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What is Naturopathy?

Serving Up Health

How to Prepare a Castor Oil Pack

Cold & Flu
Prevention

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WHAT IS NATUROPATHY? A detailed philosophy of Naturopathic medicine.

SERVING UP HEALTH A food portion chart that's easy to reference.

HOW TO PREPARE A CASTOR OIL PACK (below)

COLD & FLU PREVENTION

How to Prepare a Castor Oil Pack

BACKGROUND
The castor bean (Oleum ricini), also known as Palma Christi, due to its shape and healing properties, is known principally as a cathartic (strong laxative). A gentler use is in the form of a pack placed over the abdomen, usually with heat applied. The oil is absorbed into the lymphatic circulation to provide a soothing, cleansing, and nutritive treatment.

USE
The castor oil pack has many applications, and is specific in cases of uterine fibroids and ovarian cysts that are non-malignant. Other conditions which respond well include: headaches, liver disorders, constipation, intestinal disorders, gallbladder inflammation or stones, conditions with poor elimination, night time urinary frequency and inflamed joints.

Materials Needed
  • castor oil
  • plastic sheet (saran wrap or garbage bag)
  • unbleached organic cotton or wool flannel 36" x 18"
  • heating pad or hot water bottle
  • plastic bag or glass container to store pack

Procedure
  1.     Fold flannel into 3 thicknesses to fit over your entire abdomen.
  2.     Soak flannel with castor oil. Fold flannel in half and strip excess oil from pack. Unfold.
  3.     Lay wool blanket, old sheet, large sheet of plastic and old towel out on the surface you will be lying on. This will prevent STAINING.
  4.     Lie on your back, place flannel over abdomen, cover with a small sheet of plastic and place a heating pad or hot water bottle on top of the plastic.
  5.     Wrap yourself in the towel, sheet and wool blanket.
  6.     Leave pack on for 5-60 minutes as directed by your physician. This is an excellent time to practice visualization, mediation or relaxation breathing. You may also fall asleep with the pack on. Some people will wear the pack all night using an ace bandage to hold it in place.
  7.     Store the pack in your fridge in a large zip-lock bag. Reuse the pack several times, adding more heated oil as needed to keep the pack saturated. Replace the pack after it begins to change color.
  8.     For maximum effectiveness, it is necessary to apply the pack as often as possible. Try for at least 4 consecutive days per week for 1 month. Patients who use the pack daily will receive the most beneficial effects.
  9.     To remove any oil, wash with a solution of 2 tablespoons of baking soda to 1 quart water or BioKleen Citrus soap™.

The "Do Anywhere" Castor Oil Pack
  1.     Soak flannel in castor oil until saturated and squeeze out any excess.
  2.     Heat in microwave 1- 1.5 minutes until hot.
  3.     Apply to abdomen and put an opened plastic bag or piece of plastic wrap on top of the flannel.
  4.      Then wrap abdomen with an old towel so it overlaps at front.
  5.     Tie this comfortably tight by using 2 ace bandages, one around the ribs and the other around the waist, to keep the pack close to the body.
  6.     Apply heating pad over this to maintain heat.
  7.     Wrap up in a robe/gown and read or relax for 45 minutes to an hour.
  8.     Store pack as previously described.
  9.     Use the pack as often as possible.