Children’s Castor Oil Packing

Not just for grown-ups, castor oil packing is gentle and healing for children, as well. Fit comfortably to a youngsters body, children’s castor oil packing is a nourishing experience aiding in acute treatment of ailments and overall wellbeing. 

With the guidance of a health practitioner, applying a castor oil pack to a baby or small child aids in decreasing inflammation, supporting digestion, healthy bowel movements, circulation and creating a feeling of relaxation. It could be a child has colic, allergies or food intolerances as the source of the issue. No matter the problem, a castor oil pack easily applied to a resting child, is the perfect preparation for a deep night’s rest. 

Why use a castor oil pack?

It’s not a new idea to prescribe castor oil packs to children. In fact they have been used for centuries, dating back to ancient Egypt. Likewise, they were known and used in Chinese medicinal treatments, used by Indian Ayurveda masters and more recently have been applied in Naturopathic Medicine.

In children and babies, it’s common, but not exclusive, to use Castor Oil Packs for the treatment of Candida. This is when yeast grows out of control in the body. In children, as in adults, candida can cause the following symptoms:

• Bloating and gas
• Constipation
• Foggy brain
• Skin rashes
• White coating on the tongue
• Sugar cravings
• Urinary Tract infections.

The Science behind gentle Castor Oil

Castor oil is composed of ricinoleic acid. It is safe for bodies big and small because this acid is a plant-based knock-off of Prostaglandin E1. What? P.E.1 (for short) is a strong anti-inflammatory agent in the human body. In other words, ricinoleic acid imitates a substance already found in the body, thus enhancing its function. 

To get more technical, you’ll need a small science lesson – at least I did! 

Ricinoleic acid has a low molecular weight, despite what you may think from its thick and sticky texture. Ironically, this goopy oil, is able to absorb into and through the many layers of skin, directly into your targeted organs and bloodstream.

Ok, molecular weight, what does that mean?

The weight of a molecule is measured in a unit called Daltons. Only substances less than 500 Daltons can absorb into the skins surface and right through its transdermal layers.

This is where many lotions confuse us. We think they have absorbed, when instead they have simply penetrated the top single layer of skin and then evaporated.

So, back to castor oil… the molecular weight of castor oil is 298 Daltons – far less than the 500 Dalton threshold that limits transdermal absorption.

To give you some perspective, water has a molecular weight of 18 Daltons, lactase-phlorizin hydrolase, the base of dairy milk, is 320 Daltons. Collagen, a more complex structure, has a molecular weight of 300,000 Daltons and aloe vera, comes in at 4 million Daltons. This should raise questions about the effective absorption rate of those very expensive creams on the market!? 

All this to say, castor oil is has the unique ability to not only penetrate the skin, but to naturally imitate substances within the body to aid and accelerate healing within. 

How to use Castor Oil safely with Children?

Naturopathic doctors have indicated castor oil packs to be a gentle detoxing aid for children after vaccinations, mould exposure and/or trips to the dentist, in addition to more acute health issues.

• No matter what your age, castor oil stains linens. For this reason, a sedentary experience is the most feasible. A treatment of 20 to 45 minutes is appropriate for smaller bodies, and likely an appropriate timeline for their attention span.
• For children under the age of two, you can apply a small amount of oil directly to the body. Cover this with an old t-shirt or already stained onesie. There is no need for a castor oil pack on one this small. 
• Note: Advice from naturopathic doctors indicated that small bodies often don’t need as frequent castor oil treatment. Once every 2-3 days should be enough. There are alternative treatments which can be applied on alternative days.

Castor Oil Pack Kits

At Dhana, we are not here to identify medical conditions or make unnecessary suggestions. If you found us, you are likely already seeking holistic help for challenging health problems, have a need to detox, or take action toward improved wellness.

Due to our own journey, we are here to offer the Castor Oil Packing options we couldn’t readily find when we needed them most. Dhana’s array of castor oil pack kits, outfitted for adult use, children and replacement kits, allow you to make the best choice possible. All are plastic-free, fully organic and an easy one-stop-shop kit for home treatment.

Medical Disclaimer:

*This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. Viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors regarding specific health questions. Viewers of this content should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program. maintenance and should not replace or delay the use of any conventional medical treatment. Our statements and products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

References:

What is a castor oil pack? – theorganiccure.com

https://naturopathicpediatrics.com/

Health Benefits of Castor Oil for Babies (parentinghealthybabies.com)

William A McGarey. Oils that Heal. 1994.