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“Have you ever heard of castor oil packs?” I asked my friend at dinner one evening, intrigued by a few social media posts I'd seen about them. Her response shocked me, and I asked her to remind me of the exact details of the story she told so that I could share them with you here:
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My friend and her husband now have a healthy toddler and another baby on the way. Her inspiring story piqued my curiosity and because of my longtime interest in natural healing, I decided to go digging for the truth behind what seems like a miracle oil. This post will explore my research into castor oil and castor oil packs in depth.
Modern Applications of Castor Oil
Prior to hearing about castor oil packs on social media, I had never used castor oil for anything in my life. Upon digging for more information, I found that castor oil and it’s derivatives like Ricinoleic Acid and Glyceryl Ricinoleate are used in many different products that most people use everyday such as skin-conditioning agents, cosmetic products like lipstick, and fragrances.1 In addition to cosmetic products, castor oil serves many other functions in our lives because of it’s unique chemical structure.7 Predominantly composed of ricinoleic acid (90%), alongside smaller amounts of linoleic, oleic, stearic, and linolenic acids, its structure, especially the hydroxyl functionality of ricinoleic acid, enhances the oil's oxidative stability and increases its shelf life by preventing peroxide formation. These properties enable castor oil to be utilized in a range of chemical processes for various industrial uses.7
In terms of modern medicine, castor oil is only approved by the FDA for use as a stimulant laxative.10 Although it is not commonly offered as a treatment by conventional doctors, some patients prefer it because it is a natural option, often perceived as non-toxic and safer than conventional medications. There have been numerous scientific studies that support a range of other medicinal uses for castor oil, including its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and its role in treating skin infections, however, there is currently insufficient evidence to gain FDA approval for these specific uses.
Historical Significance of Castor Oil
The versatility and significance of castor oil are evident not only in modern industries but also through its historical medicinal uses throughout the world.
As we know, traditional medicines derived mainly from plants played a major role in managing diseases in ancient times and even in more recent history. Historical records indicate that castor oil was used for medicinal purposes in Ancient Egypt, India, China, Iran, Africa, Greece, and Rome. Beyond its laxative capabilities, the castor bean plant and its oil have been historically regarded as a versatile natural medicine, treating a wide range of ailments across various cultures worldwide for centuries. According to research by Scarpa and Guerci in their article Various Uses of the Castor Oil Plant (Ricinus Communis L.) a Review*, the castor bean plant and/or it’s oil have been used as a treatment for:8
- Digestive Health:
- Laxative: Used as a purgative across many cultures worldwide.
- Anthelmintic properties: Used to expel parasitic worms in Brazil and Italy.
- Used to control vomiting in Brazil
- Used in Iran and Madagascar for treating colic and belly-ache
- Used as a treatment for diarrhea and dysentery in Algeria, India, and Pakistan
- Inflammatory Conditions and Pain:
- In Haiti, mixed with other ingredients for treatment of bronchitis and asthma
- Used in India, Pakistan, and Senegal for pain relief related to rheumatism and arthritis
- Used to alleviate joint pains and muscle aches in Italy and Africa
- Skin and Cosmetic Applications:
- Used in the treatment of eczema, dermatitis, and fungal infections
- Recognized globally for improving hair growth and treating scalp conditions like dandruff.
- Treatment for warts and skin growths
- Obstetrics and Gynecology:
- Traditionally used to induce labor.5
- Used to relieve menstrual cramps and assist in postpartum recovery across various cultures.
- Eye Irritation:
- Lubricates the eyes as artificial tears3
The more people I’ve asked about this miracle oil, the more I realize how special it is, and how widely used it has been throughout time. My own father told me his mom used to try and make him swallow spoonfuls of it when he was a kid for medicine, and he hated the taste. “Yak!” he described it. I guess that’s why he never made me take it.
Now totally convinced about the cultural and medicinal importance of castor oil, I was excited to learn more about castor oil packs and the people who’ve had success healing themselves through the practice.
