The research that has been done on castor oil is older. “It has not been extensively investigated," Mehal said.

And, that research doesn't discuss the castor oil packing benefits you may see widespread on TikTok.

"However, castor oil packs applied to the abdomen have been shown to be beneficial in reducing constipation symptoms," he said.

If You Want to Try Castor Oil Packing

Advice from experts is mixed regarding whether or not castor oil packing is worth trying.

“There's no evidence castor oil packing works, but it’s unlikely to be harmful,” Mehal said. “That being said, I suggest that no one try castor oil packing."

While castor oil has been shown to be beneficial for skin health and relieving joint pain, there are no studies to show its ability to detox.

Villegas reiterated that the biggest claim regarding castor oil packing—its ability to cleanse the body of toxins—doesn't have any research to back it up.

“Castor oil packing is not a cure-all," he said, pointing out that the practice may do more harm than good. "There are some potential side effects, including skin irritation or allergies, abdominal cramping, and nausea.”

Who Should Avoid Castor Oil Packing?

According to Villegas, the following groups of people should avoid castor oil packing:

• People who are pregnant or breastfeeding
• People who are concerned about allergic reactions and haven't conducted a "patch test" to ensure they can safely apply castor oil topically.
• People with an open wound
  

Making a Castor Oil Pack

If you're set on finding out for yourself whether or not castor oil packing works, there are a few things to keep in mind.

The first step of making a castor oil pack is to cut a piece of wool or cotton into rectangular pieces of the desired size. Pour castor oil into a container and soak 3-4 strips of fabric until they are completely soaked. Lay them on top of each other to create a castor oil pack.

Then, lie on a towel (to avoid dripping castor oil) and wrap the castor oil pack with a plastic sheet. The pack can then be applied directly to the area you're targeting; Villegas explained that many people advise heating it by placing a heating pad over the plastic sheet.

Apply the castor oil pack for 30 minutes to an hour, and place the pad back into the soaking container, where it can be reused at another time.

The application of castor oil packs should not be an everyday thing, aim for a maximum of three times a week.

Also, it's important to avoid heating the castor oil pack directly, since fabric can be flammable.

“The most common issue I have heard about is patients heating the castor oil pack in a microwave," said Villegas, "patients should avoid this since it can cause smoke and possibly a fire."

Patients should also avoid leaving the castor oil pack for longer than one hour since the heat could cause heat injuries, especially if used on a sensitive area. 

Lastly, never use the heat source directly unto the skin to avoid heat injuries, Villegas advised.

Choosing the Best Castor Oil

Villegas adivses patients who are picking out a castor oil product to do the following:

• Read the ingredients on the label
• Castor oil is naturally odorless, so stay away from fragrances
• Look online for reviews about a particular brand or manufacturer to avoid particularly bad offenders