Unlock Castor Oil Benefits: Guide to Hair Growth, Pain Relief, & More!

Broad Benefits

Posted by Phoenix23002 (Amelia, Va) on 04/01/2011
★★★★★

I have been using castor oil packs for going on 30 yrs now and.. They are great for lots of things. The instructions for use are.... You should only use pure wool flannel (no polyester or nylon) and fold it so you have 4 - 6 thicknesses... Soak the thicknesses with cold-pressed castor oil, but not so it is messy. Cover with saran wrap then cover with heating pad.

Ck the heat from time to time (if you combine oil & heat.. What do you get?? possibly a burn). Cut it off or lower heat temp every 10 mins or so to make sure it is not too hot, then cut it back up. Try to give yourself an hour or two with the pack.

The packs are good for so many things. If you use it on your abdomen, it helps activate some immune factors that are in your intestines. Normally you use the pack for 3 - 4 nites per week. You reuse the packs and keep them in a zip-lock bag between uses and don't share the packs with anyone else. Everybody gets their own packs.. Lol. You never wash them. Cayce's instructions say to follow use after a week or so with a dose of olive oil. I can honestly say I have NEVER done that. Just thinking about it gags me... Lol.

I don't know about keeping this on all night long. I am just going by Cayce's original instructions. He never advised wearing for that long. I have no idea how helpful it would be if you don't wear the heating pad but it certainly can't hurt. Massaging with it won't hurt either.

As for the lymphs.. Just massage up to the body from the extremities. On the arm, push up to the elbow from the wrist, from the elbow up to the shoulder, etc. Same with the legs.. From the bottom up. I broke my shoulder and the therapist massaged my arm that way so I wouldn't develop edema in my arm. Must of worked because I never had any swelling.

Be sure and use old, old towels. I use a large plastic yard trash bag, cut so it lays flat and cover that with a large old towel. I put all this under me so none of the oil gets on my bed linens or recliner. I prop up on pillows and I use an old, small hand towel to wipe off excess oil and wipe my hands after use. You can wash these towels but save them & use them just with the packs because the castor oil smell gets in them & never comes out, even after washing.

You can use the packs all over your body if you like. It sure won't hurt anything but, it is messy. Multiple sites might be hard to manage, logistically.

I get my supplies from Baar and they have a great book on Cayce's cures... "The Edgar Cayce Handbook for Health Through Drugless Therapy". Cold pressed castor oil is recommended but, before the internet and health food stores, my only access was the drug store variety of castor oil and it worked just fine. I do use the cold-pressed oil now.

I broke my back in 5 places in an auto accident years ago and wouldn't allow the drs to fuse my spine. The castor oil packs were a God-send for pain relief when I would occassionaly throw out my back. Over the years, I have used it for sprains, strains, sore throats... Just about any pain concern. They shouldn't be used in lieu of a dr for serious concerns but for run-of-the-mill aches/pains, the packs are great. Good luck!!

Deep Sleep

Posted by Janelle (Omaha, Nebraska) on 12/09/2010
★★★★★

I tried this last night... OH MY GOSH! It works! I had such deep sleep I had multiple amazing dreams! The only problem is its taking me a while to wake up.. Maybe a little too much sleep! Can't wait to see if my eyelashes grow thicker.

Dry Eyes

Posted by Elise (Perth, Wa Australia) on 07/29/2010
★★★★★

I have been struggling with dry eyes all my life. I have always found that if the air is a little too cold or windy, my eyes immediately begin to water uncontrollably. I tend to wear mascara and eyeliner etc, so I would always have black under my eyes which was also rather embarrassing. I would also find my eyes would get red and start stinging in these situations. I heard about people putting a couple of drops of castor oil into each eye before going to bed. I tried this myself. The first couple of nights it can sting a little, but disappears when your eyes are closed. After about a week, my problem disappeared. It also made THE WHITES OF MY EYES WHITER, AND THE BLUE MUCH BRIGHTER! ! ! My eyes now look like my 1 year olds pure, sparkling eyes! Fabulous! My EYELASHES ALSO GREW THICKER AND LONGER within that week. Your eyes naturally have an oil layer. This helps nourish that layer of the eye. You can buy eye drops that are very costly, but the main ingredient in them is castor oil anyway. Save yourself some money and buy castor oil!

