Castor Oil

[Guest guest]

In my time (wow I feel old now) they used to give women castor oil internally to speed the birth. I tried it and a friend of mine tried it with a lot of success (please warn your doctor:-) the baby goes out very fast and is very slippery) A few drops to a tsp will help with constipation but it's really tooooo strong. It doesn't only go directly to the intestines but everywhere else as well.

 

I use it directly (as a pack) on my liver for half an hour with a heating pad. Works very well but make sure that you don't have to go out the next day.

 

Avec Amour...;-)

Bridge

Votre angélique petit diable..;-)

 

Castor oil shouldn't be taken internally? I seem to have read somewhererecently about castor oil enemas. Guess they shouldn't recommend them, huh?As a kid, my Mom used to give me some horrible stuff called "Fletcher'sCastoria" whenever I got constipated. Ugh!! I still get nausteated thinkingabout it.- AnnaAt 09:48 AM 8/9/03 -0400, Bridge wrote:>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.> >How it works>A castor oil pack is placed on the skin to increase circulation and to>promote elimination and healing of the tissues and organs underneath the>skin. It is used to stimulate the liver, relieve pain, increase lymphatic>circulation, reduce inflammation, and improve digestion.> >How it is made>Castor oil packs are made by soaking a piece of flannel in castor oil and>placing it on the skin. The flannel is covered with a sheet of plastic, and>then a hot water bottle is placed over the plastic to heat the pack.> >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. >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.> >Materials>· Three layers of undyed 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 >· Container with lid >· Old clothes and sheets. Castor oil will stain clothing and bedding> >Method>1. Place the flannel in the container. Soak it in castor oil so that it is>saturated, but not dripping.>2. Place the pack over the affected body part. >3. Cover with plastic. >4. Place the hot water bottle over the pack. Leave it on for 45-60 minutes.>Rest while the pack is in place.>5. After removing the pack, cleanse the area with a dilute solution of water>and baking soda.>6. Store the pack in the covered container in the refrigerator. Each pack>may be reused up to 25-30 times.> >Frequency of use>It is generally recommended that a castor oil pack be used for 3 to 7 days>in a week to treat a health condition or for detox.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Barbara sent me this article a while back. I've been meaning to post it, but kept forgetting, lol. It's a good article...take a look, if you're interested. :-)

 

Cyndi

 

 

 

Castor Oil

 

>From David William's Alternatives Newsletter.

 

CASTOR OIL - Natural Protection from Deadly Viruses

 

Dr. David G. Williams -- ALTERNATIVES -- v6 n1, July 1995

________

 

Moving on to more "exotic" techniques to increase immune system

efficiency, we come to castor oil. I can remember my dad telling me

time after time about his mother's devotion to castor oil when he was

growing up. At the first sign of any illness in one child, she would

immediately give all the children a quick oral dose of castor oil.

There's no doubt it provided a quick solution for constipation, and

from what I can tell, it must have a positive effect on memory too. My

dad can vividly remember the taste and effects of castor oil to this

very day.

 

In many ways, castor oil is a very unique substance. While most of us

are familiar with its use as a remedy for constipation, folk healers

in this country and around the world have used castor oil to treat a

wide variety of conditions. Its effectiveness is probably due in part

to its peculiar chemical composition.

 

Castor oil is a triglyceride of fatty acids. Almost 90 percent of its

fatty acid content consists of ricinoleic acid. To my knowledge,

ricinoleic acid is not found in any other substance except castor oil.

Such a high concentration of this unusual, unsaturated fatty acid is

thought to be responsible for castor oil's remarkable healing abilities.

 

Ricinoleic acid has been shown to be effective in preventing the

growth of numerous species of viruses, bacteria, yeasts and molds. (J

Am Oil Chem Soc 61;37.323-325.) This would explain the high degree of

success in the topical use of the oil for treating such ailments as

ringworm, keratoses (non-cancerous, wart-like skin growths), skin

inflammation, abrasions, fungal-infected finger- and toenails, acne

and chronic pruritus (itching). Generally, for these conditions the

area involved is simply wrapped in cloth soaked with castor oil each

night, or if the area is small enough, a castor oil soaked Band-Aid

can be used. (For persistent infections and those finger- and toenails

that have discolored and hardened, a good 10 to 20 minute soak in

Epsom salts, prior to applying the castor oil, usually speeds up the

healing process.)

