Castor Oil Packs
The how, when and where of why to use them
What is castor oil?
Castor oil is derived from the castor bean- Ricinus communis. The plant is also referred to as Palma Christi due the leaves that are said to resemble the palm of Christ and it is also famed for its healing properties. The oil is rich in fatty acids particularly ricinoleic acid.
What does it do?
Back in the day, a spoonful of castor oil would be given to get the bowels going. This is not recommended as there are much better ways to encourage a bowel movement- in fact I’ve written about this here.
Castor oil has such a strong laxative effect that it is a painful, gut wrenching process so much so Mussolini apparently used it as a method of torture.
The beautiful healing can be found in using castor oil topically (not internally!). Although it is still a popular remedy to induce labour in pregnancy.
Now castor oil packs are the preferred method of applying it to the body largely due to the influence of Edgar Cayce.
Edgar Cayce was a 20th century psychic and healer, he wrote many books on a range of topics from Atlantis to Jesus but he was a great advocate of naturopathic techniques such as detoxification, herbs and spinal adjustments to cure diseases.
Cayce recommend castor oil packs for many problems including inflammation, cancer, constipation, headaches, warts, gallstones and even ingrown toenails.
Cayce may have popularised castor oil but the first recorded use of castor oil dates back to the Egyptians. It was described in the Ebers Papyrus (ca. 1550 B.C.) that eyedrops were used to protect the eyes from irritation. It has a long history of healing in many traditions including Ayurveda.
Castor oil is also popular in the natural beauty community as it can stimulate hair growth so often used for eyelashes and hair masks.
How does it work?
I’ll be honest here, the scientific research on this is scant. One study showed that castor oil packs up-regulated the production T-lymphocytes. These are white blood cells that are responsible for helping the immune system deal with infection and cancers etc.
T-lymphocytes are produced in the thymus gland and bone marrow so Dr William McGarey expanded upon the potential benefits of using them.
Our clinical experience with the castor oil packs applied over the abdomen led us to understand that the packs enhanced the function of the thymus gland and the other component parts of the immune system, making that system more effective in protecting the body from outside and inside dangers and helping the immune system take the lead in rebuilding any given part of the body. These findings, substantiated in early research, give this particular therapy an overall significance in laying the groundwork for a healing process to begin. The immune system is the foundation of health in the body, and it cannot be allowed to disintegrate or lose its normal abilities, or the body will be subject to illness in one area or another, depending upon where there are other weaknesses.
William McGarey M.D ‘The Oil That Heals: A Physician's Successes with Castor Oil Treatments’
The oil has also been shown to be anti-microbial which means that it can protect against pathogens such as yeast and bacteria.
But ultimately, there is not an explanation for how castor oil works for so many different types of conditions but we know it does, there are 1000s of case studies from physicians documenting its healing properties.
Using a castor oil pack seems to increase detoxification through the liver and trigger the other organs of elimination to open and release. It may also help to stimulate the lymphatic system, improve circulation and aid toxin removal generally.
Cayce once said that there’s as much of God in a teaspoonful of castor oil as there is in a prayer.
How to Do A Castor Oil Pack?
Materials
A piece of pure cotton fabric, large enough so that when it is folded 2-3 times it measures about 30cm square
A pint of castor oil, preferably cold pressed
2 towels
Some plastic wrap such as cling film
A small heat pad, hot water bottle
A large clean jar with a lid to store the pad in
Water
2 tbsp of baking soda
Method
Fold the fabric so it is several thicknesses and the desired size
Pour some castor oil into a shallow pan and soak the fabric in it
Gently wring out the fabric so it is well saturated with castor oil but not dripping
Place a towel on the bed to protect your bedding
Place the castor oil saturated pad over the area that you want to benefit from the treatment so the oiled fabric is against your skin. (I would generally recommend the abdomen for digestion, the liver for detoxification, the womb for menstrual issues).
Lie down and place a towel over the area and maybe use something like cling film to hold the pad in place if needed.
Apply a heat pad or hot water bottle to the area. If the hot water bottle cools then refill with hot water to ensure maximum benefit
Keep in place for one hour or more and relax! You can read a book, write, listen to music, whatever helps with the therapy.
When finished, wipe the area with bicarbonate of soda and water to remove the sticky oil. Place the castor oil soaked pad in a large jar until the next use, close the lid tightly.
For a gallbladder purge:
Use castor oil packs on the right side of abdomen for 60-90 minutes at bedtime or in the afternoons or three days in a row, followed by a dose of olive oil and then four days rest.
Potential Benefits:
Increases eliminations - so useful for any sort of digestive issue
Stimulates the liver- we all need this to support detoxification but this will be great for hormonal issues
Dissolves and removes adhesions and lesions- popular for fibroids, tumours etc..
Relieves pain- commonly used for arthritis
Releases impactions in the digestive tract- trapped faecal matter can land you in hospital so castor oil could be a saviour here
Calms nervous system and increases relaxation- if we can reduce stress then this will then promote whole body healing
Stimulates the gall bladder- this will aid digestion and detoxification
Increases lymphatic circulation - this will also help detoxification and our immunity
Improves intestinal assimilation - if we are not absorbing our food we will become deficient so again this could be vital for healing lots of issues
Reduces inflammation- benefis will help any ‘itis’
Dissolves lacteal duct adhesions and stimulates circulation- this will also help digestion
Dissolves gallstones- amazing
Promotes kidney function - this could help with cardiovascular health too