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Castor
Oil Packs
Castor oil
has a long history
of traditional medical use dating back to ancient Egypt. Derived from the
castor bean (Ricinus communis), the oil was once used internally as a
laxative but is now primarily used externally due to its potential toxicity.
Castor oil packs are used on the skin to increase circulation and to promote
elimination and healing of the tissues and organs underneath the skin. They
are also used to stimulate the liver, relieve pain, increase lymphatic
circulation, reduce inflammation, and improve digestion.
Edgar Cayce
endorsed abdominal castor oil packs as a
home remedy
for all types of problems as a
Simple procedure for detox and cleansing.
There were a few cases in which castor oil was recommended for internal
dosage although other readings strongly cautioned against it.
Castor Oil Packs
have been used for conditions such as:
-
Appendicitis
-
Arthritis
-
Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gall bladder)
-
Colitis
-
Congestion
-
Constipation
-
Epilepsy
-
Headaches
-
Incoordination between assimilations and eliminations
-
Incoordination between nervous systems
-
Inflammation
-
Intestinal
disorders such as stricture and colon impaction
-
Liver,
kidney, and pelvic disorders
-
Neuritis
-
Toxemia
-
Poor eliminations
-
Scleroderma
-
Various liver conditions such as cirrhosis and torpid liver
The Castor plant
is very beautiful.
The beans are quite toxic to both people and pets. If your pet chews on the
plant, you should call your local poison control for instructions on what to
do. Here are a few pictures of the castor plant, castor flowers and castor
beans:
  
Reference:
Google images
The following
Edgar Cayce reading excerpts give further information on the function of the
castor oil packs:
"The effect of these oil packs is to enliven, through the activity of the
absorption through the perspiratory system, the activities in such natures
and measures as to produce a greater quantity (than at present) and a
superficial activity of the lymph circulation; hence setting up drainages to
such measures that the poisons will be eliminated from the system..."
[Reading #631-4]
"Or there may be the use of hot Castor Oil Packs that may assist in so
dissolving the gravel in the gall duct and the gall bladder that it might be
drained osteopathically, after a long series. This would require a much
longer period but would be a much safer manner." [Reading #3160-1]
"Heat the Oil; dipping two, three to four layers of flannel in same, wring
out and apply directly to the body. Well that dry heat be kept over same
during the period of an hour or the like when the Packs are on the body.
Bathe off the body afterwards, of course, with a weak soda solution, to
cleanse the body from the acidity and from the natural secretions that arise
from same." [Reading #1034-1]
"Be well to put oil paper or cloth over the Packs, for we should have great
quantities of the Oil. Do not make them TOO hot, but so as to at least drive
them into the body. It is well to put these on and then apply external heat;
as the electric pad or salt bags or the like. DRY heat, though, rather than
wet heat." [Reading #1312-3]
"From EVERY
condition that is of true epileptic nature there will be found a cold spot
or area between the lacteal duct and the caecum. Over this area every other
day, in the afternoon when the body rests from its physical exercise in the
open, apply Castor Oil packs, for a period of at least TWO times every other
day...We will break up this tendency for the lymph ducts, in the ducts of
the lacteals and in the caecum and colon (ascending here), that tendency for
contraction and for the activities that help to bring on the conditions that
produce incoordination to the nerve forces of the body."
[Reading #567-4]
The function of
the packs
is to improve blood flow; they kind of work like an acupuncture treatment
(only without the needles!) Often the packs are applied to the lower
abdomen, at least three times per week for sixty minutes each time to
improve blood flow. This regimen is followed for at least three months and
then can be tapered to once a week. Packs should not be used while you are
bleeding heavily.
Castor oil packs
are made by saturating wool or cotton flannel, folded four-ply, with
cold-pressed castor oil (cloth should not be dripping). The oil and flannel
can be purchased at a health food store or directly from the company that
makes them.