 

Castor oil's antimicrobial activity, while very impressive, comprises

only a small part of the story concerning this mysterious oil. While

castor oil has been thoroughly investigated for its industrial uses,

only a minimal amount of research effort has been directed toward its

medicinal benefits.

 

In Russia the oil is known as "Kastorka." The stem of the plant is

used in the textile industry. The extracted oil has a very consistent

viscosity and won't freeze even in Russia's severe climate. This makes

it an ideal lubricating oil in industrial equipment. Medicinally, the

oil is added to products to restore hair (one part oil to 10 parts of

grain alcohol), treat constipation, skin ulcers, some infectious

gynecological conditions and eye irritations.

 

The castor bean plant is actually native to India, where it is called

"Erand." There we found it being used extensively for all types of

gastrointestinal problems like constipation, dysentery and

inflammatory bowel disease. It was also used to treat bladder and

vaginal infections and asthma. We were told the seed kernels or hulls

(without the actual seed) could be boiled in milk and water and taken

internally to relieve arthritis and lower back pain accompanied by

sciatica.

 

We also found early reports of nursing mothers in the Canary Islands

using poultices made from the leaves of the castor bean. They applied

the poultice to their breasts to increase milk secretion and relieve

inflammation and milk stagnation in the mammary glands. Applying the

poultice to the abdominal area promoted normal menstruation.

 

While I find all of these uses of castor oil very interesting, the

most exciting use deals with ways to increase topical absorption

through the use of castor oil packs or poultices.

 

Much of the current use of castor oil packs, in the U.S. anyway, can

be attributed to the late healing psychic, Edgar Cayce. Time after

time he recommended their use. Based on his reports, I began to use

them in my practice over 12 years ago. But even though I, and numerous

other doctors, have continued to experience remarkable results, the

technique is still practically unknown and shunned by most health care

professionals today. This is probably due to two reasons. First, it's

just too simple. It's hard for most people to imagine that something

as simple as castor oil packs could have a profound effect on any

health problem. Secondly, in our present health care system, positive

results alone do not constitute the critical factor in determining

whether a treatment will be accepted by the medical establishment.

[Everybody (except probably the poor patient) now seems to be more

concerned about how something is supposed to work, than whether it

actually works at all.] Recent research data presented by longtime

follower of Edgar Cayce, Dr. William McGarey of Phoenix, Arizona,

might help shed some light on how castor oil works.

 

If you're not particularly interested in how castor oil enhances the

immune system, feel free to skip the next couple of paragraphs. Anyone

suffering from AIDS or other serious viral or bacterial diseases may

find this information helpful, however. Numerous AIDS patients have

been able to increase their T-cell counts and clear up many of their

problems by using the techniques I'll be describing. Others have found

it useful in eliminating chronic problems with epilepsy,

hyperactivity, liver and gallbladder diseases and chronic fluid

retention. (Fortunately, to benefit from this and other natural

therapies you really don't have to understand how they work.)

 

McGarey has reported that, when used properly, castor oil packs

improve the function of the thymus gland and other areas of the immune

system. More specifically, he found in two separate studies that

patients using abdominal castor oil packs had significant increases in

the production of lymphocytes compared to increases among those using

placebo packs.

 

Lymphocytes are the disease-fighting cells of your immune system. They

are produced and housed mainly in your lymphatic tissue. This includes

the thymus gland, the spleen, the lymph nodes and the lymphatic tissue

that lines the small intestine (called Peyer's patches, or more

commonly, aggregated lymphatic follicles). Strangely, other than

knowing it produces the body's white blood cells, most doctors are not

very knowledgeable about the lymphatic system.

 

The lymphatic system is an amazingly complex structure. It works hand

in hand with both the blood circulatory system and the digestive system.

