Castor Oil Packing Castor oil packing has been used for hundreds of years dating back to ancient Egypt. Being very popular in the alterntive medical field it is used topically in Ayurvedic medicine, naturopathy and Chinese medicine. Edgar Cayce was a key figure in using castor oil packs for healing along with his holistic and spiritual view to health and healing. Packing is used for treating a wide variety of conditions including endometriosis, problems in the lower abdomen including menstrual irregularities and uterine and ovarian cysts, intestinal disorders such as IBS, cholecystitis (inflammation of the gall bladder), arthritis, thyroid, sore throat, muscle pains, chest infections, acne, healing scar tissue and other skin conditions.
What does it do? Used as a powerful anti-inflammatory a castor oil pack is placed on the skin to increase circulation and to promote healing of the tissues and organs underneath the skin. It is used to stimulate the liver, relieve pain, increase lymphatic circulation, and improve digestion and elimination. Castor oil penetrates deep into the skin due to its chemical mass. Ricinoleic acid is the main component of castor oil that provides these anti-inflammatory effects. WARNING: Castor oil should not be applied to broken skin, or used during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or during menstrual flow. If you have undergone chemotherapy treatment at any point DO NOT use this treatment without close supervision and guidance from a health practitioner.
Equipment needed Packing cloth (a piece of unbleached, natural cotton) Pure cold pressed castor oil Hot water bottle or heat pad Plain plastic bag or clingfilm Old clothes or dressing gown
Instructions Use your packing cloth folded in 2 or 3. It needs to be big enough to cover the area you are treating. Once folded, drizzle castor oil all over it until it is soaked but not dripping then place over the area you are treating. Each subsequent time the cloth is used less oil will be needed to ‘top it up’. You can wrap clingfilm around yourself to protect the oil from getting onto the hot water bottle, clothes or anything else. Alternatively you can put the hot water bottle in a plain plastic carrier bag and then place on top. Make sure you wear old clothes as the oil stains and will not wash out. It is a good idea to have a container to keep the cloth(s) is when not in use as they are quite sticky and messy. If you have fatty liver disease or cirrhosis of the liver then you would also benefit from adding vitamin E drops and aloe vera to the pack, as well as the castor oil, to help heal liver scar tissue.
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When treating any area it is necessary to always start with the liver as this is the major detoxifying organ of the body and will need support in any further detoxification anywhere else in the body. The liver is positioned on the right hand side of your torso, below the ribcage. Once the castor oil covered packing cloth is in position, place the hot water bottle or heat pad over the liver and the packing cloth (not forgetting the clingfilm or plastic bag). Moving on to pack other areas does not require a hot water bottle, but always start with liver first or at the same time and then do other problem area if you want/need to.
Leave on for an hour. You can do 1 to 3 consecutive nights in a row (3 weeks in a row – always leave the 4th week, for women, this is when you have your period.) For women the liver is responsible for ‘planning’ your period and so should not be overloaded with extra work when you have your period.
This can give an amazing feeling of relaxation and sleepiness, but everyone is different. You may also find it brings on a bowel movement soon after. It is a good idea to try and plan to follow the packing with an enema 24 to 48 hours afterwards to help eliminate any toxins that have been shifted.
Further reading: Cellular Awakening - Barbara Wren This book covers all natural nutrition techniques including castor oil packing Oil That Heals: A Physician’s Successes With Castor Oil Treatment – William A. McGarey This book covers case histories in which castor oil packs are used as a healing agent with remarkably successful results. The Edgar Cayce Remedies - William A. McGarey What opens the door to disease in our body? What enables us to get well? Dr. William A. McGarey answers these questions and shows us the way to glowing good health guided by the teachings of Edgar Cayce.
www.nutsabouthealth.co.uk
sarah@nutsabouthealth.co.uk
Tel: 07786 687444