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

Application Tips

Posted by Merilee (Guelph, Ontario, Canada) on 07/03/2009
★★★★★

I have a Castor Oil application idea that I would like to share:

I have suffered from pain for years - first endometriosis, and now full-blown fibromyalgia, neck (both muscle and lymph), gall, and kidney pain (which I now know all stems from Lyme infection of 15 years...). Ever since using a heating pad for the debilitating monthly cramps in my teens, I have found heat to be an aid. In addition to the over-used hot water bottle, I also use an infrared heat lamp that a Chinese Medicine Practitioner gave me, which I place over whichever organ/area I wish to treat (he uses one to increase the effectiveness of acupuncture). It's about 8-10" in diameter and has a swing-arm stand, which holds the light about 8-12" from my body, resulting in an approx. 12" treatment area.

This has been very helpful to me. Apparently, the infrared wavelength of light penetrates a couple of inches into the body, vibrating at a wavelength that resonates with fat cells (the water in them?), and can cause them to mobilize and excrete toxins (much of our toxic load is attached to fat cells, and hard to remove). It has a greater impact on my pain than the water bottle (greater muscle relaxation, I think), and I find it soothing, especially as it does not have to be particularly hot to work (it works because of its particular wavelength of light, not just the heat).

The reason for my post:

I have recently been using the lamp as a means of Castor Oil application, with the thought that it might produce deeper penetration (and much less mess) than simple Castor Oil packs. I just slap some on my skin and apply the light for 20min-1hr, then wipe/wash it off. I have nothing to compare its effectiveness to (I never tried castor oil packs after a few messy, unhelpful PMS cramp-releif attempts in my teens), but it does seem to ease my uterine and gall bladder pain, and my sore/swollen groin-area glands.

As both therapies are purported to mobilize toxins, I'd like to think they potentiate each other, and together pull out some of the stuff that is giving me trouble.

I would be interested in hearing what someone with more Castor Oil know-how thinks of my practice, and perhaps other infrared lamp owners could give it a try.

Emergency Castor Oil Packs

Posted by Katzie (Calgary) on 08/29/2022
★★★★★

On vacation? Don't have any flannel, plastic wrap, maybe you don't have a hot water bottle? If you cannot make up a castor oil pack in the usual manner, I know of an alternate method.

While on vacay in Mexico, I got some sort of rash on the inside elbow of my right arm. After 3 days of throwing everything I had at it, the darn thing was still there. I also did not have my usual supplies with me - so I improvised.

I used my dog's "pee pads", y'know, those blue & wavy cotton pressed sheets. I cut out an area to cover the area, added a bunch of castor oil, put it on the rash, and since I did not have plastic wrap or a hot water bottle, I simply used my left hand as a heat source and left it there for 20 mins (the plastic wrap is purely for messiness reasons and is not strictly necessary). A few hours later that rash was gone!

So in short, your dog's pee-pads WILL work just fine!! I so glad I remembered that tip and so wanted to share!

Health & healing, everyone!!

Longer, Thicker Eyelashes

Posted by Thelady (Port Of Spain, Trinidad ) on 01/16/2010
★★★★★

Re: Castor Oil for eyelashes

Tried and true. i used an old mascara brush (cleansed properly) and i apply some castor oil to the brush. Right before bedtime i apply it like you would apply mascara from root to tip of lashes. Be consistent and it works. I saw a minor change/improvement in about 2 weeks and i kept doing it for more results.

Deep Sleep

Posted by A (Chennai, India) on 07/25/2009
★★★★★

You are falling asleep immediately because castor oil has a cooling relaxing effect on the body. In India, it is very common for people (especially in South) to massage scalp with it (along with other oils) and also to put a few drops on eyelashes and eyes. Helps internally cool the body.

Hemmorhoids

Posted by Gabi (TORONTO, CANADA) on 02/04/2008
★★★★★

Use Castor Oil to cure hemorrhoid. Make small CASTOR OIL PACK. You can use even cotton ball saturated with Castor Oil. Lie down and apply it to the hemorrhoid. You can walk with it if you have to. It brings very fast relive and swollen hemorrhoid shrinks fast.

Did anybody tried Castor Oil to cure skin or toe nail fungus? It seems that Castor Oil really is one of nature wonders.

