The “4-1-1” on Castor Oil Packs for Healing

By Dr. Cheryl Winter

What do you think of when you hear someone speak of “castor oil?” If you are like me, you might recall that this was your grandmother’s remedy for you when you were having trouble going “Number Two”! Am I right? Is that what you think of when you hear someone talk of castor oil?

Castor oil is actually used for so much more than for constipation. In fact, the list for all the benefits of castor oil is quite long and quite amazing. So much so that it is now my NUMBER ONE “go-to” treatment for almost any ailment you might have (whether you are needing mental, emotional or physical healing).

In addition to castor oils’ benefit of improving your bowel movement and relieving constipation, check out this long list of health issues that castor oil can allieviate:

  1. Hormonal Imbalances (e.g. elevated estrogen, decreased progesterone, balances cortisol); with estrogen dominance, an enzyme called beta-glucuronidase that is responsible for the decongugation of estrogens (allowing them to recirculate in the body), is elevated. Castor oils help to lower beta-glucuronidase levels.
  2. Sleep difficulties (helps produce more melatonin)
  3. Stress
  4. Anxiety
  5. Digestive Problems/Bloating
  6. Inflammation
  7. Dysbiosis (Imbalanced Microbiome)
  8. Anxiety
  9. Adrenal Fatigue
  10. Fungal candida

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As soon as castor oil compresses are placed on your body, the parasympathetic nervous system (our relaxed state) is activated. This state is also known as the rest and digest state. It is only when we are in this relaxed state that the body can properly cleanse toxins and process hormones, restore energy and digest and absorb nutrients.

What I find most exciting about the use of castor oil packs is how it can help our body produce more oxytocin. “Oxytocin” is the love or bonding hormone that down-regulates stress hormones and leads to reduced appetite and weight loss, while raising the “feel-good” neurotransmitters, serotonin and dopamine. Castor oil packs can also help you sleep since it helps produce more melatonin. How amazing is that? Through detox, castor oil also helps reduce high estrogen levels that are often reabsorbed back into the system creating havoc, instead of being eliminated.

Other Benefits of Castor Oil:

  1. Improves immunity
  2. Improves skin (reduces fine lines and wrinkles), and helps eyelashes and eyebrows grow; can also help treat cracked nipples and treats diaper rash
  3. Improves antioxidant status
  4. Acts as an anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic, anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, and anti-tumor agent
  5. Promotes hair growth (rubbing warm castor oil into the scalp promotes blood circulation into the follicles, thus enabling faster hair growth; it is suggested to leave the oil on and cover it overnight) and treats dandruff and other fungal scalp conditions
  6. Promotes healing of the umbilicus in a newborn
  7. Increases milk flow in lactating women when applied to the breasts
  8. Pain reliever (castor oil contains ricinoleic acid which gives it its anti-inflammatory benefits, but also acts as a laxative); it helps manage swelling in tissues and joints. Taking 2 spoonfuls can be effective against rheumatoid arthritis and directly applied to the affected area
  9. Relief of menstrual cramps
  10. Treats allergies (skin and nasopharyngeal region); take 5 drops in the morning
  11. Improves detoxification by improving levels of the master antioxidant, glutathione (allowing toxins to be carried out of the body)
  12. Stimulates the production of nitric oxide, a natural anti-aging and health promoting molecule that inhibits yeast overgrowth (and also helps with reducing risk of erectile dysfunction)
  13. May help reduce thyroid nodules
  14. Increases our body’s production of oxytocin

More Indications for the Castor Oil Pack:

  1. Liver & gallbladder disturbances (can even reduce cholesterol and liver enzymes)
  2. Hemorrhoids
  3. Abscesses
  4. Headaches
  5. Epilepsy
  6. Muscle strains
  7. Inflamed joints
  8. Cancer
  9. Uterine fibroids
  10. Ovarian cysts
  11. Abrasions and infections
  12. Irritation of the conjunctiva of the eye
  13. Nightime urinary frequency
  14. Cystic breast disease
  15. Skin eruptions and lesions

Castor oil is an ancient oil that has been used for over 6000 years. It is safe, effective, inexpensive, and easy and convenient. As you can see, it is a remedy for almost all aspects of health.

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Castor Oil Packs:

Castor oil packs is the external application of castor oil to a specific area of the body, most often the abdomen and liver. Liver castor packs have a therapeutic effect on the liver, gallbladder and whole biliary system. This detox therapy treatment relaxes and dilates the liver, gallbladder and bile ducts, allowing for the release of toxins from the liver/gallbladder system.

Kidney castor packs can be used anytime or as desired for gentle detoxification and elimination of toxins found in the kidney system in a very slow gentle detox.

Repeat every other day for 2 weeks.

Instructions for Application of a Castor Oil Pack:

  1. Fold a piece of cotton or wool flannel into 3 thicknesses to fit over your entire abdomen (or purchase the pack below).
  2. Soak flannel with the castor oil on the side that will go against the abdomen.
  3. Warm the entire pack for 1-2 minutes in the oven on WARM. Microwave ovens are really not necessary or desired, since the pack becomes plenty warm with a conventional oven. You only want the pack warm, not hot, as hot oil can easily burn you.
  4. Prevent staining by either placing an old blanket and sheet, plastic, or old towel below you or wrapped around you.
  5. Sit or lie down placing the flannel over your abdomen. Cover with a small sheet of plastic and towel, and then place a hot water bottle on top. Or, try using a Therasage Instant Calmer Infrared Healing Pad over the castor pack at moderate temperature (hotter is NOT better).
  6. Keep the pack on for 45-60 minutes. During this time, consider practicing visualization, meditation or relaxation breathing.
  7. Upon completion, wipe off any excess oil from your torso. Preferably apply the castor oil packs before bed when possible and not washing the area until morning, as the benefits and cleansing seem to increase if left on while the body is resting, absorbing, sleeping, healing.
  8. Store the pack in your refrigerator in a large zip-lock bag.

 

Cleaning the Pack:

Mix one quart of water with two teaspoons baking soda and use this to cleanse the abdomen. Baking soda will hep to absorb the oil.

Warning:

  • None of this information has been reviewed by the FDA. Use castor oil at your own risk.
  • Do not share your castor oil pack; castor oil is a carrier oil, so it is possible that particles may be transferred back out of the skin onto your pack and thus sharing the pack could potentially be spreading toxins that you don’t want
  • Pregnant women should avoid using castor oil packs

Purchasing Castor Oil:

  • Always purchase in a dark glass bottle; castor oil can penetrate through the epidermis and into the dermis, therefore bringing toxins into the system if it isn’t packaged properly
  • Always purchase organic
  • Castor oil does not go rancid due to its chemical structure.
  • Purchase castor oil from a pharmaceutical-grade dispensary. Check out the link below:

Click to Purchase Quality Organic Castor Oil & Pack

 

Posted in Gastrointestinal, Hormones, Mess, Toxin