Awhh, those good old remedies from our grandmothers. We love them so much and we have a good reason do to so. THEY WORK. It was good back then and its still good today.
A little bit of history …
Historical documents, including the Ebers papyrus dating back to more than 1550 BC demonstrate that castor oil was used therapeutically in several European countries: Egypt, India, China, Persia, Africa, Greece , Rome, southern Europe and even here in America.
The Romans called it ” Palma Christi” because of the shape of the leaf that reminds the shape of a hand. The Greeks knew it under the name Kiki. In Sanskrit, its known as: Eranda and Vatarl while among the Hebrews it is Kikayon.
In my hometown, my Grandma called it beavers oil. In french, a beaver is called a castor. So I really thought that castor oil was made from beavers. Lol!
The therapeutic use of castor oil came back to fame in the 19th century thanks to Edgar Cayce, also known as “The Sleeping Prophet”. The latter was a medium who used his gift of mediumship to help find therapies and solutions to different health problems. When he was in hypnosis / trance, he could answer questions about different topics including healing, reincarnation, Atlantis, and several other subjects. He was often criticized and many considered him “Quackery”. No matter what you think of Cayce, the fact is that many of his suggestions worked very well. This is the case for the castor oil pack. Nowadays, we could compare him to Anthony Williams: ” The Medical Medium ”. In both cases, we like them or we don’t, but still there are several useful information that have been disclosed by the two characters.
Edgar Cayce considered himself a spiritual leader. He encouraged his “patients” to test the solutions and not accept them as pure dogma. I invite you to do the same. When you discover a new type of treatment that is safe, of course, I urge you to experience it for yourself. Watch if it gives you benefits. If it relieves you, if it helps you in anyway. I strongly believe that plants and nature in general can provide us with many good therapies. If we use them properly, they can help us feel better and live healthier lives.
What is castor oil?
Castor oil is extracted from castor bean, the seeds of the Ricinus Communis plant and contains fatty acids that give it moisturizing, nourishing and invigorating properties. Ricinoleic acid makes up 87% of castor oil and is responsible for a large part of its therapeutic properties (especially anti-inflammatory). This thick oil is also very rich in natural vitamin E. Use it directly on the skin to moisturize or as a carrier oil for your essential oils.
Castor oil is considered GRAS by the FDA. This term means that it is generally recognized as being safe to be taken internally.
However, I favor its use externally.
INDICATIONS, USES & MECHANISM OF ACTION
Benefits and uses of castor oil:
- Help in reducing pain
- Anti-inflammatory effects
- Improve lymphatic drainage and circulation
- Cellulite: A daily massage of castor oil in which you have added a formula of anti-cellulite essential oils such as grapefruit and cypress might helps fight cellulite by stimulating the lymphatic system.
- Intestinal disorders: constipation, loose stools, poor elimination, gas and bloating
- Liver and Gallbladder Disorders: Hepatic steatosis, gallstones
- General detoxification, helps improve liver function
- May help destroy and eliminate the ‘biofilm’ barrier that protects harmful bacteria and fungus such as candida.
- Gynecological conditions: irregular menstruation, uterine fibroids, uterine and ovarian cysts, urinary symptoms, fibrocystic changes of the breast.
- Pulmonary congestion, asthma, bronchitis and acute colds
- Relieving muscular or arthritic pain, sports injuries, swollen joints, bursitis and muscle tension,
- Skin care, cuts, dry skin, cracked heels, cracking, burning, psoriasis, insect bites, itching, sunburn, fungal infection.
It is used topically, in massage or poultice, for its anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, analgesic, anti fungal, antiviral, antibacterial and lymphatic decongestant action.
Internally, it is a powerful laxative. It is known to relieve constipation and help start labor in late pregnancy. *** Please note that it is not recommended to use it orally without medical advice. The laxative effect can be very violent.
Support immune system
The most common assumption about the positive effect of castor oil on the immune system is that it increase the number of T cells in the skin and it also increase the number of prostaglandins¹. The increase in the number of T-11 cells represents a general strengthening of the body’s defense status.
The lymphatic system represents the body’s sewer system. Toxins, infections, heavy metals, dead cells and debris all over the body are collected and cleaned by the lymphatic system and then brought to the liver for filtration and emptied through the colon. When our lymphatic system is not functioning properly, waste and toxins can accumulate, which can lead to a weakened immune system, ineffective stools, worsening of food sensitivity and ultimately to inflammation and inflammation related diseases.
Therefore, castor oil poultices can increase lymphatic drainage, detoxify the body, strengthen the immune system, improve bowel movements, reduce food sensitivities, decrease inflammation, prevent disease and ultimately improve global health.
It’s very similar to the CTRL ALT DELETE action we do on our computer when we want to restart it.
Castor oil pack
Here’s a home therapy that you can do regularly to improve your lymphatic drainage, detoxify your body, promote longevity and preserve your health. This should be a holistic approach including a healthy lifestyle, exercise, diet, sleep, dietary supplements and hydration.
Digest better ⇒ Absorb better ⇒ Eliminate better ⇒ Sleep better ⇒ Think better = LIVE BETTER
The castor oil pack is simply a piece of flannel that is soaked in oil, that is then placed on a part of the body where its needed. Heat can be used to maximize the action. Leave it on at least 45-60 minutes and apply for 3 to 4 consecutive days.