Gut Issues

Posted by K.C. (Portland, Oregon) on 06/25/2007
★★★★★

I have had gut problems for years. (I have an extra-long colon, like twice normal length.) General inflammation, sometimes burning an inch or two below my sternum ( a good remedy for that is pancreatic enzymes), a pointed ache in the gall bladder area (just below right ribs) whenever I ate anything with fat, and a pain in the left lower corner of the abdomen aftter eating. I did an all night castor oil pack and all of these symptoms have disappeared and have not come back.

Ankle Pain

Posted by HisJewel (New York) on 01/26/2024
★★★★★

Hello EC and Everyone,

We had a few dipping cold days and snow in New York. Well I was determined to still go out for my walk and maybe a bus ride. This is what the seniors in New York love to do, after the rush hour we are out there helping others and being young again ( some still get out before day).

Well, on the day of the first frost, my ankle got a few sharp pains for seemly no reason. And that night my ankle hurt so bad I could not get a good night sleep. The next day I put a mixture of oils on it before going out. However, the pain continued, and I had to stop walking serval times because I felt like my ankle was going to give in under me with the stabling like pains. When I got home this time, I remembered Castor oil. The Castor oil stopped the pain quickly and I got a good night's sleep. The next day I massaged in the Castor oil once again, . It's at least a week now and no more ankle pain.

HisJewel

Plantar Wart

Posted by Shauna With A 'u' (Clearwater, British Columbia) on 12/03/2017
★★★★★

A year ago I started using Castor Oil (organic and cold-pressed) on my planters warts on my feet. Just rubbed a little right on them once a day. By three months they were all gone and haven't returned.

Toenail Fungus

Posted by Lisa (San Jose) on 10/16/2016

Sounds like a great idea, but please be aware of the slip factor when you apply any oil to your feet! Promptly put on socks, don't walk around in bare feet! A few years ago my mother applied oil to her feet and body after a bath and promptly slipped getting out of the tub. She cracked her head on the tile and got a nasty concussion. So please everyone be very careful when you apply oil on the feet!

Sinus Issues, Loss of Smell

Posted by Nizar (Toronto, Canada) on 07/13/2014
★★★★★

I am 70 plus, and had sinus issues for the last 50 years. A couple of years back, I read about castor oil, and I put in 5-6 drops at night before going to sleep, and thanks God, after about 7 days, sinus disappeared.

Skin Cancer

Posted by Carolyn (Northwest, OH) on 01/13/2009
★★★★★

Yes, use castor oil on your lips! It was a major ingredient in lipsticks for years and years and is perfectly safe. As for it's effect on skin cancers, one case was specifically mentioned in the book, "The Oil that Heals" where a man had a tumor on his ear which disappeared after using castor oil topically daily. I always keep a bottle on hand and never ingest it--just use it topically.

Beautiful Skin

Posted by Mama To Many (Tennessee, Usa) on 02/28/2014
★★★★★

Dear Mary,

I have not had trouble with castor oil causing any type of skin outbreak on me or my family members. We have used it on faces, necks, backs, feet, etc, with no problem. When I use it on my face, sometimes I put a few drops of Rosemary Essential Oil into it (a few drops in an ounce of Castor Oil.) But lately I have just used it plain. (At first I had added the Rosemary because I didn't care for the smell of castor oil, but I guess now I am used to it.) Sometimes I mix castor oil into homemade salves or oil blends for various purposes...I have mixed it with olive oil, coconut oil, and/or almond oil. I have always been happy with castor oil however I have used it.

I hope it will work well for what you need, as well.

~Mama to Many~

Application Tips

Posted by Cindy (Illinois, USA) on 02/03/2024 541 posts
★★★★★

Greetings! Just a tip for castor oil packs required in geometrically challenged places. You can stick a gauze pad onto a piece of "Press-n-Seal" cut a bit larger than the pad, put the castor oil on the pad, place it where it's needed, being careful not to get oil on the outside of the Press-n- Seal and tape it all down with K-Tape - I.e. kinesiology athletic tape. It sticks through thick and thin (even to the bottom of the foot and between the toes! ) is hypoallergenic and comes in lots of pretty (or macho) colors. SUPER handy for keeping things in place, on the skin.

Skin Infections, Warts, Moles, Cuts

Posted by Laurel (Virginia Beach, VA) on 06/14/2021 6 posts
★★★★★

Castor Oil & baking soda paste for skin infections, warts, moles, skin cuts

I use this tried and true Edgar Cayce remedy of making a paste of castor oil and baking soda. Apply and cover w band-aid. I change it 2X a day. Works like magic.

