Last Updated on August 24, 2026 by Carrie Korem, FNTP
Castor oil packs are a great way to help support the thyroid. I personally used them over my liver and thyroid when I was recovering from Hashimoto’s, and I highly recommend trying it out for yourself. Let’s cover how to use castor oil packs for the thyroid.
Before we dive into how to use castor oil packs for the thyroid, let’s take a quick look at the role of the lymphatic system:
The lymphatic system removes bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, cell waste, proteins, and toxins. You can think of it as the “sewage system” of the body. Hundreds of miles of lymphatic tubes allow waste to be collected from your tissues and transported for elimination. Lymphatic congestion is a major factor of inflammation and disease.
Supporting your lymphatic system can help improve blood flow, bring more oxygen and nutrients to the tissues, reduce swelling, and remove toxins.
We could go way more in depth on this topic, but for the sake of this article, we’re just looking at the 30,000 feet view.
How can castor oil packs support the thyroid?
Lymphocytes are your immune system’s disease-fighting cells and are produced and stored mainly in your lymphatic tissue. This is where castor oil comes in. When castor oil is absorbed through your skin (according to Cayce and McGarey) your lymphocyte count increases. Increased lymphocytes speed up the removal of toxins from your tissues, which promotes healing.
One-third of your lymph is located in the neck and into the brain. Your thyroid is also located in your neck, so putting a castor oil pack over the thyroid can help improve blood flow, bring more oxygen and nutrients to the tissues, reduce swelling, and remove toxins.
What thyroid issues can castor oil packs help with?
Swollen thyroid tissues
Cysts
Nodules
Goiter
To gently detoxify chlorine or fluoride out of the thyroid tissues (here’s more info on that topic)
Increasing the conversion of fT4 to fT3 (as this is often rooted in liver congestion)
To support the immune system, especially in cases of thyroid autoimmune disease
Here’s a video walking you through process:
Here’s what you need to do a castor oil pack:
1. A bottle of organic castor oil. I recommend Heritage Store.
2. A piece of organic cotton flannel.
3. A hot water bottle.
4. A small ziploc bag (you could also use a piece of parchment paper if you’d like to avoid using plastic).
5. An old towel (castor oil permanently stains, so it’s best to use an old towel).
How to do a castor oil pack over the thyroid:
Please note: It’s imperative to first do castor oil packs over the liver for several weeks before trying one over the thyroid. Follow the directions below (but use the entire piece of flannel) and do a pack over the liver 3-4x a week for 4 weeks. After you’ve been consistent doing this for 4 weeks, then cut a small rectangle out of the flannel that will fit easily over the front of your neck where your thyroid is located.
1. Drizzle the castor oil over a small rectangular piece of flannel that fits easily over your neck. I keep my flannel in a large glass Tupperware to catch any oil that might drip and then I drizzle the castor oil over the flannel.
3. Fill up your hot water bottle.
4. Set the dish with the flannel, the ziploc bag, and old towel on your nightstand or next to your bed.
5. Lie down and place the cotton flannel over the thyroid. Remember: only do this after you’ve been consistent with doing a castor oil pack over your liver 3-4x a week for 4 weeks.
6. Put the ziploc bag on top of the flannel. The plastic should not touch your skin.
7. Place one layer of the old towel over the pack.
8. Place the hot water bottle on top of the towel.
9. Lie down and keep the castor oil pack on the thyroid for 15 minutes*. Remove the pack and wipe the area with the old towel to remove any castor oil. Follow with a pack over the liver for 45 minutes.
10. Repeat as necessary.
*If you have been diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism or Graves’ then it’s usually best to only do the pack for about 5-10 minutes.
FAQ:
When is a castor oil pack over the thyroid not recommended?
Castor oil packs are not recommended when pregnant or breastfeeding.
If your doctor has told you not to use castor oil over your thyroid, then definitely follow their instruction. And, as mentioned above, if you have hyperthyroidism or Graves’ then it’s best to only do a thyroid pack for 5-10 minutes so you don’t push the tissues too hard.
A castor oil pack over the abdomen isn’t recommended if you have an IUD because it could cause the IUD to dislodge or release excess copper into the system. It’s also not recommended during menses, if you have internal bleeding, or if you struggle with IBS, Colitis, or diarrhea.
How do I store the castor oil pack?
I recommend storing it in a glass Tupperware or some other kind of glass or ceramic dish.
How many times can I use the cotton flannel?
