What is a Castor Oil Pack?
A castor oil pack is an easy-to-use and affordable external application of castor oil to the body for purposes of improving assimilation of nutrients, eliminating toxic material, and enhancing circulation. Edgar Cayce, a psychic healer, was the first to popularize them in the West in the 1930s, although they have a history in ancient systems of medicine, such as Ayurveda and Chinese medicine. The Castor Oil Pack became a beloved therapy among the original drugless healers and is now a standard therapy recommended by naturopathic physicians worldwide.
I recommend Castor Oil Packs over the liver for constipation, fertility, PMS (not to be used during menstruation), endometriosis, fibroids, and as part of a liver detox regimen. For these purposes, a piece of wool flannel is saturated with castor oil and applied to the area over the right lower rib cage with a heating pad resting on top. This is your Castor Oil Pack!
Why Castor Oil?
Castor oil has been shown to increase circulation and promote elimination and healing of tissues and organs underneath the skin. It is particularly effective in being absorbed into lymph circulation, which can improve digestion, immune function, and reduce swelling in injured joints and extremities. It has also been used explicitly in cases of menstrual irregularities, uterine fibroid cysts, and ovarian cysts.
To Make The Pack
Materials needed: castor oil (preferably cold pressed/processed), unbleached wool flannel (3-4 pieces or layers about 12″ x 14″ each), standard or extra large electric heating pad or hot water bottle, , old sheet, paper towels, baking soda, wash cloth or sponge.
Saturate the wool with castor oil. Additional amounts of Castor Oil will need to be added to the pack before each use
Where To Place The Pack
This will depend on what the problem is. For general use it is placed over the liver on the right side of the body, extending, top to bottom, from about the sternum (breastbone) to about 4 inches below the navel or to the groin or pubic bone. From left to right, it extends at least from the navel, around the body as far as it will go, covering as much of the right side as possible. A larger pack, consisting of a king size heating pad (12″ x 24″) and matching sized wool flannel, will cover the liver and abdominal area more easily and is highly recommended.
Using The Pack
If possible, use the pack in the evening, when you are best able to rest. This is an ideal time to pray, meditate, read spiritually uplifting material, or listen to relaxing music. Decide where in your home you will be doing the pack. Set it up so you will be comfortable, with a pillow under your head and knees. Oil always drips from the pack so it is essential to protect bedding, cushions or pillows (some people prefer to use the pack undressed in order to avoid soiling their clothes).
- Place the pack on your abdomen, with the oiled flannel against your skin and the heating pad on top. Adjust the heating pad control to the warmest setting you can tolerate comfortably. It should be hot (“as hot as the body can stand”), but not so hot that it burns you. It’s easy to fall asleep with the pack in place, so if you find that happening, be doubly careful of the temperature setting and lower it if necessary. With a sleeping child, you might want to shut it off entirely and allow body heat to keep it warm.
- Keep the pack on for at least 1 to 1½ hours; this is one treatment where more may be better. It can even be used overnight. Abdominal binders/supports (available from a medical supply store) or a wide bodybuilder’s midriff support with Velcro fasteners are useful in holding a pack in place if you wish to sleep with the pack. A large bath towel, folded lengthwise, placed around the entire torso and fastened with safety pins, can also be used.
- When you are finished, turn off the heating pad and put it aside. Take off the pack and store it in a leak-proof container. Wipe off excess oil (keep paper towels close by). Cleanse the skin with a solution containing a pint of warm water and a teaspoon of baking soda
Persistence and consistency are called for with many chronic conditions. Use the pack for 3 days in a row. Then take a break for 4 days, and then repeat.
The flannel pack can be used repeatedly and be kept in the refrigerator between usages, although this is usually not necessary as castor oil is very resistant to spoilage even at room temperature. Replace the pack only if it smells rancid or discolors from toxins being released from the body.
If, despite all precautions, oil gets on the bedding or clothing, launder with an extra amount of your usual detergent and a couple of cups of baking soda. (Oxi Clean has also been found helpful.)
For more information on castor oil:
The Oil That Heals by William A. McGarey, M.D., (Virginia Beach, VA: A.R.E. Press, 1993) http://members.tripod.com/~arescott/bookOTH.html.
The Edgar Cayce Handbook for Health Through Drugless Therapy by Harold Reilly and Ruth Hagy Brod, (Virginia Beach, VA: A.R.E. Press, 1975)
“Castor Oil Packs: Scientific Tests Verify Therapeutic Value,” Venture Inward, July/August 1988, pp.12-15 by Harvey Grady