Broad Benefits

Posted by Mary (Usa) on 05/05/2016

I must disagree, Castor oil has been used internally for hundreds if not thousands of years (Egyptians used it frequently) . My family has used it for generations. My grandmother had 11 healthy children and used castor oil to help with birthing - AT TIME OF OR CLOSE TO BIRTHING. Her whole family used it for generations and she was an herb and flower healer. I have helped some friends who were close or passed their birthing date with it. My mom and her 10 brothers and sisters grew up in the mountains exposed to parasites and the like yet they never suffered any of these - thanks to regular ingestion of a teaspoon of Castor oil.

The readings of Edgar Cayce (whose remedies I have used successfully - saving my life) even shows how to use it for the healing of spine problems in embryos/fetuses while pregnant and to retain the fetus if having problems where early contractions or trouble retaining is the issue (of course EXTERNALLY).

Also on the breasts to unclog and produce more milk flow. (using bicarbonate of soda/water to cleanse the breasts afterward).

Of course, there are some people who have a reaction to the oil. But that's with everything else and it seems to happen only to a few.

I used it to dissolve a tumor the size of a golf ball in 5 days behind my navel, that grew after a tubal ligation.

USE ORGANIC CASTOR OIL ONLY, as now castor oil is a GMO because it is also used in the industrial world for other mechanical uses.

Look up "The Oil That Heals" by Dr. William McGarey, MD, he and his wife Dr. Gladys McGarey, who both personally knew Cayce, MD opened up a clinic in Arizona and used his remedies extensively. William passed a few years ago, but she is alive and still works and her daughter continues the practice.

Hope this helps anyone : )

Deep Sleep

Posted by Robin (Rural, VA) on 11/03/2008
★★★★★

This is amazing. I have been on a quest for a good nights sleep, which didn't include medications, for several months. I fall asleep in a reasonable amount of time, but wake up several times, sometimes for a few hours at a time. I have tried everything posted on this site, but the Castor Oil works! My boyfriend laughs at me and my crazy remedies. Well he has insomnia too, and I'm sleeping through the night. Does anyone have any ideas about why this works?

Sawdust in the Eye

Posted by Mama to Many (TN) on 03/18/2023
★★★★★

My son was milling some cedar wood and got some cedar dust in his eye.

He wasn't home for quite a while and I think he was probably rubbing it some. When he came in his eye was red and swollen and before I even asked what happened I asked if he was having an allergic reaction. When he explained what happened, I wasn't sure if his eye was just irritated or if he was having a reaction or both.

I had him take Benadryl and I put a drop of castor oil in his eye. Within minutes he had some relief. I repeated the castor oil before bed and by morning his eye looked and almost felt normal.

He is not a complainer and was very uncomfortable. I was afraid we would have to get an emergency appointment with the eye doctor, but the castor oil did the trick!

I am pretty sure I reported this cure before when his older brother had wood dust in his eye, but this tip is one to keep in mind, so here I am again with it. :)

~Mama to Many~

Dry Eyes

Posted by Rsw (Ohio) on 01/11/2016
★★★★★

I am a fan of the advice to put hexane free castor oil in the eye for dryness. However, I had a lingering anxiety about the safety of doing this. A pharmacist and my own doctor had reservations. So today, when I was seeing an opthomologist (MD) for a checkup, I asked if she thought there was any problem with using castor oil in the eyes to relieve dryness. She said she felt there would be no problem with it.

Application Tips

Posted by Phoenix23002 (Amelia, Va) on 04/06/2011
★★★★★

Hi, Esprit64... I responded to your other questions about castor oil packs above. Sorry I didn't cover everything for you.

