Kitchen Sink Wisdom: Castor Oil Packs

WHAT IS KITCHEN SINK WISDOM?
Kitchen Sink Wisdom is about using natural remedies, easily done from home, with supplies and materials that you most likey have around the house..Some remedies and advice have a long family history, being handed down  from generation to generation.   

CASTOR OIL
Castor oil is a pale yellow vegetable oil, extracted through the pressing of the castor oil beans from the castor plant.  It is commonly available in stores and online.  When using the castor oil pack remedy, it is best to purchase a high quality product that has been cold pressed and free from chemical additives and pesticides. 


Castor oil may be administered externally or internally.  Internally, it has been used mainly as a cathartic (i.e. powerful laxative) and in induction of labor. The constituent ricin, in castor oil is acutely toxic, and for this reason castor oil should never be taken internally except
under the supervision of a naturopathic doctor or other qualified health care professional. Used externally, it is applied as a heated compress over the affected area

THE GENTLE WARRIOR
Castor oil has many benefits and uses for improving health, the skin and our hair. 

• Helps boost the lymphatic system to improve immunity. Lympathic congestion is one of the major factors that contributes to inflammation
• Helps boost circulation
• Helps detox the liver
• Assists in wound healing
• Helps relieve constipation
• Conditions the skin and hair

Several years ago I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and was told this was a degenerative disease that would continue to get worse over time.  Upon leaving the doctor’s office, I remember a thought that entered my mind which said- "I don`t do Rheumatoid Arthritis!"  

A day or two later, a health newsletter, called Alternatives, which I received  monthly arrived.  In that issue was an article on the use of castor oil packs for the treatment of arthritis.  I was in so much pain, pretty much confined to bed, with every joint in my body inflamed.  So, I figured,  why not give it a try.  I began the treatments as described, continuing daily for one week.  

With each treatment, the pain began subsiding, the areas of inflammation reduced, and finally after a week, I was up and resuming my normal day-to-day activities.  Since that time, I may have an occasional flare-up, localized to one spot, upon which I promptly 
give myself a treatment, within a day or two, the pain disappears and I am off and running again.  

I am not saying others will see the results I had.  Everyone's situation is different, but I know it will help.  The reason II suggest this treatment to many is because of the personal results both I and others have experienced from its use.  Having used it in a variety of situations, it has been helpful.  The cost is cheap, and it is not a risky treatemnt, but it does involve committing to the time to follow the treatment protocols. 

BRUCE  BAAR, MS ND
“Castor Oil has been used through out the ages as a natural therapy. Castor oil applied externally in the form of "packs" is very popular with natural health practitioners. The Edgar Cayce Readings inform us that castor oil packs are to be used to improve assimilations, eliminations and circulation; especially of the lymphatic system. 

A castor oil pack is made with layers of flannel like material, enough to absorb and hold the castor oil during application. The flannel material is wool, cotton or the newly designed disposable pack, each of which you will need to saturate with cold-pressed castor oil before using..

A common area to apply the castor oil pack is on the right side of the abdomen, between the upper part of the rib cage and the upper edge of the hipbone. Another common area is across the abdomen from the right to the left side of the body, covering from the sternum to the pubic or groin area. Application is usually for 1 to 2 hours. A heating pad is placed on top of the castor oil pack to keep it very warm during application. It is best to consult your health care practitioner to determine frequency of application.”
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CASTOR OIL PACKS
Applying a castor oil pack is  easy.  It is the go to remedy in our household when we are dealing with inflammation and muscle aches and pains.

This is how we apply a castor oil pack.  Instead of using the wool flannel, we use those disposable blue bed sheets and cut a piece to size.  Sometimes we add in a pinch of tumeric or ginger which have  inflammation fighting properites, to give it an additional boost.

• Cut a sections of the disposable sheet to a size large enough to cover your abdomen and place enough castor oil onto the sheet so that  it is  saturated but not dripping.
• Place this over the abdomen area.
• Cover the disposable sheet with  plastic wrap. 
• Place a heating pad over the disposable sheet. Turn the setting up to high.
• Leave on for 1 hour.  If this becomes too hot, turn it down a bit until you can return it back to the higher temperature.
• After one hour, turn off the heating pad, and clean off the area where the castor oil was.  The sheet can be stored in a plastic bag in the fridge, and reused several times
• Repeat this procedure 3 days in a row. 
• Day four: take the day off from giving yourself a treatment, Return to castor oil treatments on day 5 & 6. 
• Do not use the castor oil treatment packs if pregnant.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A good reference source is the book: The Oil That Heals: A Physician’s Successes with Castor Oil Treatments . Author: William A McGarey, M.D. .Publisher: A.R.E. Press, 215 67th Street, Virginia Beach, VA 23451-2061

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See Video on how to apply a Cold Pressed Castor oil pack