You can reuse the flannel over and over. If it starts to discolor or have an off smell, then it’s best to replace it. You can usually use one piece of flannel for about 6-9 months.
Do I wash the flannel after each use?
No. You won’t be able to get the castor oil out of the flannel, so it’s best to not try and wash it. As long as the flannel has been on clean skin, then using it over and over is fine.
What does it mean if I do a castor oil pack over my thyroid and it gets red, itches or I get a rash?
If you do a castor oil pack over your thyroid and you get any kind of rash, this can be a sign that your liver needs some additional support. If this happens, I recommend only doing a castor oil pack over the liver for 3-4 weeks, and then doing the castor oil pack again over the thyroid for 5-10 minutes and see if there is still a reaction. If you keep having a negative reaction, always consult with your practitioner.
If you’d like to learn from first steps you can take to help support your thyroid, check out my class, “5 Keys to Thyroid Hormone Balance”. It’s just 45 minutes and I promise you’ll learn something new!
How can I learn more about the steps I can take for thyroid disease?
I have four fantastic options for you!
- To download my 50 of my top tips to support the thyroid naturally, tap here. I’ll also send you an educational email every few days to help you learn how to support your body naturally.
- If you’d like to learn from first steps you can take to help support your thyroid, check out my class, “5 Keys to Thyroid Hormone Balance”. It’s just 45 minutes and I promise you’ll learn something new!
- If you’re looking for a step-by-step plan for thyroid disease that truly works (no more piecing together info!), check out my 90-Day Thyroid Reset Program.
- Book a consult with me for one-on-one help. Here’s info about what working with me looks like.
Note: This information is not intended to take the place of your doctor’s advice.
Once you are ready to do your thyroid can you simultaneously do the castor packs to your thyroid and liver?
It’s best to do it over the thyroid and then over the liver and not at the same time.
Sorry I am commenting on someones comment. I couldnt find a way to post a question other than this 🙂
Would these castor oil packs over the liver possibly help out with hormonal migraines? If so, what would your recommendations be for that? And should there be any other supporting supplements to take along with it? Thanks!
They can often be helpful to prevent migraines. For more info about migraines and headaches, supplementation, etc. this article might help: https://deliciouslyorganic.net/prevent-migraines-headaches-naturally/
I do not have Thyroids anymore. So my question is would a castor oil help at all?
Definitely! Just not over the throat. I’d use it over the liver instead.
What if I did apply already to my thyroid without any negative reaction. I have 3 nodules in it.
I still recommend doing them over the liver and then the thyroid and liver as I teach in this article.
Hello, thank you for sharing your video! I am diagnosed with Hashimoto! I have never used castor oil and I am ready to explore lol. My question is once you start using it on your thyroid how long do you use it and how often? Thank you!!
It depends on your situation, but in general, doing it over the thyroid and liver a few times a week is very beneficial.
Do you put more castor oil each time you do the pack? And is it okay to use electric heater versus water bottle? I ordered the electric one you had linked.
Yes, you can use a heating pad, and each time I drizzle a bit more castor oil onto the flannel.
Can castor oil help me for shortness of breath and lungs
I’m not sure. I recommend talking to your practitioner about your symptoms.
Find an organic, hexane free cold pressed castor oil that is in amber GLASS bottles as plastic bottles infuse toxic properties to the oil to then transfer to the body! Plastics are harmful to the body! Find if company ever stores in plastic..,I found Queen of Thornes to never store in plastic!!!
The one that I recommend in this post is organic, hexane free, cold pressed and in glass!
Once you complete the 4 weeks of Oil packing over the liver and start over the thyroid, how long do you continue to keep using the oil packs? Should you keep putting the pack on your liver while treating the thyroid?
Is oil packing a Long-term lifestyle change that can be continued 3 times a week for several, months or years? Do you need to stop after the 4 weeks and allow time for your body to regulate?
I have thyroid nodules
Why is it necessary to do the liver first and then the thyroid
Thanks
David
Because it can cause a negative reaction if the liver hasn’t been supported first.
Thanks for this. I just found out yesterday that I have thryoid nodules that they caught early. I immediately did a castor oil pack over my thryoid for 45 mins without any negative reactions. Because I didn’t get a negative reaction, can I keep going on the thyroid and not doing the liver first?
I always recommend doing them over the liver first for 3-4 weeks and then when you start doing them over the thyroid, to always follow up with one over the liver.
Hi,
I tried a castor oil pack over my thyroid at my doctors recommendation without doing a liver cleanse first and had a pretty extreme reaction. Unfortunately, I didn’t Find your blog until after the fact. It seem to have swung my thyroid from hypo to hyper… Do you have any recommendations what to do at this point? Thank you so much for all the information you provide!
