reported by the National Institutes of Health, ricinoleic acid works as an analgesic (pain relief) and an anti-inflammatory agent in a similar way to capsaicin. But unlike capsaicin, which makes you feel like your skin is burning on first contact, ricinoleic has a cooling sensation. This makes it a good option for self-treatment as you can use it multiple times a day safely.
The way you administer the ricinoleic acid helps you avoid side effects. For example, if you take oral anti-inflammatories, you systemically expose your body to it. This can lead to a whole other set of problems, including reactions and intolerances. When you apply castor oil packs with its ricinoleic acid topically you are using the transdermal effect. This sends it straight through your skin and into the underlying fascia and muscle. It also stays local making for more effective pain relief. Using transdermal treatments is often safer than taking a pill frequently over time.
How To Use A Castor Oil Pack Properly
A castor oil pack is easy, and it’s more effective than just applying the oil to your skin because it involves heat. Heat opens your pores, boosts circulation in the area you’re treating, and helps the oil absorb more quickly into your skin.
Here’s how to do it: Pour castor oil onto a piece of wool or cotton flannel, so it’s moist but not saturated. Put it on the joint or muscle that’s bothering you. Cover it with plastic wrap so it doesn’t get on your clothes or linens, then put a heating pad or hot water bottle on top for 45-60 minutes.
The oil, heat, and time all work together to activate the ricinoleic acid. Many people apply a castor oil pack 2-3 times per week during times of extra physical stress.
Why Ingredient Quality Isn’t Optional
The quality of the oil is very important if you are applying it to your skin frequently. Regular oils are often extracted with the use of a highly volatile chemical solvent called hexane. This easily removes the oil from the seed. It also leaves residues in the oil. Cold-pressed, hexane-free castor oil is extracted by mechanically squeezing the seeds without the use of chemicals. Organic castor oil is grown without the use of synthetic chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and genetically modified organisms.
Neither cold-pressed, hexane-free, nor certified organic labels are just marketing hype. They represent an entirely different standard of product. If you plan to apply castor oil to your skin repeatedly and regularly, it is important to use a product that is as free of toxic contaminants as possible if you want to support your body’s recovery rather than hinder it. This goes for any natural remedy. Skin absorption should be considered.
Building A Multi-Modal Approach To Daily Discomfort
No one solution works best, and this should not be seen as a limitation of natural remedies, just the reality of health. The most effective responses to occasional discomfort draw input from several areas.
Topical application can address the immediate inflammatory cascade in the muscle. Nutrition can address the overall inflammatory state. Turmeric and ginger are effective in the same prostaglandin pathways as ricinoleic acid and are added to traditional food because of this effect, not just due to recent trends. Using them regularly helps maintain a low level of general inflammation.
Epsom salts work in a different manner and are still effective at a larger muscular size scale. The magnesium sulfate facilitates muscle relaxation through an entirely different pathway and warm water levels enhance ease of absorption.
The movement component is routinely skipped often. However, without sufficient movement, the body’s cleaning system, the lymphatic system, can become stagnant. This can result in a slowing of the clearance and delivery of old and building resources to repair. Movement, even simple movement, about the lymphatic circulation is necessary.
The gut-brain axis is just as important in the overlooked system. If bacteria have taken master of the gut, they can create a stronger system-wide inflammatory cascade. Drinking enough good water and keeping reasonable fiber amounts in the diet isn’t sexy, but it earns its share in the network.