What you will need
- Virgin castor oil, cold pressed, hexane and organic *
- A big piece of organic cotton or wool flannel (uncolored) size of about 12 X 36: fold to make 3 layers of about 12 X 12. I bought mine in a fabrics store.
- A plastic bag to protect against stains. A trash bag would do the trick. I opted instead for Laminated Polyurethane (PUL) to avoid plastic. It is a specialized fabric, created by applying a waterproof film to one side of a fabric. It is often used in the making of washable diapers. Make sure you have a larger pieces of plastic than the flannel to cover and protect against leaks. Castor oil, it stains !!!
- A magic bag , a hot water bottle or a heating pad. The applied heat helps the castor oil to penetrate into deeper layers of the skin.
- Use a sheet or towel to protect the area where you will lay down.
* When you purchase castor oil be vigilant of the quality.
Much of the castor oil sold on the market today comes from castor beans that have been heavily sprayed with pesticides that can damage beneficial phytonutrients and can contaminate the oil with toxins. You wouldn’t want to apply that on your skin.
I recommend buying organic castor oil.
This is the brand that I used Palma Christi Or
Preparation
As you can see it’s quite easy. You only need to place flannel on top of the plastic bag and soak it with castor oil.
Note: For the first use, you will need more oil in order to soak the flannel, about 4-5 tablespoon. The first few weeks, you will need to add 1-2 tablespoon of extra castor oil each time you apply. Eventually, the patch will be sufficiently saturated. At this point, it will not be necessary to add oil each time. You can do it once a week. But be careful, you do not want it dripping.
The castor oil pack is reusable about 30-40 times or more or less 9 months. Do not attempt to wash it. When it starts to get dirty, broken or if it starts to change color, just throw it in the trash and start a new one.
That being said, if you face a very toxic situation, it is recommended to discard of the castor oil pack when you feel better and your treatments are finished. In this case, do not keep the patch for later use.
Application
The pack works much better when it is warm. I heat the fabric in the oven. Place the oil soaked cloth in a Pyrex style dish and heat in the oven at 150 degrees for 15 minutes. Be careful when you apply the patch on your skin, make sure its not too hot, you don’t want to burn yourself. Once its applied on the skin, I use hot water bottle or hot magic bag to keep it warm.
*NEVER APPLY ON ABDOMEN WHEN YOU ARE PREGNANT OR HAVE YOUR MENSTRUATION.*
Sit in a comfortable place where you can rest. By applying the pack, you stimulate skin-visceral reflexes that place your body in a parasympathetic state. This state is better known as the state of rest and digest. It’s when we are in this state that we repair and heal. Take this opportunity to do a meditation or do deep breathing exercises.
Personally, I apply the patch at night before going to bed. I keep it all night long. This way, the treatment lasts longer and I don’t have to worry about finding 1 free hour in my day.
Add Essential Oils to it
If you want to increase therapeutic effect or help with a specific condition, you can add essential oils on your skin before applying the pack. I massage 2-3 drops of the chosen essential oils in the area that I will apply the cloth.
Here are a few oils that I like to use for this purpose: Helichrysum, Celery seed, Ledum, Endoflex, Fennel, Basil, Coriander, Digize, Frankincense, Cypress, Copaiba, Grapefruit
Apply the warm cloth in the desired area
For a general detoxification, I apply directly above the liver and the gall bladders. It’s on the right side, at the level of the rib cage.
For constipation, apply on the lower belly.
For painful muscles, apply directly on site.
Then, I cover the patch with a permeable cloth or plastic and I wrap myself with saran wrap or bandage tissue. A trash bag can do the trick too. The idea is that you do not want to stain yourself. I also wear old leggings on top.
Leave in place for 45-60 minutes and apply the heat bag. Be careful because once the castor oil pack is in place, it may drip a little. That’s why I stress that you protect the place on which you will lie down.
Relax 〉 Breathe In 〉 Breathe Out
When I am done, I place the oily cloth in a mason jar and I keep it in the fridge until next use.
For maximum efficacy, it is recommended to use the pack 3-4 days in a row, then take a 4 day break before you start using it again.
Repeat for about 4 consecutive weeks or until you feel better. Then I do occasional application to maintain good health.
For chronic diseases, I recommend applying castor oil every 2-3 days thereafter.
In order to facilitate the detoxification process, you could take 1 tbsp. of high quality olive oil at night, before going to bed. You can also take 1 tbsp. after the 3rd castor oil pack session.
NB: The castor oil treatments are very mild and without any side effects. It is possible to have a skin reaction at the place where the bag was placed. This usually happens during the first applications. To relieve, rinse the skin with water and sodium bicarbonate.
After the treatment, you can massage the excess of oil on your skin to help it penetrate. You can add a drop of essential oil also, that’s what I do. I would use an oil such as Frankincense, Copaiba, Release , Juniper, ginger, etc…
If you prefer, you can also clean your skin with warm water mixed with 1 tablespoon of baking soda.
I hope you enjoyed this article and that you found the information interesting.
Did you try the castor oil pack? What did you think? Did it help you? Do not hesitate to contact me and give me your comments. I am on Facebook and on Instagram
Bonne Santé, Stay Healthy!
Isabelle – Votre Amie Essentielle
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XOXO
¹ IMMUNOMODULATION THROUGH CASTOR OIL PACKS; Harvey Grady
Effect of ricinoleic acid in acute and subchronic experimental models of inflammation
The Oil that Heals” by Dr. William A. McGarey
https://www.amazon.ca/Oil-That-Heals-Physicians-Treatments/dp/0876043082