The castor oil and baking soda pull the infection out. My hot and burning finger throbbing subsided in less than an hour. I also used it on an unsightly mole recently. It took about 10 days to disappear.

Urinary Incontinence

Posted by Cindy (Illinois, USA) on 05/30/2021 541 posts

Interesting little side note for Day 8 -

The normal urge to pee takes some getting used to after years/decades of the old-lady URGENT need to pee. The contrast between the two is profound. It's an entirely different sensation. If you get busy or focused on something, you may be inclined to think you don't need to go now and put it off but NORMAL urgency from putting it off, though EQUALLY urgent, is completely different than the old-lady URGENT urgency. There IS no more dramatic URGENT urgency but that doesn't mean you don't need to pee. If that makes sense. My point is, don't wait because the urgency you're accustomed to isn't going to happen and if you wait for it, it'll simply be too late, ROFL! You may have to re-potty-train yourself.

Dry Eyes

Posted by Marytp (Utica, NY) on 01/16/2021
★★★★★

Castor oil helps with dry eye. I have severe Dry eyes. Used everything under the sun on my eyes to bring some sort of relief. I won't go into the history. But the important point is for at night.

I have castor oil in a dropper bottle, and I put the drops around & in my eyes and then I put plastic wrap across my eyes. The castor oil on the skin, keeps the plastic on my face, and seals my eyes fir the night. If you're uncomfortable enough you will try this! If you want to try it for daytime, just touch the tip of the dropper in the corner of your eye, works like a oil slick. Brings relief!

Arthritis

Posted by Charlotte (Texas) on 08/11/2017
★★★★★

My castor oil pack for knee osteoarthritis consists of a cotton cloth saturated with castor oil, Saran Wrap to cover it, and an Ace Bandage to cover all that. It's not too messy, and works well with a heating pad applied, or just to sleep with alone overnight.

Application Tips

Posted by Prioris (Fl, US) on 09/25/2014
★★★★★

I really like the idea of using a hair dryer to help castor oil absorb. This can be used on humans also.

Today I was using a hand held infrared device when I was applying castor oil on part of my abdomen. Most infrared devices are just too expensive purchase. The one I had I bought on amazon (infrarex st-302) for $20 and it works for a small area. It comes with an extra bulb. Before I bought it I wondered why it was so cheap and why the other products couldn't bring down the price so I was leery. I have had it a couple years and it's worth every penny. It gives one more options in treating various situations.

I saw a infrared device in a chiropractors office but expensive model. Instead of someone paying $50 a treatment, I had them use this cheap device themselves and they got positive results. It's a good addition to your medicine chest at very low cost.

Many people have difficult financial situations so any DIY approaches to pet care are very helpful.

Beautiful Skin

Posted by Judy (N/york) on 07/30/2013
★★★★★

I like all I had been learning, I have just started using the Castor Oil in face before I go to bed 2times and have noticed a change already. Am gonna go ahead & use it on my legs. Thanks & keep up the good work you are doing.

Beautiful Skin

Posted by Brooke (Montgomery, Tx, Usa) on 01/04/2011

I have been using Castor oil on my face for 20 years and have never had a problem with facial hair growing.

Toenail Fungus

Posted by Patricia (Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands) on 08/02/2009
★★★★★

I noticed a question about using caster oil with nail fungus. I have a story you might find interesting. I had read about its anti-fungal action, and when I began to notice some nail damage, I began applying caster oil twice a day. As I was about to travel and I worried about getting more damage, I went to my podiatrist. He looked at my nail and said that he was sure it was a fungal infection but that he would take a sample for testing. When I returned a month later, he checked back on the test, and was shocked to note that there was no fungus there at all. He wanted to know if I were sure that I had damaged my nail --in other words, he began to look for another reason for the nail problem. There was no other problem and no fungus! caster oil works for nail fungus prevention and most likely treatment.

Heating Pads

Posted by Katie (Seattle, Wa, Usa.) on 11/16/2010
★★★★★

Actually, your body heats up the area on purpose, as many infectious agents don't do well at high temperatures (they don't do well at low temps either, but neither does your own body) A feverish area is good, as it means that your body is doing what it is supposed to. Also, while applying a hot pad may increase inflammation in the short term, in the long term, you will be better for it.