Materials to
assemble include:
-
Three layers
of un-dyed wool or cotton flannel large enough to cover the affected
area
-
Castor oil
-
Plastic wrap
cut 1-2" larger than the flannel (can be cut from a plastic bag)
-
Hot water
bottle
-
An old towel
or two
-
Container
with lid to store the pads between use
-
Old clothes
and sheets as castor oil will stain clothing and bedding
Disposable
flannel or wool packs
are inexpensive
and can be used about 10 times before discarding. The Disposable Flannel
Pack consists of "flannel-like" material which is absorbent on one side and
is coated with plastic on the other side to protect the heating pad. This
disposable flannel is also used to protect the area you are resting on. When
used in this manner it replaces the old method of placing a plastic bag and
towel underneath you as a protective cover. Here is the link to a picture of
a castor oil pack used too long and left in a hot room for many months (http://www.baar.com/moldy.htm
). Gross! Note that it is moldy and looks very toxic.
Cold-pressed
Castor Oil
is available in an 8 oz., pint, quart or gallon size. Often it can be found
in your local health food store or Co-op, and is fairly cheap. Or you can
purchase it directly from the Edgar Cayce Foundation (http://www.edgarcayce.org
). Most individuals start with either a pint or a quart. Frequent users
usually purchase by the gallon. Small amounts of Castor Oil should be added
to the pack before each use to refresh it.
An electric
heating pad is needed to heat the castor oil pack. A moist heating pad
with automatic shut off is best, but some of the newer ones shut off after
only an hour, so you might want to compare heating pads.
How to Do a
Castor Oil Pack:
1.
The wool or cotton flannel is folded so that it is four layers thick.
2.
Apply the castor oil to the cloth so that is it not dripping, but has
saturated the first three layers of the cloth.
3.
The oil-saturated flannel is placed directly on the skin of the lower
abdomen.
4.
Cover the flannel with a piece of plastic (some people use a plastic bag.)
5.
Apply heat on top of the plastic covered flannel using a hot water bottle or
heating pad for 60 minutes or however long your practitioner tells you to.
6.
A
blanket or towel can be placed over the heat source to keep everything in
place and to keep the heat in better.
7.
After removing the pack, cleanse the area with a dilute solution of water
and baking soda. A weak solution contains a
teaspoon of baking soda per pint of water.
8.
Store the pack in the covered container in the refrigerator. Each pack may
be reused up to 25-30 times—adding more castor oil as necessary, but flannel
is cheap, so if you see anything growing on it or your gut instinct is to
change to a new piece of flannel, then do that.
Be sure to keep the pack out of the sun and in a cool dark place.
A castor oil
pack can be placed on the following body regions:
-
The
right side of the abdomen to stimulate the liver. Castor oil packs
are often recommended as part of a liver detox program.
-
Inflamed
and swollen joints, bursitis, and muscle strains.
-
The
abdomen to relieve constipation and other digestive disorders.
-
The
lower abdomen in cases of menstrual irregularities and uterine and
ovarian cysts.
-
I’ve
also had clients place a small pack on the eustachian tubes to clear
up old plugged up ears and for ear infections.
In the Edgar
Cayce Readings,
he suggested the pack be applied in a variety of ways and times. For
example: several hours at a time; until relief is obtained; continued use
according to a cycle, such as three days of use alternated with four days
off. I determine the regularity and time the pack is needed for my clients
and put that on their To Do Lists.
Repeat ____
times per week for _____ days/weeks/months.
More is Better?
You all know how I warn against the “more is better” type of thinking, but
castor oil packs are one of those rare remedies that cannot be used too
much; generally, with external applications of castor oil, "more is better."
While the ARE Clinic normally recommends that the minimum use be for an hour
each day - for three consecutive days in a week - this frequency and
duration may often be exceeded in order to bring better and faster relief.
