How does Castor Oil work?
Castor oil is no doubt a God-given substance provided for our benefit, but its healing mechanism is still not well understood.
Two separate studies found that abdominal CO packs significantly increases lymphocyte production (compared to those using placebo packs). Lymphocytes are the disease-fighting cells produced by your immune system. Lymphocytes are located mainly in the thymus gland, spleen, and lymph nodes, as well as the tiny patches of lymphatic tissue that line the small intestine, called Peyer's patches.
One double-blind study, described by Harvey Grady in a report entitled Immunomodulation through Castor Oil Packs published in a recent issue of the Journal of Naturopathic Medicine, examined lymphocyte values of 36 healthy subjects before and after topical CO application. This study identified CO as an anti-toxin, which has impact on the lymphatic system, and thus enhancing immunological function. The study found that CO pack therapy of a minimal 2 hour durationproduced a significant increase in the number of T-11 cells, that increased over a 7 hour period, then returned to normal during the 24-hours following treatment, with a concurrent increase in the number of total lymphocytes. This T-11 cell increase represents a general boost in the body's specific defense status, since lymphocytes actively defend the health of the body by forming antibodies against pathogens and their toxins. T-cell lymphocytes originate from bone marrow and the thymus gland as small lymphocytes that identify and kill viruses, fungi, bacteria, and cancer cells. T-11 cell lymphocytes supply a fundamental antibody capability to keep the specific defense system strong.
The Oil That Heals: A Physician's Successes With Castor Oil Treatments by William A., M.D. McGarey
Possible Peyers Patches ConnectionEdgar Cayce suggests that CO packs strengthen the Peyer's Patches. Embedded in the lining of the lower small intestine, Peyer's patches are oval shaped areas of thickened lymphatic tissue (much like lymph nodes), a few centimeters in length. Part of the immune system, they contain white blood cells (especially B-cells) ready to attack and control growth of pathogenic bacteria in their locale. An adult has an average of about 30--40 Peyer's patches, less than when they were younger.
Cayce associated Peyer's patches with longevity and maintenance of good health. According to Cayce, when a SUBSTANCE produced by the Peyers Patches reaches the autonomous and the cerebrospinal nervous system via the blood stream, it facilitates electrical contact between them. Thus Cayce is inferring that to an extent, the health of the ENTIRE NERVOUS SYSTEM is maintained through the SUBSTANCE produced by the Peyer's Patches when they are in good health.
Castor oil is the only significant natural source of RICINOLEIC ACID. This unique fatty acid - the only 18 carbon-chain FA with one just one double carbon bond - has a vibrational frequency believed to promote healing in body cells. Its ONE double carbon bond may possibly work to attract, store and resonate with sun energy, much the same way as flax seed does.
Castor oil benefits are at least partly due to its ability to drain the lymph.
