Another amazing resource for self-help maintenance.

Known to many as the "Palma Christi" or "hand of Christ" for the plant's 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.

Visit here for a video on Castor Oil packs.

Thoughts to share on this amazing home remedy:

• I do not recommend using a microwave to heat your pack up!
• Castor oil stains fabric, so I suggest placing an old sheet, shower curtain, etc under you to protect what you are laying on.
• You might prepare a mix of baking soda and liquid soap to remove the oil afterward.
• Some folks prefer to simply wipe down their skin.
• Store in a Pyrex dish

Click on the links to download and print:

Castor Oil Packs

Castor oil and Dr. McGarey

Castor Oil Pack Guide.

One of the most useful and least utilized methods of using castor oil is to employ packs. Packs are an economical and efficient method of absorbing the ricinoleic acid and other healing components of castor oil directly into body tissues.

(The following basic procedure was outlined in several of the readings of Edgar Cayce.)

The procedure:

1. Warm up your heating pad, the only problem I have ever seen is when the pad is toooo hot.
2. Saturate your flannel pieces with castor oil (approx. 1/2 cup).
3. Place the saturated flannel over the liver on the right side of the body, extending, top to bottom, from about the sternum (breastbone) to about 4 inches below the navel or to the groin or pubic bone. From left to right, it extends at least from the navel, around the body as far as it will go, covering as much of the right side as possible.
4. On top of the fabric, lay the plastic garbage bag.
5. On top of the plastic, place the warmed up pad.
6. To help hold the everything in place and to protect bedding etc. from oil stains, place a towel over the layers and tuck into the sides. (For lower back problems, the pack can be placed upside down, simply lay on it.)
7. The pack should remain in place for at least one hour and the temperature of the heating pad should be kept at the highest temperature tolerable.
8. When you remove the pack, the remaining oil can be massaged into the skin or cleaned off using a little soda water made from 1 quart of warm water and 2 tablespoons of baking soda.
9. A suggested cycle is 3-4 consecutive days, wait a week and repeat for 3-4 days.

For general conditions the pack should be placed on the abdomen over the liver.

When you remove the pack, the remaining oil can be massaged into the skin or cleaned off using a little soda water made from 1 quart of warm water and 2 tablespoons of baking soda.

A suggested cycle is 3-4 consecutive days, wait a week and repeat for 3-4 days.

The flannel can be reused many times if stored properly. After removing the flannel, store it in a Pyrex (glass) container and place it in the refrigerator.

Before using it next time let it warm up to room temp and always add another 1 or 2 tablespoons of fresh cold pressed castor oil. (or simply rub some onto the skin where the pack will lay)

(After 10 full cycles of use I would recommend obtaining new flannel.)

More information: Edgar Cayce Database on Castor Oil (Palma Christi and more!)