As any seasoned social media user would tell you, just because something goes viral doesn’t automatically mean it’s real. This is especially important to remember when it comes to health-related claims or practices that can supposedly cure, heal, or alleviate various ailments.
Take castor oil, for instance. Derived from the castor bean plant (which originally came from certain parts of Africa, Asia, and Europe), this vegetable extract isn’t used for cooking in the same way other plant-based cooking oils are (though the food-grade type is used to extend the shelf life of candies, chocolates, and similar edible products). Castor oil is an essential component for the manufacturing of various cosmetics, lubricants, and cleaning products, and has even been the center of many alternative medicine practices for millennia.
The most recent castor oil trend is called navel pulling, which involves massaging castor oil into the belly button as a remedy for stomach-related pains. While there is little doubt that this may provide a relaxing feeling for some, the actual medical merit of the practice is questionable, with scant evidence to support its purported health benefits.
Why you might want to apply castor oil to your belly button
Proponents of navel pulling — in which drops of castor oil are rubbed on the abdomen in a circular motion, either by hand or with the use of a cloth — say that this practice can help take away feelings of bloating, improve your digestion, and make you sleep better. Some even say that castor oil can help you lose weight. But extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.
In an interview with Prevention, gastroenterologist Lisa Ganjhu, D.O., a clinical professor at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, shared that the practice may have come from an ancient Indian alternative medicine system called Ayurveda. With regard to its effectiveness, though, Ganjhu clarified that navel pulling cannot be considered a medical procedure. “There are no studies to show it can provide benefits.”
Other purported medical uses for castor oil include hair regrowth, relief from menstrual pain, and even improving symptoms of dry eye disease (as investigated by University of Auckland researchers in a 2024 trial). With that said, more research is needed before it can be conclusively said that castor oil is safe and effective for any of these applications.
The good, the bad, and the bottomline
At this point, the only direct medical-related use of castor oil approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is as a “stimulative laxative” for constipation relief, provided that it is ingested at the right dosage and with proper medical supervision (via StatPearls).
Even so, castor oil is unlikely to be your first choice when you need to get your bowels moving. “It’s not a laxative I usually recommend (because) it’s so strong and it tastes bad,” Dr. Zachary Mulvihill, a physician with the Integrative Health and Wellbeing Program at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, explained in an interview with Today. (Read about some foods that can cause constipation.)
Regardless of whether navel pulling actually works, you may still be thinking of giving it a shot because it seems safe and harmless enough. However, you may risk infecting or irritating your belly button, and you may even discover that you’re allergic to the stuff, which can be quite unpleasant. (You can do a patch test: Dab a drop or two on your forearm and watch for changes on your skin within the next 24 hours.) Ultimately, it’s best to avoid topical castor oil application if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or wounded — and to consult your trusted physician before you use castor oil on your skin.