Edgar Cayce and His Castor Oil Packs
We’ve all heard of psychics. Some of us have even had experiences with them that have made us true believers. Edgar Cayce, also known as The Sleeping Prophet, was a clairvoyant from the early 20th century whose gifts enabled him to enter an altered state of consciousness and “describe physical conditions which were present in [a] person's body, and then give suggestions, which, if followed, tended to restore that body back to a more normal condition of health.”5 One of these suggestions, was castor oil packs, which were first invented in Cayce’s psychic practice, dedicated entirely to healing people. Cayce, a highly trusted psychic during his era, delivered thousands of readings throughout his life. His reputation was so esteemed that New York stockbrokers funded the construction of a hospital where he could dedicate his time fully to conducting readings and healing people.2
Dr. William A. McGarey was a practicing physician for over 55 years who studied Edgar Cayce’s health teachings in depth and adapted them into practical applications, notably authoring The Edgar Cayce Remedies. Dr. McGarey co-founded the Association of Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E.) Clinic and the American Holistic Medical Association.9 He also introduced acupuncture to the United States.7 Drawing on his extensive experience as a family physician, Dr. McGarey emphasized that healing is a natural, God-given function involving the body, mind, and spirit, rather than just the work of doctors or medications. He credits his insights to the Edgar Cayce readings and has bravely staked his professional reputation on this holistic approach, despite skepticism from mainstream health practitioners and a health care industry wary of such "unscientific" theories. Additionally, McGarey's clinical research at the A.R.E. Clinic—supported by the Fetzer Foundation—suggests that applying castor oil externally could significantly boost the immune system by increasing lymphocyte counts, advocating for more research into its therapeutic potential (XI).5
Success Stories with Castor Oil Packs
In his book entitled The Oil That Heals: A Physician's Successes with Castor Oil Treatments, Dr. McGarey analyzed a multitude of different cases in which castor oil packs were used as a treatment for various ailments in his practice. A few of these cases are detailed below, however further reading of the book is necessary to see just how extensive the list of ailments is and the suggested treatment regimens with castor oil packs, according to Dr. McGarey.
“The healing abilities of the castor oil pack [for uterine fibroids] placed on the abdomen were indicated by an individual who wrote:
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Dr. McGarey detailed another case about an obese woman who used castor oil packs to cure ovarian cysts:
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Dr. McGarey recounted a case involving an elderly woman who suffered from a severely swollen abdomen due to an obstruction:
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In all three of the above cases, the patients used the castor oil pack on their abdomen, however there are numerous cases in Dr. McGarey’s books about using castor oil packs or a modified version of them, such as band-aids soaked in castor oil, on various regions of the body.
Castor Oil Packs for Liver Detoxification
Perhaps the most well-known use of castor oil packs is to detoxify the liver. Dr. McGarey, a board certified physician who graduated from the University Of Cincinnati College Of Medicine9, attempts to provide different scientific explanations for how using castor oil packs over the liver can enhance its function and promote overall health in his book The Oil That Heals: A Physician's Successes with Castor Oil Treatments:
Dr. McGarey believed that castor oil packs directly benefit the liver by enhancing its detoxifying capabilities and improving the overall function and health of surrounding organs. This reflects the holistic view that no organ operates in isolation; health is achieved through the coordinated function of all body systems. Castor oil, when applied to the skin, is absorbed into the tissues, potentially stimulating the parasympathetic nerve supply in that area. As the liver produces a significant amount of the body's lymph, castor oil packs may then stimulate the lymphatic system, which is partly responsible for waste removal at the cellular level and the absorption and assimilation of nutrients, thereby supporting overall organ health and systemic cooperation essential for maintaining health (85,179).5
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Castor Oil Packs for the Mind, Body, and Soul
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"Know that all healing forces are within, not without! The applications from without are merely to create within a coordinating mental and spiritual force." ~ Edgar Cayce5
At Sentre, we share the belief with Dr. McGarey and Edgar Cayce, that our existence is composed of three interconnected aspects: mind, body, and soul. These elements function as a whole and like our organs, must work in harmony and balance to maintain health. Our emotions impact our health, just as much as diet and other external factors can. In addition, many of us are so wrapped up in our everyday lives, we’ve become totally disconnected with the divine force within, the soul.