 

In the circulatory system newly oxygenated blood from the lungs moves

from the heart along smaller and smaller arteries until it reaches the

smallest vessels called capillaries. It is in these microscopic

tubules that the blood exchanges oxygen and nutrients for cellular

waste products with surrounding body cells. The capillaries then

gradually become larger and form veins through which the unoxygenated,

waste-carrying blood returns back to the lungs and then to the heart

to be recirculated time and time again.

 

Much of the fluid accompanying the blood and large protein molecules

leak from these capillaries. Additional fluids and waste products are

expelled from every cell in the body. These fluids accumulate in the

small spaces between the cells. If all of this material weren't

somehow removed we would begin to swell like a toad and die within a

matter of 24 hours. Fortunately, we have a completely separate

circulation system, called the lymphatic system, that is able to

absorb and remove these fluids, proteins and waste materials. With the

exception of the brain, where these proteins and fluids flow directly

into the fluid that surrounds them, the extensive lymphatic network

has hundreds of miles of tubules that cover the entire body. Through

these tubules all of this material is returned to the blood so it can

be utilized or eliminated from the body. (There is no pathway, other

than the lymphatic system, that excess protein molecules can use to

return to the circulatory system.)

 

Also, along these lymphatic tubules you'll find bulb-shaped masses

called lymph nodes, which act as filters and produce antibodies when

foreign proteins are encountered. I'm sure you've experienced the

tenderness and swelling of an inflamed lymph node at one time or

another. It is usually a result of antibodies fighting an infection

either in the node itself or somewhere in the draining area of that

particular lymph chain.

 

In addition to returning leaking fluid from the circulation system and

creating antibodies for the immune system, the lymphatic system also

performs another very important function. Clumps of lymphatic tissue,

called Peyer's patches, are spread throughout the small intestine.

Unlike other nutrients, fat molecules are generally too large to be

absorbed directly from the intestine. Instead, they are absorbed by

these patches and transported along the lymphatic system and then

released into the blood stream where they can be carried throughout

the body. Between 80 to 90 percent of all the fat absorbed from the

gut requires the help of the lymphatic system.

 

When it comes to treating the majority of health problems, the status

of your lymphatic system is rarely given any consideration whatsoever.

Medical students are taught that a failure of the lymphatic system is

obvious to detect because it is accompanied by "pitting" edema (the

accumulation of fluid in the tissues, i.e. swelling, usually in the

feet, ankles or hands). The test for "pitting" edema is rather simple.

A finger is pressed into the skin at the area of the swelling and then

quickly removed. The skin stays depressed, forming a small "pit",

which remains until the fluid outside the cells has time to return to

the area (this can take anywhere from 5 to 30 seconds). Unfortunately,

research studies have shown that "pitting" edema and other signs of

fluid retention can't be observed until fluid levels outside the cells

reach 30 percent above normal. In other words, you can have a serious

lymphatic drainage problem long before it can be detected.

 

Several problems occur when the lymph drainage slows and fluids begin

to accumulate around the cells. First, the individual cells are forced

further and further away from the capillaries. The amount of oxygen

and nourishment they receive is decreased. Under exertion or stress

some cells may die. Additionally, cells are forced to survive in their

own waste and toxic by-products. This situation can eventually lead to

the degeneration and destruction of organs. For example, poor

lymphatic drainage of the heart can lead to tissue damage and even

heart failure. Similar problems occur in the liver, the kidneys and

other organs.

 

A good analogy would be if you confined yourself to one room of your

house. Someone could bring you food and water, but not remove any of

your waste products. Eventually you would have difficulty remaining

healthy in such an environment. As your waste accumulated, not only

would you become sick, those around you would begin to experience the

same fate. Just like it is for each cell, in addition to nourishment

and oxygen, the removal of waste products is essential for continued

health of the entire body.

 

Fluid accumulation outside the cells also stretches the tissue in the

area. The more it stretches and the longer it remains that way, the

harder it becomes to correct the problem.

 

Regardless of the health problem, most doctors generally assume the

lymphatic system is working adequately. This assumption is made at the

peril of the patient. Research has shown that as we age certain organs

begin to degenerate. The thymus gland is a key component of the immune

system. It is initially responsible for the proper development of the

lymphatic system and is practically absent in older individuals.

