Castor Oil to Reduce Menstrual Pain: How to Use & When Not

Many women have menstrual pain with their periods, especially when they are in their teens. In most cases, menstrual pain does not indicate a serious problem. The medical term for menstrual pain is primary dysmenorrhea.

Primary dysmenorrhea usually begins shortly after the first period, as a woman begins to ovulate regularly. The pain usually begins a day or two before the menstrual flow and may continue for the first two days of the period. Often, the pain during pain gets better as a woman grows older or after she has a child.

Castor Oil Pack for Relieving Menstrual Pain

Castor oil is an underrated remedy. And knowing how and when to use it can bring many benefits to your body and one of them is reducing the period pain. Because of its healing properties, castor oil has been used since ancient times in Egypt, China, Persia, Africa, Greece and Rome. But it was a late 18th century mystic named Edgar Cayce who popularized the use of castor oil to relieve the discomfort associated with menstruation.

The following method may help relieve pelvic pain using castor oil pack:

1. Apply the oil directly to the skin, cover it with a soft, clean cloth (for example, flannel) and plastic wrap. You may also soak a piece of flannel or T-shirt fabric in oil, cover the fabric with a piece of plastic wrap.
2. Place a heat source (hot water bottle or heating pad) over the pack and let it sit for 30 to 60 minutes. For best results, use 3 consecutive days in 1 week.
3. A blanket or towel can be placed over the heat source to hold it in place.
4. A castor oil pack is widely used in the lower abdomen to relieve menstrual irregularities or uterine/ovarian cysts.
5. When you are finished, it is best to take a shower to wash the oil from your skin. Or use wet cloth to rub the area where castor oil was applied.
6. Store the packet in a covered container in the refrigerator. Each packet can be reused up to 25-30 times.

When to avoid using castor oil packages

The use of castor oil packages is not recommended, if you experience the following conditions:

Pregnant women: Limited research is available on how castor oil can induce labor. Some research suggests that the ricinoleic acid contained in castor oil may indicate a response from the lining of the uterus. Therefore, castor oil is not recommended for pregnant women unless recommended by a doctor to stimulate labor.

Women experiencing heavy menstrual flow: Women who experience heavy menstrual bleeding should also avoid using castor oil packets during menstruation.

Other essential oils that can be used to relieve pain during menstruation:

To relieve pain during menstruation, a very gentle massage on the abdomen with an antispasmodic oil: marjoram, lavender, chamomile, sage are extremely beneficial.

Why are periods painful?

Five days of bleeding is often preceded by cramping caused by the spasms or contractions that the uterus produces to expel the egg and endometrium.

Note: Remember that, although natural products do not usually have side effects, it is highly advisable to ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

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