There are so many reasons in today’s world that we become unbalanced - perhaps we struggle to maintain a healthy diet, or we feel trapped in a toxic work environment, or we never have time to go inward, just to name a few. Whatever the reason, castor oil packs can help us in multiple ways to achieve a more balanced life. Not only can they help us to improve our physical health, but even beyond the physical, taking the time to prepare the pack with love and intention, and relaxing with it on, preferably in a meditative state, can nourish the mind and reconnect us with the divine within:
“Perhaps some of the understanding about how castor oil works can be found in the meditative experience. We seek in meditation to attune our physical and mental bodies to their Source, the divine energy we call God. The attunement has to be a vibrational exercise. When this is perfectly accomplished, illnesses of all sorts disappear. For in the God-Force, there is no illness. The castor oil may create a vibration within the body that is more easily attuned to Creative Forces and thus bring a healing activity”(McGarey 65).5
Keeping all of this in mind, we have made it a top priority at Sentre to design our castor oil pack with high quality materials. It’s crucial to focus on healing and detoxification when using these packs, so we exclusively use organic cotton to prevent the absorption of toxins typically found in synthetic fabrics. We’ve also designed our pack to be super comfy so that you can totally relax and enjoy a therapeutic experience while wearing it. We wish you peace, happiness and balance on your healing journey!
So, what do you think? Are castor oil packs worth a try?
*Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice.
Works Cited
1. “Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glyceryl Ricinoleate, Glyceryl Ricinoleate SE, Ricinoleic Acid, Potassium Ricinoleate, Sodium Ricinoleate, Zinc Ricinoleate, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Ethyl Ricinoleate, Glycol Ricinoleate, Isopropyl Ricinoleate, Methyl Ricinoleate, and Octyldodecyl Ricinoleate.” International Journal of Toxicology, vol. 26 Suppl 3, 2007, pp. 31–77, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18080873, https://doi.org/10.1080/10915810701663150.
2. “History of Edgar Cayce Hospital 🕊️ Edgar Cayce’s A.R.E.” Edgar Cayce’s A.R.E., edgarcayce.org/about-us/tour-the-campus/history-of-hospital/. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
3. Kennedy, Deborah A. , and Dana Keaton. “Evidence for the Topical Application of Castor Oil – International Journal of Naturopathic Medicine.” International Journal of Naturopathic Medicine, 13 Mar. 2012, intjnm.com/evidence-for-the-topical-application-of-castor-oil/.
4. McGarey, William A. The Edgar Cayce Remedies. Bantam Books, 1983, p. p.16.
5. McGarey, William A. The Oil That Heals: A Physician's Successes with Castor Oil Treatments. ARE Press, 1993.
6. Moradi, Maryam, et al. “Effect of Castor Oil on Cervical Ripening and Labor Induction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Journal of 7. Pharmacopuncture, vol. 25, no. 2, 30 June 2022, pp. 71–78, https://doi.org/10.3831/kpi.2022.25.2.71.
7. Patel, Vinay R., et al. “Castor Oil: Properties, Uses, and Optimization of Processing Parameters in Commercial Production.” Lipid Insights, vol. 9, Jan. 2016, p. LPI.S40233, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5015816/, https://doi.org/10.4137/lpi.s40233.
8. Scarpa, Antonio, and Antonio Guerci. “Various Uses of the Castor Oil Plant (Ricinus Communis L.) a Review.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology, vol. 5, no. 2, Mar. 1982, pp. 117–137, https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-8741(82)90038-1.
9. “William McGarey Obituary (2008) - Phoenix, AZ - the Arizona Republic.” Legacy.com, www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/azcentral/name/william-mcgarey- obituary? id=8409878. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
10. Alookaran, Jeffrey, and Jayson Tripp. “Castor Oil.” PubMed, StatPearls Publishing, 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551626/.