Dr. Richard Paulson was recently quoted in an Everyday Health article written by Lauren Bedowsky titled “Can ‘Navel Oiling’ Relieve Bloating and Pain.”

Dr. Richard Paulson was recently quoted in an Everyday Health article written by Lauren Bedowsky titled “Can ‘Navel Oiling’ Relieve Bloating and Pain.”
The article talks about how belly button oiling is being portrayed online. Many influencers approach belly button oiling in different ways. One common method seen on TikTok is to place a quarter-size amount of castor oil in the palm and massage the oil into the abdomen, starting with the belly button, in a clockwise direction for a few minutes.

While respecting other cultures that utilize navel oiling, many Western medicine practitioners do not recognize any specific benefits of navel oiling. “There is no physiological effect from putting any kind of oil, or other fluid, into the belly button,” says Richard J. Paulson, MD, the director of USC Fertility and a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine in Los Angeles.

The article goes on to discuss the potential benefits of castor oil regarding digestive issues, gynecologic issues, and stress management. To read the article in its entirety, please visit here.