Castor Oil Packs
I have been recommending castor oil pack regimes to patients for the last 2 decades. They have been used for many decades and by now could be considered a folk remedy that your grandma’s grandma used to swear by. There is a reason: they are especially helpful where lymphatic stagnation is present, causing fibroids, tender nodules, surgery & injury scars and areas of pain.
Castor oil's effectiveness is probably due in part to its unique chemical composition—a triglyceride of fatty acids with almost 90 percent of that fatty acid content consisting of ricinoleic acid. Ricinoleic acid is not easily found in any other substance, and the high concentration of this unsaturated fatty acid is thought to be responsible for castor oil's remarkable healing abilities.
Ricinoleic acid is effective in preventing the growth of numerous species of viruses, bacteria, yeasts, and molds. (J Am Oil Chem Soc 61;37:323-325. It is a successful topical treatment for ringworm, keratoses, skin inflammation, abrasions, fungal finger and toenails, acne, and chronic pruritus (itching). Generally, for these conditions the affected area is wrapped each night in a castor oil-soaked cloth. For persistent infections, a 10- to 20-minute pre-soak in Epsom salts will generally speed healing.
When used properly, castor oil packs improve the function of the thymus gland and other areas of the immune system. Two separate studies found that patients using abdominal castor oil packs had significant increases in the production of lymphocytes compared to those using placebo packs. Lymphocytes are the disease-fighting cells produced by your immune system and housed mainly in lymphatic tissue—including the thymus gland, spleen, and lymph nodes, as well as the lymphatic tissue that lines the small intestine (called Peyer's patches).
Several problems occur when lymph drainage slows and fluid accumulates around cells. First, the individual cells are forced further and further away from the capillaries. Next, the amount of oxygen and nourishment the cells receive is decreased and, under exertion or stress, some cells may die. Additionally, the cells are forced to try to survive in their own waste and toxic byproducts, which 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 can occur in the liver, kidneys, and other organs.
When castor oil is absorbed through the skin from packs, several extraordinary events take place:
-The lymphocyte count of the blood increases as a result of the oil's positive influence on the thymus gland, lymphatic tissue, or both.
-The flow of lymph increases throughout the body, speeding up the removal of toxins surrounding the cells and reducing 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, signaling improved health, and the Peyer's patches in the small intestines more efficiently absorb fatty acids, which are essential for the formation of hormones and other components necessary for growth and repair.
Method:
Castor oil packs are an economical and efficient method of absorbing ricinoleic acid and other healing components of castor oil directly into body tissues. To make a castor oil pack you will need: cold-pressed castor oil, a standard heating pad, a plastic garbage bag, two or three 1-foot square pieces of wool or cotton flannel, and a large bath towel.
Start by placing the heating pad on a flat surface and turning the heat to high.
Lay the plastic garbage bag on top of the heating pad to protect the pad.
Saturate the flannel pieces with castor oil (about 1/2 cup) and lay them on top of the garbage bag and heating pad.
The entire pack can now be placed against the body with the oil-soaked flannel against the skin. For general conditions, the pack should be placed on the abdomen. (For lower back problems place the pack on the site of the problem.)
To help hold the pack in place and prevent oil from getting on bedding, wrap the pack and body in a large bath towel.
Keep the pack in place for at least one hour with the heating pad set at the highest temperature tolerable to the patient.
When you remove the pack, massage the remaining oil into the skin or clean it off with a solution of 2 tablespoons of baking soda mixed in 1 quart of warm water.
The flannel can be reused for up to one month if stored in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. Let it warm up before the next use and add 1 or 2 tablespoons of fresh cold-pressed castor oil to the cloth.
Make an effort to improve the function of the lymphatic system in the case of every health problem. The bottom line is that the removal of cellular waste products is essential for the health of the entire body. This applies to heart disease, hemorrhoids, some neurological diseases, AIDS, and many more. There is no drug that can improve lymphatic flow. That job can be handled through the topical application of castor oil with the help of exercise, massage & colon hydrotherapy.
Any oil you consume or apply to your skin needs to be of the highest quality.
To your greatest health,
Dr. Kerrilyn