Why I Use Castor Oil
During the Middle Ages, The Palma Christi or The Palm of Christ was the name given to the castor oil plant. It was said in the bible to have been used by Christ to anoint the sick. Four thousand years earlier, the Egyptians used it in oil lamps, for embalming, and as a laxative. Through the ages, it was used to anoint kings, queens, priests and priestesses. It was considered to be beneficial for hair, skin and nails and even Cleopatra was said to have used it to whiten her eyes. My first use of castor oil involved putting it in a roller bottle that I continue to roll over my eye lashes and eye brows each night to stimulate hair growth. I have found that my eye lashes do appear to be longer and more lush since beginning the regimen. When my husband complained of having a recurring fungal infection on his toenail that his “maximum strength” antifungal liquid couldn’t resolve, I suggested he put castor oil on the nail. After soaking the toe with castor oil just a couple of times the infection disappeared and never returned.
Castor oil is a combination of oleic acid, linoleic acid and ricinoleic acid. Oleic acid is the most commonly found monounsaturated fatty acid in our food and the main component of olive oil. Linoleic acid is a polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acid typically found in sesame oil. Ricinoleic acid is an unsaturated omega-9 fatty acid unique to the castor plant. Traditional Chinese Medicine scriptures reported using castor oil as a compress to relieve inflamed joints while East Indian cultures and Ayurvedic Medicine used it as a laxative or digestive cleansing agent.
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In his readings, Cayce often spoke of the importance of proper assimilation of food and elimination of body waste and of castor oil’s benefits for both of these systems. It’s not surprising that the most common area treated by Cayce involved castor oil packs on the abdominal region which houses the major areas of assimilation and elimination in the body including the kidneys, stomach, intestines and their associated organs. The parasympathetic nervous system is often referred to as the “rest and digest” division of the autonomic nervous system. It is engaged when a person is resting, at peace with their environment or sleeping. It’s during this time that the heart rate slows, body temperature decreases, blood pressure lowers and the blood supply shifts away from the muscles, heart, lungs and brain to the organs of digestion, assimilation, and excretion. It’s believed that castor oil induces parasympathetic activity which increases blood, lymphatic and bile flow carrying nutrients to and toxins from tissues and organs in need of healing.
Interestingly, Dr. McGarey treated a young boy in 1960 who suffered from severe hyperactivity according to his mother. A mild stomach ache prompted her to bring her son to see the doctor, but the doctor’s prescription of a nightly castor oil pack over the boy’s belly not only relieved his stomach pain, but calmed his hyperactivity and resulted in his ability to sit quietly at night watching television. The son continued to remind his mother each night to give him a castor oil pack because he told her it made him feel so good. According to Dr. McGarey, many of his adult patients reported that the castor oil packs helped them sleep and was extremely relaxing and soothing. One patient told him it was the best tranquilizer she had ever used! I have also found in my own use of castor oil packs that I feel a sense of relaxation and well-being while using them. I often sleep with a castor oil pack and find myself extremely relaxed and rested when I awake the following morning. They also seem to promote improved bowel elimination in the morning following an overnight castor-oil pack use.
I like to use castor oil packs over my liver (upper right abdomen below the ribcage) because the liver is a primary organ for filtering the blood and performing metabolic and detoxification functions for the body. Allergies are often said to be caused by poor liver function. It’s believed that castor oil packs can promote cleansing and detoxification of a sluggish liver and result in decreased allergy symptoms which could include a whole host of manifestations. When purchasing castor oil, be sure to look for organic extra-virgin cold-pressed hexane-free castor oil in an amber glass bottle. One example can be found here. You’ll need organic cotton flannel to soak in castor oil. One example can be found here. For convenience, I like to wrap my castor-oil-soaked cloth with an ace-like bandage after placing it over the area I’m treating. Here’s an example of the type of bandage I use. I then use a portable heating pad like the one found here. If you’re interested in an all-in-one castor oil pack that has everything you need, check out Queen of the Thrones here.
Re-Cap of Supplies Needed
1. Bottle of Castor Oil (organic, extra-virgin, hexene-free, amber bottle)
2. Cotton Flannel (organic)
3. Ace-Like Bandage (optional)
4. Heating Pad
You can also check out Queen of the Thrones or Earthley Wellness for a variety of castor oil products. Additional instructions on how to use castor oil packs can be found at: https://cayce.com/howtos/how-to-use-edgar-cayce-castor-oil-pack/
References
https://naturalpath.net/experts/the-history-of-castor-oil-the-incredible-vegetable-oil-part-2/
https://cayce.com/cayce-case-reports/castor-oil-stories-palma-christi/
https://drklearman.com/the-huge-healing-powers-of-castor-oil/
Fallon, Sally. Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats. 2nd ed., 2001.
McGarey, Williams A. The Oil That Heals: A Physician’s Successes with Castor Oil Treatments. A.R.E. Press, 2023.