Fwd: [SSRI-Research] CASTOR OIL PACKS - Natural Protection from Deadly Viruses

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[sSRI-Research] CASTOR OIL PACKS - Natural Protection from Deadly

Viruses

 

Castor Oil

Natural Protection from Deadly Viruses

Dr. David G. Williams --

ALTERNATIVES -- v6 n1, July 1995

http://www.industryinet.com/~ruby/castoroil.html

 

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 in between. 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.

 

Interesting castor oil info:

Castor Oil Packs Recommended:

http://oak.cc.conncoll.edu/~rjcha/wells/articles/castroil.htm

 

Causes & Cure for Stress & Depression:

http://www.value.net/~esoteric/mony/mony.html

 

Idea: Use a standard 250 watt 'Infrared Heat Reflector' bulb, about 24 "

away, instead of applying a heating pad over the castor oil pack, to reduce

your exposure to EM fields. Or, perhaps use castor oil outdoors, under hot

sun.

 

CONSUMER ALERT: ONLY COLD PRESSED CASTOR OIL IS EFFECTIVE AS AN IMMUNE

STIMULANT: http://www.execpc.com/~keephope/report8.html (72kb)

 

CASTOR OIL PACKS

 

1. Use only cold pressed castor oil.

2. Use 1/4 cup of castor oil per treatment.

3. Use only pure white woolen or cotton flannel for the packs.

4. Always use castor oil over a clean flannel cloth. Do not add cold

castor oil to a flannel that is soaked in castor oil used in the previous

treatment.

5. Use the packs with the heat pad 2 days a week over the abdomen area to

the right of your naval, 2 days a week over the spleen area (bottom of left

rib cage), and 3 days a week over the Thymus gland (just above the heart).

Use the packs one hour to 1 1/2 hrs. daily. Do the treatments daily for the

first 4 weeks, after which, do the treatments every other day, once over the

three target areas -- liver, thymus and spleen.

 

HOW TO APPLY THE CASTOR OIL PACKS

 

1. Place a heating pad (Sunbeam -- sold in drug stores) which is about

14 " by 16 " on a table.

2. Cut a piece of plastic from a heavy gauge garbage bag about 14 inches

by 16 inches and place it on top of the heating pad.

3. Fold the wool or cotton flannel so it is two layers thick and measures

12 " by 13. " Place it on top of the plastic sheet which is on the heating

pad.

4. The first time you use castor oil, pour about 3/4 cup of cold pressed

castor oil on the flannel and spread evenly until the flannel is completely

saturated.

5. Turn the heating pad on high for 5 minutes.

6. Pick up the heating pad with the plastic sheet and flannel soaked in

castor oil and use both thumbs to hold it together and place against your

abdomen area, spleen area or the upper part of your chest where the Thymus

gland is located.

7. In order to hold everything in place, wrap a large bath towel around

your body on top of the heating pad. Use 2 or 3 large pins to hold it snug

against your body. Reduce heat if it feels too warm. After one hour or even

longer, remove the heat pad and the flannel which will stick to the plastic

sheet. Massage the warm castor oil into your body. Use a dry hand towel and

massage the remaining castor oil into the skin. Wait 5 minutes, then take a

bath or shower if desired.

8. When you are done with the treatment, wash the flannel in 2 quarts of

warm water with 1/4 cup of baking soda added. Then rinse the flannel well

before you use it next time.

 

DO NOT REUSE CASTOR OIL ONCE IT HAS BEEN HEATED. THE CONTINUOUS REHEATING OF

CASTOR OIL CAUSES IT TO FORM LIPID PEROXIDES AND TO BECOME RANCID. RANCID

CASTOR OIL MAY BE IMMUNO-SUPPRESSIVE.

 

First time users weekly schedule:

 

Use the castor oil packs over the thymus gland 3 times a week; 2 times a

week over the spleen and 2 times a week over the liver area. Do the

treatments for one hour each day for the first 4 weeks. After the 4th week,

do the treatment 3 times a week, every other day over the three target areas

-- the liver, thymus and spleen for one hour per treatment.

 

I am of the opinion that the amount of castor oil you absorb into the skin

may be more important than the length of time you use the heat pad. DO NOT

APPLY A CASTOR OIL TREATMENT OVER NEW FURNITURE. IF CASTOR OIL GETS ON THE

FURNITURE, USE CARPET SHAMPOO AND WARM WATER AND SPONGE THE AREA. USE A DRY

TOWEL TO SOAK UP IT THE EXCESS. Either place a plastic sheet over new

furniture or use an old chair that does not have much value in case some

castor oil drips onto it.

 

ROOM TEMPERATURE CASTOR OIL WITHOUT HEAT PAD

 

Robert M (Case No. 1) told me a friend of his massaged castor oil over this

chest and abdomen area before bedtime for two weeks and that his CD4 count

increased 120 points (from 540 to 660). He estimates he used about 1

tablespoon daily. He did not use the heat pad. I asked him about the problem

of getting the castor oil on the sheets. He said it was no problem as he

changed his sheets daily.

 

WHERE TO OBTAIN " COLD PRESSED " CASTOR OIL

 

Local sources: Health food stores. Woolen flannel -- fabric shops; heat pads

-- drug stores and department stores. A wholesale and/or retail mail order

source for cold pressed castor oil, wool or cotton flannel is Heritage

Store, PO Box 444, Virginia Bch, VA 23458. Phone No: 800-862-2923 or

804-428-4941.

Note: Persons allergic to woolen flannel should substitute white cotton

flannel for applying the castor oil packs. Sunbeam heat pads sold in drug or

department stores is suitable for doing the castor oil packs. The

temperatures of the heat pads are not so high as to render the castor oil

ineffective.

 

Book available: THE OIL THAT HEALS (Castor Oil) ,

by William McGarey M.D. $12.95 ea. (include $2.00 extra for priority mail.)

Send to: Keep Hope Alive PO Box 27041, West Allis, WI 53227.

Castor Oil from: http://www.2.rpa.net/~sully/

 

Edgar Cayce recommended the use of castor oil, or " Palma Christi " , as a cure

for many kinds of ailments. Topical application was recommended for ailments

of the skin, such as warts, and castor oil packs (cotton cloth soaked with

castor oil) for ailments originating deeper in the body. The castor oil must

be of the cold pressed variety to be effective since the modern heat

extraction process destroys the active ingredient in the oil. My mother

reported that she had a tumor in her leg that she was going to have

surgically removed. While waiting for her surgery, she applied castor oil

packs to her leg daily for a month. When it came time for the surgery, the

tumor had disappeared. Upon hearing this, I decided to try the oil for

myself. I chose to try and remove a large mole on my back. I soaked the

gauze on a Band-aid with castor oil and applied it to the mole. I changed

the Band-aid daily for two weeks. At this point, the mole became quite

tender to the touch, and I discontinued the castor oil treatment at this

point. Two weeks later, the mole, now dried like a scab, began parting from

my skin on one edge. I pulled the mole off, revealing fresh pink skin

underneath. There was no pain, and the mole never returned.

 

 

 

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