I have used castor oil packs for many, many years. As to your question about how long you can use an opened bottle of castor oil?... til it is gone.. Lol. After I have my heating pad laid out, plastic on top of that and flannel on top of that.. I trickle more castor oil from the bottle onto my pack and turn on the pad, letting the whole pack heat up a little. Then I apply it to my tummy.. flannel pack first, then the plastic, then the heating pad.

"how many times should you use the fabric pack until discarding?" I have used mine for years. If it gets too runny/sloppy/messy, you will probably have to discard it and start over. And not because there is anything wrong with it but just because it will make a big mess and leak out everywhere.

"is there any need to continue adding castor oil for "refreshening. " At what point do you throw the oil out and begin again?" Unless you have just absolutely soaked the pack, you do need to renew/refresh the castor oil each time you use the pack. I have never thrown out any oil that I can remember, except for a bottle or two maybe some years ago. I used to buy the drugstore variety and, if it had been a while since I had used a pack and if the castor oil smell was really, really overwhelming AND if I had plenty on hand, that smelly bottle might hit the trashcan. But if you are a regular user of the packs, you will probably use up your supply on hand long before you have to worry about it getting too old to use.

One trick I use is... I try to rub the castor oil into my skin directly where I will be putting the pack. Continue to rub in the oil, letting the skin absorb as much as possible. If you rub briskly, everything gets a little warm and enhances the absorption. Then I apply heating pad/pack as usual with renewed oil on the pack also. I think it just gives you/your pack a jumpstart.

Just let me know if you have anymore questions, my friend, ok? phoenix23002

Deep Sleep

Posted by Sara (Rochester, Ny) on 03/03/2010
★★★★★

i have to say, this really works. i always wake up in the middle of the night and i still do, but with the castor oil on my eyes, i'm so groggy i fall right back to sleep...love it!

Kidney Disease and Liver Damage

Posted by Brooke (Montgomery, TX) on 03/09/2008
★★★★★

I have always used Castor Oil Packs to strengthen my liver and kidneys. The liver can grow itself back if you take the time to do it.

You get cold pressed castor oil, wool flannel, a heating pad and a piece of plastic - I use a garbage bag. There are sites online that will explain it in details.

I put the castor oil into a sealed container with the wool flannel and shake it up. You want the castor oil to e dripping from it slowly. I then put the container into the microwave for about 15 or 20 seconds - just to get it heated up. I then put a couple of towels onto my bed or couch and lay down on them. Then I take the wool flannel and put it on my stomach. If you are trying to heal the liver, put it a little bit more over your liver, if you are trying to heal the kidneys, put it over that area. Then I put the garbage bag onto th flannel and then the heating pad - all the way on high (or as high as you can handle). Leave it on for at least one hour and meditate on what you are trying to achieve. After you are finished, wipe your self off with a mixture of Baking soda and water,to get your skin back to the proper ph.

Do this for 4-5 days on and then leave off for the remaining days.

There is a good book called Edgar Cayce and the Palma Christi. It tells of all the wonderful things that Castor Oil (the Palma Christi) does!

Castor Oil Application Tips

Posted by Medbear (Martinez, Ca/USA) on 05/24/2012
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I use absorbant pads which have an absorbant side & a non-absorbant plastic other side. Apply oil directly to area or to absorbant pad, then place pad on area & heat pad to plastic non-absorb side. I treated a leg problem & wrapped the pad & taped edges. Then applied pad & secured it with rubber band or string. I buy the pads from the dog store or dog supply area of a store as I assume the pads for humans are more expensive. They are usually called indoor training pads & come in various sizes. Price for 50 is about $10US. I don't like wasting the oil, so I keep it refrigerated which thickens it up, then apply directly to skin area. They make perfect wraps for those areas needing a wrap versus a flat application for which they are also good.

