Castor Oil & Endometriosis: My One-Year Case Study

If you've followed me for any length of time, you know I don't recommend products or practices simply because they're trending. I research them. I educate myself. And more often than not, I become my own test subject first. That's exactly what I did with castor oil.

For the past year, I've incorporated castor oil into my routine almost every day to see whether it made a meaningful difference in my own endometriosis symptoms. This isn't a clinical study, and it isn't medical advice. It's simply my personal experience after living with surgically confirmed endometriosis and spending years learning how my body responds to different therapies. I believe there is value in sharing those experiences honestly, especially if they encourage someone else to ask questions, do their own research, and work alongside their healthcare team to find what supports them best.

Why I Decided to Try Castor Oil

When you live with endometriosis, you quickly learn there isn't a single solution. Every woman responds differently, and what works beautifully for one person may do very little for another. Over the years, I've worked hard to support my body through nutrition, hormone balance, movement, herbal medicine, stress management, and quality sleep. Castor oil felt like another gentle practice worth exploring, not because I expected it to be a miracle, but because it has a long history in traditional wellness and many women shared positive experiences using it.

Rather than trying it for a few weeks and making assumptions, I committed to giving it an entire year.

I wanted consistency.

I wanted to observe.

Most importantly, I wanted to remove as much guesswork as possible.

My Routine

For one full year, I applied castor oil to my lower abdomen nearly every evening. Most nights, I would massage the oil over my pelvic area, place my castor oil cloth on top, and often add a heating pad while I relaxed, read a book, or watched television. Some evenings I left it on for a couple of hours, while other nights I simply slept with it on. I wasn't concerned about doing everything perfectly. I was focused on being consistent. The only time I intentionally paused my routine was two to three days before my period and throughout my menstrual cycle. Once my bleeding had ended, I resumed using it again.

Why I Chose Not to Use It During My Period

One question I receive often is why I stop using castor oil before my cycle begins. While opinions vary, castor oil has traditionally been used to encourage circulation and movement within the body. Because of that, many holistic practitioners recommend avoiding castor oil packs during active menstruation, as increased circulation could potentially contribute to heavier bleeding for some women. Since my goal was to support my body throughout the rest of my cycle, not increase menstrual flow, I chose to take a short break each month. That decision felt right for my body, and it became part of my routine throughout this case study.

What Changed

A few months into my experiment, I began noticing changes that were difficult to ignore. My periods gradually became lighter, shorter, and far more predictable. After years of learning my body and supporting my hormones naturally, I often found I could predict my cycle almost down to the day, and occasionally even the hour.

But the biggest difference wasn't my cycle. It was my pain.

As someone living with surgically confirmed endometriosis, I don't use the phrase "significant pain relief" lightly. My pelvic pain decreased dramatically. The intense cramping I had grown accustomed to each month became much more manageable, and I also noticed improvements in fatigue, headaches, inflammation, and the emotional symptoms that often accompanied my cycle. These weren't overnight changes. They developed gradually through consistency, and over time they became impossible for me to dismiss.

Creating My Own "Control Group"

Throughout the year, I intentionally stopped using it several times. Around the three-month mark, I took an entire month off. Later in the year, around eight months, I repeated the same experiment. Both breaks produced remarkably similar results. My pelvic pain increased. My menstrual flow became noticeably heavier. Cramping returned with much greater intensity, and I experienced more fatigue, headaches, and emotional symptoms surrounding my cycle.

Interestingly, my period remained regular, which I largely attribute to the extensive hormone work I've done over the years. But many of the improvements I had noticed while consistently using castor oil gradually faded during the months I stopped. Each time I resumed my nightly routine, I felt like my body slowly found its rhythm again.

So...How Might Castor Oil Help?

Although research specifically examining castor oil for endometriosis is still limited, castor oil has been used in traditional wellness practices for generations. Its primary active compound, ricinoleic acid, has been studied for its anti-inflammatory properties, and many holistic practitioners believe castor oil packs may support healthy circulation, lymphatic movement, muscle relaxation, tissue mobility, and reduced local inflammation. Because endometriosis is characterized by chronic inflammation and irritation, it's understandable why so many women are curious about incorporating castor oil into their wellness routine.

For some time, I’ve followed, read the work of, and studied under (via online courses) Barbara O'Neill. She’s known to be the “Grandmother to the World” as a healer, educator, author, and much more. In her studies, Barbara has revealed why castor oil is making a major comeback. From softening stubborn bone spurs to targeting deep-tissue lumps, tumors, and growths, she shared how a bit of castor oil and a whole lot of patience can support remarkable natural healing.

My Biggest Takeaway

If there's one thing this experience reinforced, it's that healing rarely comes from one single intervention. For me, it has been the accumulation of many intentional choices—supporting my hormones, changing my nutrition, reducing caffeine, managing stress, prioritizing sleep, using herbal medicine thoughtfully, and incorporating castor oil into my daily routine.

Do I believe castor oil has had a significant impact on managing my endometriosis?

Yes, I absolutely do.

After using it consistently for a year, intentionally stopping it twice, and carefully observing what happened each time, I personally believe castor oil has become one of the most impactful tools in my endometriosis management. The improvements I experienced while using it. and the return of many of my symptoms when I stopped, were simply too consistent for me to ignore.

That doesn't mean castor oil is a cure, and it doesn't mean every woman with endometriosis will have the same experience. Endometriosis is a complex condition, and every body responds differently. But based on my own journey, I can confidently say that castor oil has earned a permanent place in my wellness routine because of the meaningful difference I've experienced.

A Final Thought

One of the reasons I share experiences like this is because I want women to know they have options to explore alongside their medical care. You can build a wellness plan that includes both. For me, castor oil isn't just another wellness trend or another bottle sitting on my shelf. It has become one of the most valuable tools I use to help manage my endometriosis, support my body between cycles, and create a nightly ritual that reminds me to slow down and care for myself.

After a full year of consistency and intentionally stepping away from it twice to observe the difference, I have no plans to stop using it.

Healing isn't always about finding one thing that changes everything. Sometimes it's about discovering the practices that consistently help your body feel safer, calmer, less inflamed, and better supported.

For me, castor oil has been one of those practices.