How to Make a Castor Oil Pack

May 15

Castor Oil Plant

Castor seeds have been found in Egyptian tombs dating back to 4000 BC and traditional Ayurvedic medicine considers castor oil the king of medicinal for curing arthritic diseases.

Castor has also been called 'palm of Christ' or 'Palma Christi' for its reputed ability to heal wounds and cure ailments.

Medicinal Benefits Of Castor Oil

Soothes skin complaints
Promotes digestive health
Breaks up stagnation and improves elimination and circulation in the lymphatic system
Assists in the detoxification of heavy metals
Draws out infection
Assists in the elimination of scars, cysts, tumors, fibroids, endometriosis
Eases cystic breast pain
Calms inflammation

Using Castor Oil Packs

External castor oil packs can be used frequently. Normal application is for an hour a day - for 3 consecutive days in a week - this frequency and duration may be exceeded in order to bring better and faster relief.

If there is a critically high degree of toxicity in the body, or a significant difficulty in eliminating toxins (such as with kidney failure), then it is best if the packs are used on alternating days for the first week. After that, usually the packs may be used on consecutive days from that point on.

Castor oil pack treatments are gentle and with no real side effects. The most common side effect is a rash that may occur at the site of the pack. This typically only occurs during the first few applications of the pack, and may be relieved by using the baking soda wash. Rashes and other reactions are rare, and if they occur they usually indicate that the elimination of toxins through the system are not good, and perhaps the pack should be used on alternate days for the first week of use.

How To Make A Castor Oil Pack

Materials:

A piece of wool flannel, although cotton may be substituted in the case of wool allergy. You may boil or launder the flannel to remove any impurities that may be in the fabric. Fold the cloth into three or four thicknesses, creating a pad of a size adequate to cover the area to be treated.
Castor oil, preferably cold-pressed or expeller-pressed
Glass bowl or glass jar big enough to fit the material
Hot water bottle or heating pad
Old clothes (castor oil stains fabric)
A large plastic bag (garbage bags work well)
A large towel

Instructions:

Put on clothes you do not if they get messy
Put the piece of flannel in a bowl or glass container
Pour enough castor oil over it to soak it (it should be saturated, but not dripping).
Fill the hot water bottle or warm the heating pad.
Lay a towel down over the flat surface you'll be laying on. You can also put a plastic bag under the towel for added protection.
Lie down, place the saturated flannel over the right side of your abdomen or affected area of your body.
Cover the flannel with saran wrap or a plastic bag.
Place the heating pad or hot water bottle over the pack. You can also put a towel or blanket over the heating pad.
Keep the pack in place for at least 45-60 minutes.
When you're done, remove the pack and clean the area with a teaspoon of baking soda per pint of water.
Store the pack in a ziplock or glass jar in a cool place. When you're ready to use it again, simply add more castor oil to the container and warm it.

An alternative is to apply the pack without heat, using the Pack Holder or a towel wrapped around the body (with safety pins to hold it in place). This can be left on overnight or for an entire 24 hour period.

Cleaning the Pack If you absolutely must clean the pack, begin by soaking the pack in a solution of baking soda and hot water, using four ounces of soda to two quarts of water. After soaking the pack for at least 20 minutes, wring it out thoroughly and allow it to air dry.

Here's demonstration of how to make a castor oil pack:

Fun Fact: The castor oil plant is the host plant of the common castor butterfly.