Peyer's patches, those clumps of lymphatic tissue found in the small

intestine, begin to get smaller with age and are often destroyed by

certain diseases like typhoid fever. (Cayce felt that the overall

health and well-being of an individual was directly related to the

health of these Peyer's patches. He stated on several occasions, that

a certain compound formed in these patches was necessary for

maintaining the integrity of the nervous system. He may very well be

correct. To this day, we still don't totally understand the functions

and importance of either the thymus gland or Peyer's patches.)

 

Efforts should be taken to improve the function of the lymphatic

system in every health problem. This applies to AIDS, as well as heart

disease, hemorrhoids and everything inbetween. No drug exists that has

the ability to improve lymphatic flow; however, the job can easily be

handled through the topical application of castor oil.

 

When castor oil is absorbed through the skin, several extraordinary

events take place. The lymphocyte count of the blood increases. This

is a result of a positive influence on the thymus gland and/or

lymphatic tissue.

 

The flow of lymph increases throughout the body. This speeds up the

removal of toxins surrounding the cells and reduces the size of

swollen lymph nodes. The end result is a general overall improvement

in organ function with a lessening of fatigue and depression.

 

As toxicity is reduced, the pH of the saliva becomes less acidic,

indicating improved health. The Peyer's patches in the small intestine

become more efficient in their absorption of fatty acids, which are

essential for the formation of hormones and other components necessary

for growth and repair.

 

Common Methods of Using Castor Oil

 

The most common way to use castor oil (and most objectionable, I might

add) has been to take it orally. Generally, oral doses are used to

correct constipation. The recommended dose is usually 1 tablespoon for

adults and 1 teaspoon for children. You can usually expect a "purging"

of the system in about four to six hours.

 

Rubbed or Massaged Directly Into the Skin

 

For several conditions I'll mention later, the oil can simply be

rubbed into the skin. It can also be used as a massage oil which seems

to be especially effective when applied along the spinal column. If

the oil is massaged into the body, the direction of the massage should

always follow the same path as the underlying Iymphatic drainage

system. The diagram below shows the proper direction to massage the

oil and further facilitate lymphatic drainage. [Vater and Asdonk,

Gesaltschaft for Manuelle Lymph Drainage (Essen, Germany).]

 

Conditions Responding to Topical Application

 

Oftentimes there is no need for castor oil packs; amazing results can

be obtained by simply applying it directly to the skin. The following

is a short list of some of the more common ailments it can remedy:

 

skin keratosis

ringworm

fungal and bacterial infections

wounds

abdominal stretch marks (prevention)

bursitis

sebaceous cysts

warts

senile lentigo ("liver" or "aging" spots)

muscle strains

ligament sprains

itching

 

Castor Oil Packs

 

One of the most useful and least utilized methods of using castor oil

is to employ packs. Packs are an economical and efficient method of

absorbing the ricinoleic acid and other healing components of castor

oil directly into body tissues. (The following basic procedure was

outlined in several of the readings of Edgar Cayce.)

 

To make a castor oil pack you will need the following items: cold

pressed castor oil, a standard heating pad, a plastic garbage bag, two

or three one-foot square pieces of wool or cotton flannel and one

large bath towel.

 

1. Start by placing the heating pad on a flat surface and turn the

setting to high.

 

2. On top of the pad lay the plastic garbage bag. Next, soak the

flannel pieces with castor oil generally about 1/2 cup) and lay them

on top of the garbage bag and heating pad.

 

3. The entire pack can now be placed against the body with the

oil-soaked flannel on the skin. For general conditions the pack should

be placed on the abdomen. (For treating lower back problems, the pack

can be placed there.) To help hold the pack in place and to keep oil

from getting on bedding, etc., the body can be wrapped in a large bath

towel.

 

4. The pack should remain in place for at least one hour and the

temperature of the heating pad should be kept at the highest

temperature tolerable to the patient.

 

5. When you remove the pack, the remaining oil can be massaged into

the skin or cleaned off using a little soda water made from 1 quart of

warm water and 2 tablespoons of baking soda.

