CASTOR OIL - Natural Protection from Deadly Viruses

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CASTOR OIL - Natural Protection from Deadly Viruses

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From David William's Alternatives Newsletter.

_Dr. David G. Williams -- ALTERNATIVES_ (http://www.drdavidwilliams.com/) --

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 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.