We Asked Medical Experts To Weigh In On The Latest Viral Wellness Trend, And They're NOT Impressed
As someone who is passionate about wellness and is open to exploring new ways to better my health, I do become very wary of trying things I see a ton of people doing on social media, especially if they're not experts.
No shame to people who love to jump on a trend everyone is claiming is amazing. I'm just a bit of a hypochondriac, ya' know?
Since it is the new year and I'm trying hard to make overall better choices for myself (my accountant bestie and I are legit tracking our healthy choices in an Excel sheet to celebrate our wins and hold each other accountable), I'm not going to lie when I say that the castor oil pack trend many people are posting about online has caught my attention.
For context, there are hundreds of videos on TikTok showing people either pouring a tiny bit of castor oil into their belly buttonhole, rubbing it in, and then covering it with a patch (or fabric) to reap the supposed many benefits. Or they opt to apply a castor oil pack, which is essentially the same thing, but instead of pouring the oil into the bellybutton, people will soak fabric (cotton or wool) in castor oil and apply it on their stomach area.
But first, some background: castor oil is commonly used on hair and skin as a moisturizer and as a natural laxative if ingested orally. But now, TikTokers are taking things to the next level by using castor oil packs on their bellies — claiming that it can help with "bloating, regulate bowel movements, alleviate menstrual symptoms, and more."
Content creator Hannah Pointer (@hannah.pointer) is one of many who swears by this trend and has over 1 million views on her TikTok video talking about her castor oil pack ritual. "I have been doing nightly castor oil packs consistently for around 5 or 6 months," she told BuzzFeed.
"I wake up less bloated, have less inflammation, and have a regular period now. I also have very little bloat and cramping when I’m on my period, and ultimately, I feel so much better than I used to before using castor oil," she continued.
Before I get into what medical experts say about this practice, it's important to note that putting castor oil on the belly is an ancient Ayurvedic practice. “Navel pulling is derived from the Ayurvedic traditional medicine system practice called nabhi chikitsa, a therapeutic approach to restoring health through the nabhi (navel), which is considered an important marma (vital energy) point,” Dr. Melinda Ring, MD, director of the Osher Center for Integrative Health at Northwestern University said in an interview with Women's Health.
And it's worth noting that everyone's bodies are different. The positive effects that people on social media may notice after applying castor oil to their bellies could be a combination of things — how much sleep they get, their diet, stress, etc. But contrary to what this trend is claiming, the consensus from all the experts I spoke to is that there is no scientific evidence that applying castor oil to your stomach helps with your internal health, and it can even have some not-so-great side effects.
To learn more and get to the bottom of this, I spoke to experts — like dermatologists and MDs. Here's what they all had to say:
Dr. Viktoryia Kazlouskaya, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, said applying castor oil to the belly button isn’t necessarily harmful, but it’s unlikely to provide any real benefits either. "The skin’s ability to absorb substances is quite limited, so expecting castor oil to penetrate deeply enough to impact digestion or metabolism isn’t realistic," she told BuzzFeed.
Marlee Bruno, MMS, PA-C, CLMC, added: "The main reason it doesn’t work is that your belly button isn’t connected to your digestive or detox systems. It’s just a cute little scar left over from where your umbilical cord used to be. Castor oil can’t magically bypass your skin to fix internal issues like digestion or bloating."
While using a castor oil pack on your stomach won't do much internally, it can be used to relieve cramps or discomfort. "Soak a cloth in castor oil, place it on your skin, and add a heating pad on top. Its anti-inflammatory properties can be helpful for some, as people swear by them for cramps or mild discomfort, and the warmth alone can be super relaxing," said Bruno.
Castor oil has other "benefits such as hydrating dry spots like your elbows and knees, or conditioning your brows and lashes," said Bruno. Lastly, the only way castor oil is somewhat beneficial for gut health is "if you’re dealing with mild constipation, a small dose taken orally can help, but only under medical guidance," she added.
An important reminder: When trying out new health and beauty trends or listening to advice online, it's important to do so cautiously and always speak to an expert before trying anything.
What are your thoughts on the castor oil pack trend? Let me know in the comments below!