I’m so sorry you are struggling. I recommend reading my articles about hyper and seeing which steps you can take. And, probably better to just do some packs over the liver (as long as there isn’t any kind of reaction) for a while. 🙂
Hi Carrie, Can castor oil packs help with dence breast tissue?
It can be helpful, but before using them on the breasts, I recommend first doing a pack over the liver 3-4x a week for a month. Then, trying it over the breasts followed by over the liver.
Thank you for your valuable information. As a child, my mother would give me half a teaspoon of castor oil in the spring and fall as a colon clean up. She attributed my lack of pimples to this practice. She would put sugar on the teaspoon because it tasted awful. She actually said that a super minute amount, just a very small dab on the tongue, was giving to a newborn after a week to get rid of the mother’s refuse in the baby’s colon. This was done for hundreds of years in my mom’s culture. What is your take on this since I know there are differing opinions on this, but this was a common practice for some cultures which has died. Thanks again for caring to share all your valuable info. I will certainly do the liver packs..and the chocolate milk!!
Hi Carrie, I would like to try the castor oil pack for constipation. How many times per week and how long should I be doing it for? Also do I continue to do them until symptoms improve?
Hi I’m sorry if this sounds thick but when u do the castor oil on the liver is your body absorbing it as fats as well
Hello Carrie! will packs work if used for only 15 minutes over liver or is it possible to start smaller sessions and increasy slowly.
You could start with 15 minutes over the liver if you’d prefer and then work up.
So if I have an IUD I shouldn’t do castor oil packs on thé liver?
It’s not recommended to do a cast oil pack over the abdomen when one has an IUD.
So if one has an IUD, is it possible to address thyroid issues with castor oil?
I don’t recommend using castor oil packs over the abdomen if one has an IUD, so I don’t think this would be a good option.
What if it’s not copper? I have the mirena.. should / can I try the castor oil pack??
It could cause the IUD to dislodge, so it’s recommended to avoid.
Hello, thank you for this. I suffer from nodules and I am trying to get one big smaller in size. You mention to leave the Castor Oil pack on for 15 minutes, take off wipe clean and put a pack on for 45 minutes. Is the 45 minute pack also castor oil or just the heat pack (hot water bottle)? If it is Castor oil I am not sure why it is removed and put back on.
Thanks
The pack is done for 15 minutes over the thyroid, removed, and then one done over the liver. The step-by-step video might help!
I’ve experienced SO MANY benefits from using castor oil packs. I started with it over my liver and gradually eased into placing it over my thyroid. The biggest change I’ve noticed is the inflammation in my neck has gone down and my skin is much clearer!
That’s amazing! Thanks for sharing!
How long did u do it for
If I’m not sure if my nodule is cancerous, biopsy recommended, is it ok to do castor oil pack on it to try and shrink it or is it bad to put a castor oil pack over a possibly cancerous nodule?
They are safe to use for the liver and thyroid, but of course, if you have any questions about it, I recommend talking to your practitioner to know what’s best for you.
I’ve experienced SO MANY benefits from using castor oil packs. I started with it over my liver and gradually eased into placing it over my thyroid. The biggest change I’ve noticed is the inflammation in my neck has gone down and my skin is much clearer!
Hi Carrie,
Is it ok to use a heating pad
In place if a water bottle?
Thanks!
Mary
Yes. I prefer the water bottle to avoid any additional EMFs.
Can I use the castor oil pack on a thyroid nodule that is cancerous? Could it make it better or worse? I would love something natural that is going to reduce the size of this nodule. Thanks!
When I use the castor oil pack my head feels really full like I have serious sinus pressure, is that normal? I just started two weeks ago, also can you use a heating pad if you don’t have a hot water bottle?
Thanks so much have a blessed weekend.
Hi, where should I store the used caster oil pack, in the refrigerator or in my cupboard? Also is it best to put the towel down over the plastic bag and then the hot water bottle or the hot water bottle on top of the plastic bag? I noticed it is written both ways.
I walk through all of these things in the video above. 🙂
Hi, I really appreciate your blog and all that you’ve gone through. I’ve been chronically ill for about 6 years now with M.S., mold illness, etc., including hypothyroidism. I’ve tried just about every diet out there and being vegan is the only thing that has seemed to help a lot of my symptoms.