Hemmorhoids

Posted by Jon (Singapore) on 06/02/2009
★★★★★

I had severe piles (internal) & haemorrhoids (external). Visit to doctor who gave some creams & advised surgery if the haemorrhoids didnt shrink. Read about castor oil and tried it as last resort as I didn't fancy the idea of surgery. A friend of mine who had piles surgery discovered he couldnt control his bowels well sometime after surgery.

Anyway, what i did was to coat the rear area, especially the inflamed tissues with castor oil twice a day after visiting the bathroom. Amazingly, after a couple of days, the area went back to normal and I did not have to go back to the doctor.

I will try castor oil for other various problems that I read about on earthclinic. Castor oil rocks!

Scars, Age Spots

Posted by Kayla (La, Ca) on 06/05/2012
★★★★★

My ND wanted me to use organic cold pressed castor oil packs on my abdomen for assisting in herximer effect. So, after a shower in the evening I would rub castor oil on my abdomen and put a hot pad on my abdomen for an hour or two. In less than six weeks I noticed a scar on my abdomen disappeared! So I started castor oil on my face. I let the steam do the work while in the bathtub or shower I rub the castor oil on the face and let the steam send it deeper into the skin and just leave it on overnight.. I've seen a remarkable decrease in age spots.

Eye Blister

Posted by Mama To Many (Tn) on 09/06/2017
★★★★★

Last evening at bedtime I felt like I had an eyelash in my eye. I checked in the mirror and did not see an eyelash. I finally realized I had a tiny blister looking thing on my eyelid, the part between the lashes and the eyeball. It made my eye feel like it had sand in it. I was so tired I didn't want to look up what it was or what to do for it. (It didn't look like a sty - it was not red or irritated.)

Then I remembered castor oil for eyes, cysts, pimples, etc.

I put a drop into my eye and went right to bed.

I woke up this morning and forgot about it; the irritation was gone. I think the little blister thing is, too.

I tried looking up what it was today and was not able to figure it out.

But you don't always have to know exactly what you have to find a solution.

~Mama to Many~

Moles

Posted by Jomi (Georgia, Usa) on 04/01/2017
★★★★★

I used castor oil and baking soda with a waterproof band aid on my back, well, with my husband's help. I actually forgot it was there..After about 5 days, after a shower, I felt an itch, then I realized that I had forgot about the band aid...When I asked my husband to remove it, so I could reapply, the mole was gone...I had tried this about 17 years ago, but I changed the application everyday..it worked then, too.. both moles were about the size of a pencil eraser..and not brown..they had been there for years, and haven't changed..I would not use this on moles that have changed or are dark brown...have them checked out first..

Toenail Fungus

Posted by Ann (Algonquin, IL) on 04/17/2008
★★★★★

I have successfully used castor oil to treat toenail fungus. My baby toenail was completely taken over by fungus. It had a black line running through it as well (another sign of fungus). I did this treatment twice per day until the nail grew out: First, I put two drops of vinegar on the nail. Then I placed a bit of cotton soaked in castor oil directly on the nail and kept it in place with a bandage. The nail is completely healthy. It's been almost two years since the treatment.

Sprains

Posted by Clairevg (Cumbria) on 10/07/2016
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Castor Oil is amazing for any kind of sprain. Yesterday my husband sprained his ankle whilst out walking and by the time we were home he couldn't put any weight on it, I was very worried and thought a trip to the doctor would be necessary. We rubbed Castor Oil around the swelling and on the bottom of his feet and this morning the pain is very much reduced and the swelling gone. He can now walk fine on it (with much reduced pain) but I am amazed as it was very serious last night, even to the point I thought he had broken a bone as he could put no weight on it at all. The other thing he mentioned was that the leg which we rubbed oil into has less muscle fatigue than the other which we didn't (we walked over 20 miles in the last 2 days over mountains before he twisted the ankle) and so it seems to have helped the muscles to recover too.

Love Castor Oil and wanted to share our story as I find this site really helpful. We have used Castor Oil in the past to help painful fingers when they have crushed accidentally or hit with a hammer by accident and that has helped which is why we thought of it last night. Give it a try, it can only help!