The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Eye Stye
Posted by Mona (Marietta, Georgia) on 03/07/2012
★★★★★
I felt my lower eye lid getting sore one afternoon last week and by 10 pm it was REALLY sore. I pulled back my eyelid. It was red and I could see the bump on my lid above the lashes. I took a q-tip and dipped in in Castor oil then rubbed it over the area letting some of the oil go into my eye. Almost immediately I got relief. I repeated this about 4 of 5 times before I went to sleep about every twenty minutes or so. My eye was not sore all night. The next morning upon wakening I could feel that under my eye it was swollen but no soreness and it was rather itchy. The sty had come to a head and I could see the white bump. I ran another Castored Q-tip over it with a light pressure and the sty drained. That was it! I had a bit of a dark spot (bluish) under my eye. The swelling went away within an hour and the dark spot was completely gone by next day. I've had miserable stys before that have lasted for days where my eye has swollen shut so this was nothing short of amazing!
Side Effects
Posted by Jennywren (Perth, Western Australia, Australia) on 02/23/2012
NAY I'd like to also add to this and say I've been using castor oil for my face and eyes for a couple of weeks and every morning my eyes are red and puffy. Didn't attribute much to it until I woke up with conjunctivitis this morning and started researching.. yes, the risin in castor oil can cause conjunctivitis! :( Will keep going on the face but will avoid the eye area.
Dry Eyes
Posted by Jennywren (Perth, Western Australia, Australia) on 02/18/2012
★★★★★
Castor oil is great for dry eyes and, I've heard, cataracts too. But make sure any castor oil you either apply to the skin or drop in the eyes is cold-pressed, so perhaps try your local health food store. I've been experimenting with castor oil recently, rubbing it on the face, scalp and lash area and my eyes are certainly brighter and bluer. It's been ten days. :)
Diabetic Feet
Posted by Diabetesguy (London, United Kingdom) on 12/26/2011
★★★★★
Castor Oil really works on Sore Feet and Burning Feet - I am diabetic and I massage Castor Oil into the bottom of my feet when sore after walking or exercise.
I also massage Castor Oil at nights to stop BURNING feet - It really works- Hope this helps.
Beautiful Skin
Posted by Patti (Seattle, Wa) on 10/19/2011
★★★★★
I am 69 and just started using castor oil nightly. My skin has never felt this good. I am so amazed! Why spend money on expensive cosmetics when this works wonders. I add a little sweet almond oil to thin the castor oil a bit.
Beautiful Skin
Posted by Pam (Groveland, Fl) on 09/17/2011
★★★★★
Castile soap is an awesome face and body wash! Among other uses for it! It acts as a natural degreaser, without drying out, then I put castor oil as a bedtime moisterizer while my face is still moist with water for easy application. Yes I do have a fresher look in the morning and also have noticed the little fine lines that started appearing by my eyes have disappeared! I feel so wrong if I miss a day without my castor oil. you'll learn to love its thick viscosity.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Elaine (Mena, Arkansas, Usa) on 08/21/2011
★★★★★
I was reared from childhood, being given a tablespoon Castor Oil montly for cleaning out the colon, and also removing or killing parasites. The Castor bean has drawing properties, and does work well for drawing purposes. It has been used for so many remedies for many years, and yes, can be used as a purgative. But it also draws out impurities from the cellular tissue. I have also used it to purge of gall stones from Gall bladder. I simply mixed it with grapfruit juice, in order to get it down.
Beautiful Skin
Posted by Len (Seattle, Wa) on 06/11/2011
★★★★★
No--the castor oil will not clog your pores. In fact, it has made my pores clearer and smaller. I was very leery about using an oil on my face (I thought I'd break out terribly) but after the first application, I realized that it helped get rid of any blemishes or inflammations not caused them. And I have less clogged pores.
Beautiful Skin
Posted by Len (Seattle, Wa) on 06/10/2011
★★★★★
I used to use proactive years ago and I didn't like how it seemed to bleach all my pillow cases. If it was doing that to my pillows, what was it doing to my skin? I now have a very simple skin regimine: I cleanse my face at night with grapefruit seed extract (I wet my fingers a little, put 4-5 drops of GSE on my fingers, rub it on my face and rinse. I started doing that because I was diagnosed with perioral dermatitis and GSE not only took care of that, it's taken care of my acne problem as well. )
After cleansing, I use my homemade lotion of aloe vera gel, vegetable glycerin, shea butter and lavender oil.
Before going to bed, I apply castor oil around my eyes and on my forehead. When I wake in the morning, my skin is glowing. I don't even usually wash my face in the morning (though I used to be adamant about it) because I don't feel like I need to; it feels very clean when I wake up. I do get the occasional zit here and there but it is nothing like it used to be. Hope that helps!
Syringomas
Posted by Alicia (Orlando, Fl) on 05/05/2011
★★★★★
I have been struggling with syringomas (tiny, skin colored bumps/tumors) under my eyes for quite a few years ago. I have had them removed by a dermatologist, but they not only eventually came back, but are multiplying! I decided to try castor oil after reading about the good results some people on EC have achieved on skin tags, warts, etc. I've been using it for one week twice a day, and they are almost gone! I have also started applying it to my entire face before going to bed each night. Castor oil is amazing! I plan to try liver packs next for congestion.
Dry Eyes
Posted by Michy (Vancouver, Bc Canada) on 04/14/2011
★★★★★
Thanks for all the great info about castor oil! I have found great relief to my many months of dry eyes and hopefully will be seeing some wrinkes disappearing too!
Melasma
Posted by Reina (Ny) on 04/12/2011
★★★★★
Castor Oil "palma christi" cold pressed is the best, took care of my melasma.
Activates T Lymphocytes
Posted by Redman (Adelaide, South Australia) on 04/10/2011
★★★★★
Hi, this is Dr. Red from Waterfall Gully South Australia.
You may not know that the A.R.E. of Edgar Cayce Virginia Beach did a study supervised by Dr William Magarey many years ago. They found that 'T' cell Lymphocytes accumulate in the thousands where a castor oil pack is applied. The castor oil does not osmose into the skin, it is too viscous, however, it acts as a giant ultrasound unit attracting the 'T' cell to the area which do the healing.
The A.R.E. has this on record as a double-blind study.
Hope this helps you all... Dr Red.
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
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!!
Application Tips
Posted by Esprit64 (North Yarmouth, Maine Usa) on 03/24/2011
I am reading conflicting recommendations regarding castor oil and use of packs. Once a castor oil bottle is opened and first used, how long can you keep reusing the oil that you have put into your container for packs? As for the packs themselves, how many times should you use the fabric pack until discarding (I'm reading 30 times max, others write 3-6 months). Finally, once you have initially set-up your castor oil and packs for use, is there any need to continue adding castor oil for "refreshening. " At what point do you throw the oil out and begin again?
Sprains
Posted by D (Minneapolis, Mn) on 03/15/2011
★★★★★
I used castor oil for my sons sprain, he could not put any pressure on the foot without it hurting badly. I put a castor oil wrap on it for the night and he woke up walking. It started hurting later in the day and I did the same thing and he never complained again. That all no tylonol or pain med, just castor oil on flannel with saran wrap to keep it on. I thought of this because I had tried it with my 5 yr old who had a hyperextended knee. She could not use it for a week so I finally tried a castor oil wrap. Left it on for 24hrs. And when I took it off she still wouldn't try use it, I bribed her with a trip to the store and within 20 min. She was walking. So I'm not sure if it was the castor oil or the trip to the store, up until then she would only crawl or scoot.