For Acute Cases:
If it is known that there is a critically high degree of toxicity in the
body, or a significant difficulty in eliminating toxins (such as with kidney
failure), then it is best if the packs are used on alternating days for the
first week. After that, usually the packs may be used on consecutive days
from that point on.
How to treat
side
affects:
Castor oil pack treatments should always be gentle and with no real side
effects. The most common side effect is a rash that may occur at the
site of the pack. This typically only occurs during the first few
applications of the pack, and may be relieved by using the baking soda wash.
Rashes and other reactions are rare, and if they occur they usually indicate
that the elimination of toxins through the system are not good, and perhaps
the pack should be used on alternate days for the first week of use.
A non-electric
heat source is best.
The patient reclines with this on her lower abdomen for sixty minutes. A
supplement to this is that during this treatment you pay attention to
thoughts, images, and feelings that arise and make note of them in a
journal. Preliminary studies on castor oil packs done at the George
Washington School of Medicine indicate that they improve immune system
functioning.
Reference:
http://curezone.com/cures/castoroil.html
Some clients like Fomentek Bags which are made of a double layer of a
space age plastic which is soft and pliable yet, strong enough to support
the weight of over 400 pounds. Massage oils, cleaners, and solvents will not
harm the Fomentek bag. You can purchase one on-line.
Castor Oil Packs
for Warts and Moles
In the majority of cases castor oil was recommended to be used in a great
variety of external uses: A mixture of castor oil and baking soda applied on
calluses on the feet, moles, ingrown toenails and warts.
"Apply a paste of baking soda with Castor Oil. Mix together and apply of
evenings. Just the proportions so it makes almost a GUM; not as dough but
more as gum, see? A pinch between the fingers with three to four drops in
the palm of the hand, and this worked together and then placed on - bound
on. It may make for irritation after the second or third application, but
leave it off for one evening and then apply the next - and it will be
disappearing!" [Reading #1179-4]
Castor oil was
also recommended to be massaged on calluses, cancer (skin and breast),
cysts, bunions, moles, tumors and warts.
Some
practitioners have also added ginger to the castor oil and have found
success using Castor Oil Packs as part of the protocol in treating kidney
stones, gallstones (chronic conditions, not necessary for simple acute
stones), for various liver problems such as congestion, hepatitis, jaundice,
and cirrhosis.
Edgar Cayce also
has recommended the use of castor, peanut and olive oil for arthritis
many times. He always included some rose water in his formula, but I’ve
seen it work great without this added. I can tell you that massaging this
kind of oil into the body on a regular basis really does seem to work (so my
clients say). It’s best to find a massage practitioner that will use your
own recipe. I’ve
muscle-tested out
customized formulas for lots of clients over the years. I’ve used:
·
Olive Oil 4 parts
·
Castor Oil 3 parts
·
Peanut Oil 2 parts
·
Various essential oils as the client tests they need
As described by
one practitioner,
“We rub the castor oil over the upper abdominal area, after creating a
decoction of the gingerroot slices... we soak a cotton cloth in the
decoction, place it as hot as the patient can take it over the castor oiled
area, cover this with a thick cotton towel, wrap a blanket around it all to
keep the heat in... sometimes even use a hot water bottle between the towel
and the blanket...keep it on for about an hour... the client feels
"chemical-burning-like-sensations in the livers as the actions begin... this
disappears rather quickly (in minutes) and then the healing has begun...”
She continues:
“Serious chronic cases have to do this twice a day for a few days, then cut
to once a day, then a few times a week, then once a week...and the liver and
gallbladder and kidneys all get strong and after a few months no treatments
are required, no stones are produced...”
For how to
prepare a decoction, go to:
http://www.naturalherbalism.com/Water_Based/How_To_Prepare_Decoction.html
Safety precautions
Castor oil should not be taken internally. It should not be applied
to broken skin, or used during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or during menstrual
flow.
Always seek medical advice prior to use.
Castor oil may induce labor!
Links and Resources:
"The Oil That Heals," by Dr. William A. McGarey
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