Yes, your grandmother was right, castor oil is good for you, and in fact it’s very good for you. Its a bit of a blast from the past and isn’t as fashionable as retro telephones – which make unusual gifts, but it should be part of our modern lives. Ok, so it tastes awful and I remember running away at the very sight of my mother taking the bottle out of the cupboard, that oily texture that coated your tongue and just wouldn’t go away for hours, yuk.
But what is Castor Oil exactly? Well it’s basically a vegetable oil squeezed out of Indian castor beans, castor beans look remarkable like coffee beans, although they aren’t beans at all, how odd?
Their Oil is a pale odourless liquid and the remarkable thing about it is that it contains a single molecule of glycerol and three different fatty acids, palmitic acid, oleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid. Castor Oil contains much more energy than even proteins and.
Traditonal medicine called for the use of Castor Oil in skin problems, cuts and even headaches.
Many doctors still advise on what is called a castor oil pack, which is made by soaking a piece of flannel in castor oil, then putting it on the area of complaint and placing a heat source, such as a hot water bottle, on top of that. It is said that a castor oil pack is good for Inflammation, Congestion Constipation, Liver, kidney, and pelvic disorders. Just like acupuncture, Castor Oil helps blood flow through the skin.
What is amasing is Castor Oil’s ability to improve the bodies immune system, its does this by increasing the number of lymphocytes in the body, lymphocytes are what the body needs to fight off infection.
A holistic treatment, a Castor oil pack would be applied to the stomach around 3 times a week, and could have improved blood flow, because Castor Oil’s molecular weight is so low that it is easily absorbed deep into the skin.
Steps to make a Castor oil pack:
* Three layers of undyed wool or cotton flannel large enough to cover the affected area
* Castor oil
* Plastic wrap cut 1-2″ larger than the flannel (can be cut from a plastic bag)
a Container with a lid
* Old clothes and sheets. Remember that Castor oil will stain clothing and bedding.
So there you are, Castor oil one of natures wonder medicines, and if you fancy taking half a spoonful a day, you can add a little honey and lemon to make it taste better.