However, I’ve known for a while now that grains are not so great for autoimmune issues – being vegan though, I don’t have many options and eat oatmeal for breakfast every day. Rice for dinner, etc. I’m wondering what your thoughts are on gluten free grains – are they any better than regular grains? Or should even gluten free grains be avoided at all costs? Thank you for all that you do, hope to hear from you soon.
When there is autoimmunity, I recommend avoiding all grains until antibodies are back to normal levels and all gut dysbiosis has healed. Have you considered possibly adding some organic, pastured animal foods back into your diet? It would help give the body various nutrients that one cannot get from plants that the body needs to heal and restore. Butter, ghee, or egg yolks can be a good place to start. 🙂
Hi, I am doing daily castor oil packs over Liver and abdomen. Am hypothyroid, was switched from NDT to eltroxin and I have gone clinically backwards. Plan is to switch back to NDT but endocrinologist overly focussed on raising my TSH which has been 0.02 for years and didnt change with switch to eltroxin. So I am trying anything now naturally to boost my liver and thyroid. I came across your website while back so I plan on doing packs over liver only before I move to Thyroid. A recent ultrasound says thats its atrophic. I am wondering though can you mix epsom salts into castor oil doing a pack. I know some people recommend having an epsom salts bath after doing a castor oil pack but I wonder can any harm be done by adding salts to the castor oil. Personally I like to sleep with pack on and wash off in the morning. I’d appreciate your thoughts. Thanks.
I don’t think it would be a good idea to mix the salts into the castor oil.
Thank you so much for your informative article and video! Can a castor oil pack cause stool to be looser? I know it’s a laxative taken internally and I am wondering if when we absorb it through the skin it might not have a similar but lighter effect. I really am not looking for that effect and would like to avoid it 😉 should I try to keep it only over the liver as much as possible (make a smaller rectangle and not let it go to low on the abdomen? Thank you!
That’s not a common symptom, but we are all biochemically individual, so it’s possible. I recommend talking to your practitioner about your symptoms.
Hi, how do you get rid of trapped gas from sluggish gallbladder?
Also, has anyone experienced head and ear pressure for gallbladder issues?
Thanks
Do you think there is any benefit to just putting some castor oil (like a cream) on your skin over the liver if done every day (maybe even a couple times a day)? Wouldn’t it also absorb since we absorb cosmetic products through the skin? I imagine less gets absorbed than with a pack, but through regular use, I don’t see why it wouldn’t also be helpful. I am having a hard time getting started and thought maybe this is an alternative way to at least get some absorbed. I’d use an old tshirt I don’t mind staining. Curious what you think. Thanks!
Hi. Sorry, here is a updates of what I was trying to ask.
Thanks for this information! After the 4 weeks using the Castrol oil on the liver, how often or how many times/weeks do you do the Castrol oil on thyroid? Thanks much!
3x a week can be a good routine to do over the thyroid and liver.
Thanks and regards for sharing this valuable information.Great work and without selfishness you share this .we love you dear may God bless you.it has very quick reaction.love from indian Ocean
Is it possible to just apply castor oil to the liver area or thyroid area, then apply a towel and then use a heating pad over all of that?
I don’t recommend that because the oil would absorb into the towel. It’s best to use the cotton flannel. 🙂
Hi,
I thought that castor oil was used to thicken hair or encourage hair growth. Why won’t it do this when doing a thyroid or liver pack?
Hi,
Does this have the possibility of promoting hair growth on your neck? I know castor oil is sometimes used to thicken hair.
Hello, I just came across your website. I plan on trying the castor oil soak for my thyroid. Is the plastic bag or parchment paper necessary or optional? Thank you
You can skip it, but the castor oil will soak heavily into the town and it can get pretty messy.
Hi, I have a breast cyst and a goiter. Can I put the pack on the thyroid first, then the breast cyst and lastly the liver all in the same night? thank you
Yes, but I do still recommend doing a pack over the liver 3-4x a week for about a month before then using a pack over another part of the body.
Great tutorial! My daughter just had a cancerous tumor removed (had 1/2 of thyroid removed) and the other side is clear but needs support I am sure. What do you recommend as far as the castor oil packs?
The same instructions as I give above would apply!
Your picture shows a different brand of castor oil (Heritage Store) than what’s mentioned in your comments section (Queen of Thrones). Also do you recommend a castor oil pack instead of making my own?
I recommend Heritage Store and haven’t ever used queen of thrones castor oil. I personally recommend using the supplies I listed above because it’s more economical and you can cut the flannel to fit whatever part of the body you are using it for.