DESCRIPTION
Derived from the castor bean plant, castor oil is most often recommended in the Cayce readings for external application in the form of packs and as a massage oil.  Only rarely do the readings recommend castor oil as a cathartic, generally preferring less drastic means of cleansing the intestines.

CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
As a severe cathartic, castor oil is used for cleansing of the intestinal tract.  As used for external application, the action of castor oil is not known.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Castor oil is used in massage, including application for callouses, cancer (skin and breast), cysts, bunions, moles, tumors and warts.  Castor oil in the form of packs, however, is the most common usage.  Castor oil packs are indicated most often for cholecystitis (inflammation of the gall bladder), poor eliminations, epilepsy (for which they were almost a specific), various liver conditions such as cirrhosis and torpid liver, and scleroderma; and also for headaches, appendicitis, arthritis, incoordination between assimilations and eliminations, colitis, intestinal disorders such as stricture and colon impaction, incoordination between nervous systems, neuritis, and toxemia.

CONTRAINDICATIONS
Applied externally, no known contraindications.

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
A typical application involves a series of three sessions (one hour each) per week on consecutive days followed by at least two tablespoons of olive oil taken internally.  The hot packs are usually applied over the liver and gall duct area down to the cecum on the right side of the abdomen.  An electric hot pad keeps the pack warm.  See quote for below for more details on administration.

BRAND NAME
    Castor Oil - Baar Products
    Castor Oil - Heritage Store

HOW SUPPLIED
    4 oz
    8 oz
    1 pt
    1 qt
    1 gal
 

    Use Castor Oil Packs for one hour each day for three days in succession each week, for a period of at least three weeks.  This should be used in the evening when the body is ready to retire.  Saturate three to four thicknesses of heavy flannel (preferably old flannel) with Castor Oil.  Saturate, not just pour on.  Apply this over the liver and gall duct area and let it extend to the caecum on the right side.  When this has been covered with cloths to prevent soiling of bed linens, apply the electric pad and this keep good and hot, as hot as the body can stand.  When each Pack is taken off, sponge the body off with a weak solution of soda water, and then massage Glyco-Thymoline into the areas, especially the caecum and gall duct areas.  This should be done for three days, and for an hour each day.  After the third application, the last day each week, take two tablespoonsful of Olive Oil.  Then leave off these Packs until the next week, then repeat for three days in the same manner.