 

6. The flannel can be reused if stored properly after removing the

pack. Put the flannel in either a plastic bag or zip-loc container and

place it in the refrigerator. Before using it next time let it warm up

and always add another 1 or 2 tablespoons of fresh cold pressed castor

oil. (After a month of use I would recommend using new flannel.)

 

Conditions Responding to Castor Oil Packs

 

Due to the many effects of its fatty acid component, ricinoleic acid,

the use of castor oil can be used topically to treat a wide variety of

health complaints.

 

Lymphatic Congestion

 

Obviously, conditions known to be related to poor drainage of the

lymphatic system will tend to benefit from this type of therapy. These

would include complaints such as:

 

1. chronic fluid retention with swollen joints and pain

2. arthritis

3. upper respiratory infections involving the sinuses,

tonsils and inner ear

4. colon problems like Crohn's disease or colitis

5. gallbladder disease

6. boils

7. liver cirrhosis, hepatitis, enlargement or congestion

8. menstrual-related congestion

9. appendicitis

10. hyperactivity

11. constipation, bowel impaction or adhesions

12. swollen lymph nodes

13. bladder and vaginal infections

 

Neurological Problems

 

Several neurological problems have also been responsive to castor oil.

These include:

 

1. nerve inflammations such as sciatica, shingles, etc.

2. Parkinson's disease

3. multiple sclerosis

4. migraine headaches

5. cerebral palsy

 

AIDS

 

Conditions that stress or compromise the immune system will very often

benefit from castor oil packs. Nowhere is this more obvious than with

AIDS. I have talked with several AIDS patients who have added castor

oil packs (usually for one hour a day) to their treatment regimen with

very positive results. Within two weeks, it was not uncommon for them

to see increases in their WBC counts (white blood cell counts),

platelet counts, hematocrit readings and RBC counts (red blood cells).

 

I should mention also that in addition to the castor oil packs most of

those I talked to are also drinking a combination of olive oil and

lemon juice to further stimulate lymphatic flow and liver activity. It

can be made by blending the following:

 

1 clean whole lemon, (pulp, rind, seeds and all)

1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil

1 1/2 cups of distilled water

4 rounded tablespoons of frozen orange juice concentrate

 

The blended material is then strained through a wire strainer to

remove the pulp, which is discarded. The remaining liquid is divided

in four equal portions of approximately 1/4 cup each and a portion is

consumed with each of the three daily meals and before bedtime.

 

In addition to stimulating lymphatic flow, the drink increases the

flow of bile from the liver and gallbladder, which, in turn, enhances

one's ability to digest essential fatty acids through the Peyer's

patches in the small intestine. It is not uncommon for AIDS patients

to experience weight gain and a reversal of a long list of complaints

often associated with fatty acid deficiencies.

 

Buying Castor Oil

 

Any oil that enters your body either orally or through the skin needs

to be of the highest quality. Castor oil is no different. Check your

local health food store for cold-pressed castor oil. If you can't find

it there or they can't order it for you, then it can be ordered

through the mail from Heritage Store, P.O. Box 444, Virginia Beach,

Virginia 23458. They can also be reached by calling 1(800)862-2923.

 

Conclusion

 

In his readings, Cayce attributed several actions to castor oil. Most

were in one way or another related to the body's lymphatic system.

However, he also alluded to the idea that castor oil has a vibrational

quality that helps harmonize and promote healing within body cells.

Based on statements like these, many people labeled his psychic

readings as quackery. As we gain new knowledge about the workings of

the human body, however, these explanations don't seem so far fetched.

 

Dr. Johanna Budwig has related much of the healing properties of flax

oil to its unique chemical bonds that vibrate at the same frequency as

the wavelengths of sunlight. She feels the essential fatty acids in

flax oil have the ability to absorb and store the energy from

sunlight. It's possible that the special bonding in castor oil's

unique ricinoleic acid works in a somewhat related method.

 

Regardless of exactly how it works, I think you'll be more than

satisfied when you experience the amazing feats that can be

accomplished with the simple oil of the castor bean. Centuries ago the

castor bean plant was referred to as the "Palma Christe." It was

called this because the shape of the plant's leaves were thought to

resemble the palm of Christ. Knowing the healing power of this plant,

the name may be one of the most accurate descriptions ever.

 

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