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This blog post will not only explain the burn test for castor oil pack fabrics, but also the reasons why I did this test in the first place. Toxin-free living has been important to me for quite sometime now and I feel like this is a good chance to explain how it all started.
The Start of a Toxin-Free Journey
I remember the first time I set foot on foreign soil back in 2012. I was only 24 years old, had saved up all the money I could from working three jobs in New York City, and was eager to experience “freedom” in a new world. My best friend had convinced me to move to Peru with her to try life in a different country and take a break from the rat race. I had no idea what to expect or how I would make ends meet after my savings ran out, but most of all, I had no idea about how my perspective in life would change once I stepped off that plane.
Prior to leaving the United States, I was totally oblivious to things like environmental pollution, alternative medicine and natural beauty methods. I was always trying to keep up with the Joneses at whatever expense, no matter how many credit cards I had to max out. I was born in Tennessee where smoky mountains, endless green pastures, sparkling blue quarries and mischievous forests were everywhere I looked. I never saw where all the trash I created ended up, nor did I pay it a second thought.
Until I arrived in Peru. Peru taught me so many wonderful lessons. First and foremost, I became exposed to fresh food everywhere. The Peruvian diet is filled with fresh fish, meat, vegetables, fruits and let’s not forget rice and potatoes. You can purchase fresh food at an extremely affordable price, especially at the local market, but if you don’t have time to cook, you can always grab a homemade meal at a local restaurant or from a street food vendor for a very affordable price. This was obviously a big change from NYC, where I could barely afford healthy groceries and certainly couldn’t afford to eat out frequently. Not to mention, my diet in the States as a young adult mostly consisted of frozen dinners and processed snacks, so this change in diet when I moved abroad was very eye opening.
Another huge realization I had when I moved to Peru was that there are other ways we can heal our mind and body other than through modern medicine. Up until 2012, the doctor was the only place I trusted for healing advice, but in Peru, I found there was ancient wisdom from indigenous cultures centered around mother nature that could help me heal. Natural remedies such as coca leaves for altitude sickness or maca root for energy and fertility were used to help the body, and Ayahuasca ceremonies were performed to heal both the body and the mind. Just to name a few, these sorts of remedies and a culture that valued natural healing methods, shifted my mentality in profound ways. I have been a big believer in natural medicine and beauty ever since and continue seeking a life grounded in connection with mother nature to this day.
One of the biggest eye opening experiences I had in Peru was the impact humans have on our environment. Peru is a stunning place, ranking among the top ten most biologically diverse countries globally. Over the past two decades, Peru's significant economic growth has relied heavily on exploiting its abundant and varied natural resources, leading to considerable and inadequately addressed strains on its biodiversity and ecosystems. When I lived there, I met many people working for NGOs trying to combat some of this exploitation that not only impacts the environment, but also the people living in the impacted areas.
In addition, for the first time, I saw with my own eyes what happens to trash that isn’t adequately taken care of or cleaned up by the government. There were areas in Peru that were totally covered in trash - neighborhoods I would walk through where I was stepping over endless disposable plastics, everywhere. Only the wealthy neighborhoods were almost totally clean, much like I used to see in America where trash being a problem was an issue I never considered. Now I know, after my time abroad, that our trash does not just disappear once we take it out. It’s piling up somewhere, and in places like Peru, you can see it with your own eyes in places you don’t want to.
The three years I spent in Peru launched my interest in a toxin-free life, dedicated to health and wellness, which is why I find myself more than a decade later starting a brand centered around holistic wellness. My goal is to create products that I know I can trust in my own healing journey, and to share them with you if they can be helpful in yours. All of this is why I have been especially careful about the materials I selected for Sentre’s plus-size castor oil pack.
The Not-So-Toxin-Free Truth Behind Most Castor Oil Packs
The first step in my research into creating a castor oil pack was to order a few types from different shopping platforms to see how they work and how they are made. I was surprised to find out just how cheaply one could purchase one of these products with my first pack totaling only $6.08, shipping included. Later, when I began searching for manufacturers who could make my vision for a plus-size castor oil pack come to life, I came to realize very quickly why most castor oil packs on the market are so cheap - they’re made from synthetic fabrics. In case you’ve never looked into this before, there are two categories of fibers: natural fibers, which come from plants, animals, or minerals such as cotton, jute, linen, wool, and silk; and man-made fibers, also known as synthetic fibers, which are produced artificially in labs using chemicals (Singh).
