Castor Oil = The Oil That Heals
Grow It; Drink It, Rub It In,
Or Use It – Topically – In Packs
Want relief from ~ Inflammation? Digestive Issues? Joint pain? Menstrual Cramps? Skin Conditions? Castor Oil May Help!
A common ingredient in many beauty products is castor oil (“Palma Christi”). However, it has many more applications intended to help stimulate and support the body’s own healing mechanisms.
Use It to Help With ~
- Acne, rashes, and other skin irritations
- Arthritis and painful joints
- Childbirthing
- Chronic infections
- Digestive issues and associate gastrointestinal symptoms
- Fibroids
- Frizzy hair
- Hydrating and nourishing skin
- Lymphedema
- Menstrual pain and irregularity
- Lymphedema
- Ovarian cysts.
You can rub it into your skin, or take a deep dive by putting it into a pack that you keep on your body for several minutes. For added effect, add heat using a heating pad. See instructions below.
Castor Oil Packs Help to:
- Drain lymphatic system
- Fight fungi
- Fight viruses
- Produce an anti-inflammatory effect
- Improve painful conditions and swelling
- Increase circulation
- Increase lymphocyte production
- Stimulate and support the immune system
Ingredients in Castor Oil
Palmitic acid: 0.5–1
WebMD Notes Benefits
Castor oil is a thick, odorless oil made from the seeds of the castor plant. Its use dates back to ancient Egypt, where it was first used as lamp fuel and later for medicinal and beauty treatments — Cleopatra reportedly believed the oil would brighten the whites of her eyes.
Today, most of the world’s castor oil is produced in India. Modern research backs up some of its traditional uses, including laxative effects, anti-inflammatory properties, and the ability to help induce labor….More than 90% of castor oil’s fatty acid content is ricinoleic acid. Research shows that this omega-9 has pain relief and anti-inflammatory effects. When applied to the skin may help relieve issues like joint pain and menstrual cramps.
Castor oil has also been used to help pregnant women with delivery for centuries. In fact, a survey from 1999 found that 93% of midwives in the U.S. used castor oil to induce labor. While further research is needed, one study found that castor oil initiated labor in 91% of women with little to no childbirth complications.
While studies continue to investigate other potential health benefits, castor oil is considered safe if used as directed, and can be found in a range of skin and hair care products sold today. Pure castor oil is also available at many specialty health stores. ”
A Great Book to Learn About Treatments
The Oil That Heals, A Physician’s Successes with Castor Oil Treatments, by William A. McGarey, M.D.
How to Make a Pack for Deep Healing
For application to a specific area of your body, you can rub castor oil into the skin. However, if you truly want the most therapeutic effect, try a castor oil pack and apply deep heat. Packs are the most common and effective way to apply topical castor oil.
Supplies
Since I first learned about the healing properties of castor oil from the Edgar Cayce readings at the Association for Research and Enlightenment in Virginia Beach, I’ve preferred using the A.R.E store to buy the purest forms of “Palma Christos” castor oil for internal use. I also love going to The Heritage Store in Virginia Beach for castor oil and other health food and metaphysics items. Of course, you can buy online, as well.
In order to make a castor oil pack, you will need the following supplies.
Note: I found a great substitute for the plastic wrap and wool/cotton flannel that are listed below. Here it is. You also could use a diaper (sized for kids, pets, or adults (like “Depends”). It works well because modern-day diapers have an absorbent surface on which you can put the oil. That side goes onto your skin. They also have a waterproof covering on the other side. That protects the heating pad and your clothing or bed covers from the oil.
- High-quality cold-pressed castor oil – at room temperature
- A hot water bottle or heating pad
- Plastic wrap
- Two or three one-foot square pieces of wool or cotton flannel
- One large old bath towel
Directions for Making a Castor Oil Pack
Fold flannel* three layers thick so it is still large enough to fit over your entire upper abdomen and liver. You can also treat other local areas, like swollen lymph nodes on the neck, ankles, knees.
Soak flannel with the oil so that it is completely saturated. The oil should be at room temperature. Lie on your back with your feet elevated. Place the flannel pack directly onto your abdomen; cover the oiled flannel with the sheet of plastic, and place the hot water bottle or heating pad on top of the plastic. I recommend wearing old pajamas as the oil stains and can be difficult to remove.
Leave the pack on for 45 to 60 minutes. This is a great time to do meditational breathing, reading, or just relax. You can reuse the pack several times, each time adding more oil as needed to keep the pack saturated.
Whether you want to grow the Ricinus plant for a tropical-looking garden or buy the end product from a store to help you heal, this plant is amazingly cooperative! (See link or keep scrolling for videos about growing and harvesting the castor oil (Ricinus) plant.
A Little History (Very Little)
Castor oil was first used in Ancient Egypt, China, Persia, Africa, Greece, Rome, for things as varied as lamp fuel, medicine, and beauty treatments for eyes and as a skin moisturizer. Europe and the Americas adopted its use in the 1600s. The oil is made by pressing the seeds of the plant, Ricinus communis (Euphorbiaceae) in a specific process.
How To Grow the Castor Oil Plant from Seed
The plant is among the most impressive tropical plants that you can grow from seed on a sunny windowsill. They grow to enormous architectural plants in just one season. They require staking to keep the stems from snapping in strong winds. The plants are highly toxic, so please take care when handling the plants and especially the seeds. Tropical Tribe shared this video on YouTube to teach us how to grow the plant from seed. (Note: they have other great videos about gardening, too.)
I hope you have found this useful. I have had great outcomes when I used castor oil packs on my tummy for digestive issues, among other things. I’d love to hear your success stories, too.
Let’s Get Well, Stay Well, and Live Well!