If you put a heat pack on your stomach, you will increase the blood flow to your uterus and therefore increase the flow/bleeding from your period. If it is already heavy, then this would be undesirable, and might even make you feel weak/lightheaded. That is probably the reason for discontinuing the Castor Oil/Heat Pack thing during heavy periods.
I don't do the heat pack thing at the same time every day. I usually do it when I go to bed, but also if I feel tired during the day and want an excuse for a nap I'll do it then. I'm not working at the moment, so I can get away with it
can anyone tell me if you can just use a towel or washcloth instead of the flannel? will there still be the same effect? AND, does it have to be castor oil from the health store or is plain castor oil from the pharmacy the same (the one you can take orally)
__________________
Tammy 28 & DH John 34
DD Sofie 7
DS Joseph 3
DX PCOS Jan 2009
DX IR Jan 2009
Met XR 1000mg
weaning off Prozac (currently at 20mg)
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I thought it might be helpful to have a bit more information about the castor oil process in the one place, so read on below if you are interested. tswetter, to answer your questions first though ... you can use cotton or wool even an old cotton tshirt will do (preferably nothing synthetic) and the pharmacy Castor Oil will be fine ... cold pressed organic from the healthfood store would be better (as with anything, cold pressed or organic is preferable to a heat extracted oil or a food treated with chemicals).
The castor bean (ricinus communis) has a long history as a cathartic, purgative or strong laxative when taken internally. Castor beans (actually seeds) have been found in tombs in Ancient Egypt from as far back as 4000 BC where they were used as a fuel for lamps and also as a purgative. Herodotus and other Greek travelers have noted the use of castor seed oil for lighting, body ointments, and improving hair growth and texture. Cleopatra is reputed to have used it to brighten the whites of her eyes. Castor bean oil has been used in India since 2000 BC. Ayurvedic medicine uses castor oil to treat arthritis. The oil contains undecylenic acid which is a powerful antifungal agent (only for use on the skin due to it's internal toxicity). In the modern food industry, castor oil is used in food additives, flavourings, candy (e.g., chocolate), as a mould inhibitor, and in packaging. Edgar Cayce recommends castor oil packs to improve the assimilation of nutrients from food, improve elimination of wastes and increase circulation, especially in relation to the lymphatic system.
Raw castor beans or oil are quite toxic when taken internally – just one bean if eaten would be enough to kill a human being.
Castor oil appears to have a unique ability to sink transdermally (through the skin) due to it's high molecular weight, to relax smooth muscle. This simple mechanical action has a beneficial influence on all hollow organs, specifically the blood and lymph vessels, the uterus, fallopian tubes, bowels, gall bladder, and even the liver (which is not technically hollow but rather filled with venous lakes).
A castor oil pack is placed on the skin to increase circulation and to promote elimination and healing of the tissues and organs underneath the pack. It is often used to stimulate the liver, relieve pain, increase lymphatic circulation, reduce inflammation, improve digestion, as a treatment for headaches, liver disorders, constipation and intestinal disorders, gallbladder inflammation and gallstones.
It is also of specific use in treating uterine fibroids and non-cancerous ovarian cysts as well as relieving ovarian pain, inflammation and help the healing process after a cyst has ruptured. Castor oil heat packs increases the efficiency of circulation through the pelvic region in general and good circulation is required for supportive nutrients to be delivered to the cells, and for waste products and inflammatory factors to be removed. If a castor oil pack is placed over your liver area, it will help your liver to do its work more efficiently, including the metabolism of your hormones.
It is recommended not to use a heated castor oil pack for uterine growths, cancerous tumors or ulcers or if you are pregnant, breast feeding, menstruating or over the top of broken skin.
You can use either cotton or wool between you and the heat pack and you can also either saturate the cotton/wool or rub a generous amount of the oil directly onto your stomach. If you choose to saturate the flannel, make sure it is not so saturated that it drips as this will not help you but rather make the process extremely messy. Make sure you have some plastic between the heat and your flannel so the oil doesn't go everywhere and you may want to put an old towel over the top and tucked in around your sides to protect your sheets/clothes. Put some sort of heating pad over the top, either a hot water bottle or I use one of those instant/reusable sodium acetate packs for a gentle, penetrating warmth. Rest for at least 30 minutes preferably an hour or two. I often do it before bedtime, but sometimes during the day if I want an excuse for a relaxing nap :-) I also find it helps to keep one of those ziplock plastic sandwich bags or an icecream container beside the bed to dump anything oily into until I want to deal with it, so I don't have to get up in the middle of the night.
You can use the pack over and over until it starts to smell from oxidisation. It is best to store your packs in the refrigerator between use so the oil doesn't oxidise. Just make sure you warm them up before reusing them ... you want to soothe and relaxe your muscles not shock them with icy cold oil! You can warm it up by sitting it on top of a heat pack for a few minutes before applying it to yourself, or just leaving it out to come up to room temperature for a few hours.
To be effective, a castor oil pack must be used at least 3 times a week, and the more frequently you can use it, the better your results will be.
thanks, everyone, for all the information. i'm definitely going to give this a try!
and i thought this was also really interesting: If a castor oil pack is placed over your liver area, it will help your liver to do its work more efficiently, including the metabolism of your hormones.
seems to me that w/out a healthy liver, we're just complicating matters (which is why i have a hard time going on prescription medication, since many of the side effects are "liver damage"--seems counter productive).
seems to me that w/out a healthy liver, we're just complicating matters (which is why i have a hard time going on prescription medication, since many of the side effects are "liver damage"--seems counter productive).
That is absolutely correct Betty and a major case against taking meds if not absolutely necessary. They may possibly make your life easier in the short term, depending on the situation, but long term they have a very good chance of making your life much harder.
Why thanks Mizzstee :-) Maybe if I can't find a job soon, I'll go into writing I kinda miss healthcare ... but project management just pays so much better. Glad to have you back on the wagon with us it does make you feel so relaxed doesn't it? I've been having the strangest dreams since I've started doing it. I'll have to dig out my old Edgar Cayce book and see what he says about the castor oil packs. I know he recommends them for a few things.
HA ha.. You really miss it?... What sort of project management are you doin? is it property like my husband?.............. Sorry for being nosey?... Ignore me if you like lol!
I STILL work in health care but getting a little bored of it, would love to work with big cats!!!!!!!!! I WISHED
I Have read that as it the castor oil cleanses you, you can have lots of old memories occurr, and that is exactly what happens to me. I only remember this because it is happening to me. Maybe your dreams are another way of this showing through
will be focusing on the Liver to !!
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I Have read that as it the castor oil cleanses you, you can have lots of old memories occurr, and that is exactly what happens to me. I only remember this because it is happening to me. Maybe your dreams are another way of this showing through
that's so interesting...and makes sense. i often wonder about repressed feelings and emotions and pcos. i find that emotional cleansing often accompanies physical cleansing. so interesting...
i just bought a hot water bottle today and am going to get started on this this weekend! i really hope it helps, since for the last 2 weeks of my cycle, i feel pressure and twingy-ness (not a word, eh?) around my ovaries--usually my right & i do know that i have cysts. we'll see!
that's so interesting...and makes sense. i often wonder about repressed feelings and emotions and pcos. i find that emotional cleansing often accompanies physical cleansing. so interesting...
Since starting the castor oil I have been having really vivid dreams...so its interesting that you mentioned this...
__________________ Ruby: 25, Chad: 27
TTC #1: Since 3/2008.
Taking a TTC break as of 3/2009
Meds:
Ocella
"There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats." Albert Schweitzer
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