Castor Oil Packs
Castor Oil has a
long and very interesting history of being used as a healing agent
for thousands of years. Castor oil, also known as Palma Christi,
because its leaves resemble the hands of Christ, has quite an
impressive and extensive background worldwide.
Castor Oil packs became popularized again in the 20th century, by the late healer, also known as the “sleeping prophet,” Edgar Cayce. They were researched in more detail, years later, by a physician, Dr. William McGarey. Dr. McGarey was a follower of Cayce’s work and the author of the book “The Oil That Heals.” Dr. McGarey researched and found that castor oil packs boost immune function and increase lymphocyte production in the body. When castor oil is absorbed through your skin, the lymphocyte count rises within the body. Lymphocytes protect and assist the cells in the immune system by their disease fighting action. Lymphocytes fight pathogens and toxins by forming antibodies against these invaders. These unique disease fighting cells are stored and produced in the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system consists mainly of your thymus gland, spleen, tonsils, appendix, and lymph nodes. This important system transports waste materials from your tissues and carries them to the bloodstream to be eliminated in a process known as lymphatic drainage. Proper lymphatic drainage in our bodies encourages healthy circulation, thorough detoxification and elimination, energy, health, and a sense of well-being. A healthy body depends on the fluidity of this incredible lymph fluid.
When this system is not functioning properly and gets congested and clogged, illness, inflammation, and toxicity can occur. Our lymph system relies on our activities to keep it flowing properly. It is not a pump like your heart. It is a pumpless system. Activities like exercise, movement, deep breathing, rebounding, and skin brushing can all assist the lymph system to drain properly. When we are sedentary or inactive, stressed, sick, eat poorly, and suffer with constipation, our lymphatic system can get congested.
Castor Oil packs are also another valuable resource to keep the lymph flowing and moving well. A castor oil pack is castor oil applied onto a cotton or wool cloth and applied with heat to a specific part of the body. Castor oil packs stimulate proper flow and drainage of stagnant lymph and congested organs and tissues. Placing a pack over the liver encourages liver drainage and detoxification. Placing it over your colon area, uterus, ovaries, or breast area promotes movement, flow, drainage, and healthy circulation in these areas. These packs can act as a natural anti-inflammatory agent where you have discomfort, like a backache or menstrual cramping. Edgar Cayce repeatedly recommended these packs for many of his clients with many types of different ailments. He found that these packs improved individual’s lymphatic systems, elimination systems, provided more energy, and better assimilation of nutrients. Fatigue and depression were also found to be lessened or eradicated by an overall systemic improvement.
The main fatty acid in castor oil is called ricinioleic acid. This potent acid is also responsible for castor oil’s strong healing abilities. It has been shown to inhibit viruses, bacteria, molds, yeasts, and fungus. Using castor oil topically on ringworm, inflammations, or other stubborn skin ailments has also shown to aid in healing and clearing of these conditions.
I have personally used these packs with much success for myself and clients over the years. I have recommended them before colon hydrotherapy sessions or enemas (to loosen fecal matter and stimulate peristalsis), women suffering with menstrual discomforts and stagnant uterine flow, proper liver drainage, skin ailments, backaches, sore or fibrocystic breasts, edema, lymphatic congestion, and stiff joints and muscles. These packs are also very relaxing because of the heat and warmth and having to lay still while doing them. They have given much relief to many if my clients and have provided numerous health promoting benefits as well.
These packs are usually tolerated well but performing a patch test of castor oil on your arm is first recommended to see if any adverse reaction takes place. If any adverse reaction occurs, do not use castor oil. Also, do not use these packs if you are pregnant or dealing with a medical condition. Consult with your physician or health provider first before using castor oil or a castor oil pack.
Directions/Instructions
You will need the following items:
- Pure, cold pressed Castor Oil (Hexane Free)
- Natural, unbleached wool or cotton flannel cloth (about 13x15 inches) 3 sewn thickness if possible
- Heating pad or hot water bottle
- Piece of plastic (about the size of a smaller plastic grocery or trash bag)
- Large garbage plastic bag
- Old towels to lie on while doing pack
- Wet warm cloth for clean-up after the pack
Here is a castor oil pack bundle available for purchase from amazon.com to make it easy. It comes with the castor oil, wool flannel cloth, and clean up cloths for afterwards:
Start with saturating the wool or cotton flannel with castor oil. Take saturated cloth and place into a glass or pyrex baking dish. Place dish into oven on low heat until oil saturated cloth is nice and warm. Test cloth for your desired heat tolerance. DO NOT place on your skin if cloth is too hot because you will burn yourself. Lay the large plastic garbage bag on a bed or floor with old towels on top. Lay on this area. The pack is very messy and the warmed oil will run and drip while you are doing the castor oil pack. This is why you need to protect whatever you’re lying on while doing this procedure. You should also wear old clothes to protect yourself as well.
When the pack feels temperature comfortable to you, place it on top of the area that is discomforting or is in need of decongesting or detoxifying.
*For example: for constipation or for prep before a colon hydrotherapy session or enema, place the cloth from hip to hip and from navel to groin area.
Place the smaller plastic bag on top of the cloth and the heating pad or hot water bottle on top of the plastic. Turn the heating pad to a warm comfortable setting for you. Leave on for 1 hour. You might fall asleep while doing this because it is so relaxing.
After the time is finished, clean your skin off with a warm wet washcloth. You can add 2 Tbsp. of baking soda to a quart of water for clean-up too. This provides a quicker and more thorough clean-up process. The alkalinity from the baking soda assists with removing the castor oil residue left on the skin.
Store the used pack in a glass mason jar in refrigerator or freezer. You can also store the used pack in a Ziploc plastic bag in the freezer indefinitely. When ready to use again, take pack out of bag or jar, add more castor oil, heat, and apply to area of concern. This process can be repeated over and over again with the same cloth for up to 6 months. Replace the pack after this amount of time or if pack becomes discolored or smells rancid.
