My nighttime routine is sacred. There’s skincare, a magnesium supplement, and now, the addition of navel oiling. I stumbled upon it a few months ago, courtesy of my algorithm. My feed had morphed into a highlight reel of influencers dropping castor oil into their belly buttons before bed. The promises were buzzy: better digestion, less bloating, clearer skin. Friends and family echoed the benefits with their own success stories. I was intrigued. So I tried it, hoping for a low-effort gut reset.. Though I discovered the practice through creators in the West, a quick Google search told me navel oiling is deeply rooted in Ayurveda.. “Navel oiling, also known as Nabhi Purana in Ayurveda, is an ancient self-care ritual that involves applying warm oil to the navel (nabhi),” explains Dr Ipsita Chatterjee, Ayurveda expert. “The Nabhi Marma is a vital energy centre for digestion, circulation and overall well-being.”. There are two types of Nabhi Purana: curative and preventive. “Preventive navel oiling is the one that is advised as a general wellness practice,” says Dr Vaishali Shukla, MD, Ayurveda. While it can be done at any time of the day, it is recommended at night for maximum absorption. “Put 2-3 drops of warm oil in your navel and massage it gently in circular motions for a few minutes,” she says.. So, that’s exactly what I did. I got a bottle of cold-pressed, hexane-free castor oil, as recommended by Dr Chatterjee. Every night, I’d use the dropper to place a few drops into my navel and massage it in. Castor oil is thick, viscous and can stain your clothes. So you should patch it up with a cotton ball or castor oil patch to keep it in place, then go to bed.. The changes were almost immediate. Within a few days, my digestion improved noticeably. Bloating reduced. For people dealing with constipation, bathroom breaks can become predictable in the best way.. “The navel connects to the digestive fire (Agni), helping with gut health and nutrient absorption,” says Dr Chatterjee. “It also reduces bloating because the navel is a key Vata marma (an Ayurvedic energy point) and oiling helps reduce bloating, dryness, and joint pain.”. A few weeks in, I noticed another shift: my skin. Acne-prone and perpetually dehydrated, it began to feel calmer, clearer. “Navel oiling deeply nourishes Rasa Dhatu (nutrient plasma), preventing dryness, pigmentation and acne,” Dr Chatterjee says. “Additionally, it detoxifies the body to eliminate toxins and enhances circulation.”. Dr Shukla adds that it also “supports reproductive health and relieves menstrual discomfort. Some people believe it could help cyst reductions for those with PCOS or fibroids. However, in my clinical experience, I have not seen a significant improvement in these conditions.”