Synthetic fibers like Nylon, Polyester, Lycra, Spandex, and Acrylic are derived from various elements and synthesized using chemicals in the manufacturing process. However, the chemicals involved in their production such as carcinogens can pose serious health risks including skin irritation, respiratory issues, and even liver damage (Singh).
As I sit here researching this in my yoga pants and sports bra made primarily of polyester and spandex, I’m tempted to strip down and just write naked, however then I would have to find somewhere else to sit that wasn’t doused in formaldehyde or coated in some toxic chemical, and since there isn’t any grass nearby, I guess I’ll just have to breathe and start with one step at a time. At the very least, I can make sure that the tool I’m using to help myself heal is the best quality for my body.
Initially, all of the manufacturers who sent me samples of the castor oil pack design I gave them, told me they used cotton flannel for the part where you pour the oil and press it to your skin. This is the same thing that all the castor oil packs on the market say as well. “Made of 100% Cotton Flannel.” Well, if it’s 100% cotton flannel, it must be organic cotton…from the plant, right? Wrong. The manufacturers as well as most sellers out there are saying their packs are made from cotton flannel, when they are actually made from synthetic cotton flannel. This isn’t cotton from the plant, this is man-made, chemically produced fabric that has been given the same title as the natural fabric - actual cotton flannel.
When I pressed for more information and asked manufacturers if they actually used organic, cotton flannel from the plant, they were honest. The answer was no, and if I wanted real cotton, it would be more expensive. I was just happy it was actually an option, so I opted for the real deal, 100% organic cotton, from the plant. “But how do I know it’s real?” I asked the manufacturer I agreed to work with. “Just do the burn test.” he replied.
What is the burn test?
The main objective of the burn test is to determine whether a fabric sample consists of natural or synthetic fibers. In the case of castor oil packs, I wanted to determine whether the cotton used in my product was synthetic or real. Upon reading up about different fabrics and how they burn, it became clear that when real cotton burns, it will smell like paper and leave a gray ash that can be crushed into a powder easily. When synthetic fabrics burn, they smell like chemicals and melt like plastic (eysan_ac).
I took the liberty of cutting into 4 of the castor oil pack samples I received from manufacturers. Three are from before I double checked on the type of fabric used for the inside layers, and one was from after I had asked for a new sample with 100% organic cotton flannel. The results you can see in this video:
Synthetics Can Be Helpful
In conclusion, though the world we live in is filled with toxins everywhere we turn, I know there are ways I can start right now to ensure that my health is less impacted by everyday exposure to toxins. One of these ways is to choose healing remedies that are natural, organic and in tune with mother nature.
Synthetic fabrics can help with many things in our lives because they are so durable and resistant, which is why our castor oil pack is designed with polyurethane laminate fabric on the outer layer. It ensures both leak resistance and the ability to reuse the pack over and over before washing. Not to mention, it is durable enough to be washed many times and reused, which is better for the environment overall. The internal layers that will be soaked with castor oil and touching your skin, however, will be made from organic cotton flannel, and for me, this is what’s important, that what is touching your body is designed only to bring positive benefits without adding any extra toxins to your load.
We’re all just doing our best, one step at a time. What’s your take on synthetic fabrics? Has anyone done a closet clean-out yet on a mission to include only natural fabrics in your wardrobe? I am certainly interested in doing so.
Happy healing ❤️
Works Cited
1. eysan_ac. “How to Identify Fabric Content with a Burn Test? | EYSAN FABRICS.” 溢勝纖維有限公司, 11 Feb. 2019, www.eysan.com.tw/fabric-fiber-content-burn-test/#:~:text=The%20primary%20purpose%20of%20the.
2. Singh, Zorawar. “(PDF) Toxicity of Synthetic Fibres and Human Health (OPEN ACCESS).” ResearchGate, 5 Jan. 2017, www.researchgate.net/publication/316044390_Toxicity_of_Synthetic_Fibres_and_Human_Health_OPEN_ACCESS.