Known to many as the "Palma Christi" or "hand of Christ" for its palm-shaped leaves and incredible healing power, castor oil is an ancient remedy traditionally used in Europe and the Middle East to treat almost any symptom or problem. It is recommended by Edgar Cayce to heal the skin, digestive system, joint pain, muscle injuries, back pain, lymph nodes, warts, allergies, sleep disorders, hyperactivity and more.
What is Castor Oil?
Castor oil is a fatty oil derived from the "bean" (actually a seed) of the castor plant, Ricinus communis. The bean contains a deadly poison, ricin, but the oil is safe for use on the body and for human consumption in small quantities.
Castor oil is a traditional folk remedy throughout Europe, Africa, India, China, and America. Castor beans and oil have been found in the Egyptian pyramids, built several millennia B.C., and castor oil is mentioned in the famous Egyptian medical text, the Ebers Papyrus (written in roughly 1550 B.C.).
Uses and Applications of Castor Oil
Castor oil has many uses in the food industry, healing and health care, as well as its industrial uses.
Food: Castor oil is used in food additives, flavoring, as a preservative, in chocolate and candy, and in packaging.
Industrial Use: Castor oil is used in paint, adhesives, brake fluid, dyes, rubber, sealants, textiles and more.
Medical Use: Castor oil plays a role in commercial laxatives, skin treatments, anti-inflammatories, antifungal treatments, and a host of other health care needs.
Traditional Medicine: In its pure form, cold-pressed castor oil has traditionally been used to treat skin disorders, headaches, colic and other digestive complaints, constipation, hemorrhoids, aches and soreness, sprains, injuries to muscles or joints, liver and gall bladder problems, and more. It also plays a role in the oil cleansing method, a natural beauty treatment for restoring health to the skin.
How to Use Castor Oil
According to healing psychic Edgar Cayce and Dr. William McGarey (1), castor oil usually works best when applied to the body topically with a heating pack.
In many cases, castor oil can simply be massaged into the skin (for skin lesions, breakouts or warts) or massaged into the afflicated joint or sore muscle.
Castor oil may also be used internally in very small quantities (e.g. a drop or two on the tongue for allergies or "hay fever" (1) but this is not recommended for most conditions since the oil is a potent laxative and more than a tiny amount may cause dehydration.
Applying a Castor Oil Pack
Cayce's preferred method of using castor oil involves a pack made with a piece of flannel, soaked in castor oil and wrapped around or across the part of the body needing treatment.
For a stomach ache or back pain, the oil-soaked cloth is laid across the belly (or back) and held in place with other towels; then heat is applied using a hot water bottle over the pack.
An alternate method involves applying the castor oil directly to the skin – for example, rubbing several tablespoons of oil into a sore knee – and then wrapping the area in plastic wrap and sleeping with it on overnight. The thin film of plastic traps warmth close to the body and heats the pack – while also keeping the oil from evaporating or rubbing off on bedclothes and making a mess.
Reference
(1) McGarey, William A., M.D.: Edgar Cayce's Wisdom for the New Age: Healing Miracles. Harper and Row Publishers, San Francisco, 1988.
 |
