Castor Oil Packs For Fibroids

For more discussion on the benefits of castor oil packs for fibroids click here.

 

As mentioned in the linked post, castor oil packs were popularized by the psychic healer Edgar Cayce to treat many ailments besides fibroids such as many other tumors, cancer, arthritis, liver ailments, multiple sclerosis, appendicitis and other intestinal issues, cerebral palsy, cramps, epilepsy, etc.

Using castor oil packs is definitely an economical way to get rid of fibroids.

 

Do exercise caution and do talk to a medical practitioner because as with any kind of treatment, while it may work for one and not cause any issues, it may not work for you.

 

Also perform a patch test to ensure that you are not allergic or that castor oil does not cause any other skin irritations for you.

How To Use Castor Oil Packs for Fibroids

1. You need high quality castor oil (organic and cold pressed) which is obtained from the castor seed (Ricinus communis) through the process of cold pressing to ensure that there are no contaminants such as pesticides or other toxic agents. It is even better if the labeling indicates that organically grown seeds were used.
2. You will also need an unbleached piece of flannel cloth that when folded 3 times can adequately cover the stomach and liver areas. Or alternatively you can get 3 separate large flannel pieces that you can combine to use in the pack.
3. A heating pad or hot water bottle. The heat is thought to allow better absorption of the oil through the skin.
4. Plastic wrap.
5. Old towel or towels

Application of Castor Oil Packs For Fibroids

1. Saturate the 3 layers of the flannel cloth with castor oil. Ensure that the flannel is saturated but not dripping with oil.
2. Lie flat on your back and elevate you feet. This can be done by simply placing some pillows underneath your knees and feet.
3. Place the soaked flannel cloth on your abdomen.
4. Cover with the plastic wrap.
5. Place the heating pack or hot water bottle on top of the plastic wrap.
6. Cover with the old towel to insulate the heat.
7. Use the pack for 45 to 60 minutes

IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER

1. This entire process can be messy as the castor oil is very thick so you may need additional old towels and T-shirts to place underneath you. Castor oil can stain so keep the items used separate from your other good clothing and belongings.
2. Start off using the pack for four consecutive days per week and resting for the rest of the week and increase if desired.
3. The science behind using castor oil is little to none so there is no guidance on how long you should use castor oil packs. However, you should probably be able to tell within two to four weeks whether you are getting any benefits or not and then continue or discontinue use.
4. If you are trying to conceive, do not use castor oil packs as the heat applied is not ideal when trying to get pregnant.
5. Avoid use during menstruation.

To Store Used Castor Oil Packs

After use, keep the castor oil pack in a tightly sealed Ziploc bag and keep beside your bed, in a cupboard, etc. To reuse, simply remove from the Ziploc bag and dip in additional castor oil if necessary and reapply. Throw away the pack when it starts to change color.

 

Castor oil packs for fibroids are definitely something to consider if looking for a natural treatment of fibroids. There are many other natural remedies for fibroids many of which are contained in the e-book on the right.

 

 

If you do try a castor oil pack, please report back on your results (or lack of results!) in the comment section below.

 

Natural Treatment Of Fibroids Using Castor Oil Packs

Growing on the uterine walls or out from the uterus, uterine fibroids are usually non cancerous growths that comprise of smooth muscle fibers and connective tissues. While there are many treatment options for these growths, natural treatment of fibroids has been found to be effective and one of the ways to get rid of fibroids naturally is through the use of castor oil packs.

Uterine Fibroid Symptoms

These benign growths on the uterus can produce symptoms and there are also circumstances when symptoms are not evident and they are usually discovered during routine cervical exams.

When symptoms are produced, they usually include lower abdominal pain, pain during the monthly menstrual cycle and heavy menstrual cycles that last longer than the usual. Fibroid tumors grow very slowly and can vary in size and shape. When they become quite large, they can press upon the intestines as well as the bladder leading to constipation or the need to urinate frequently. For very advanced tumors another of the symptoms of uterine fibroids is that the stomach will appear larger.

Treatment

For less severe fibroids, doctors simply monitor whether there is a change in size or properties of the tumors. If the fibroids remain unchanged, remain small and if they produce no symptoms, then nothing is usually done besides regular monitoring.

 

If however, the fibroids continue to increase in size and cause symptoms, medical intervention may be necessary. The two most commonly recommended surgeries are the myomectomy when only the tumor(s) is(are) removed or a hysterectomy in which case the entire uterus is removed making it impossible for any fibroids to ever grow again. No uterus means no fibroids.

 

With a myomectomy, there is always a chance of fibroids growing again although the woman will still remain reproductive. With a hysterectomy, pregnancy is no longer possible as no uterus will exist in the body after surgery.

Natural Treatment of Fibroids

Leaving fibroids alone may work for some women especially without the presence of any symptoms but even this position will lead to problems later especially if you wish to become pregnant. While the causes of fibroid tumors remain unknown, it is thought that the presence of the female hormone estrogen  is to blame which is why fibroids usually recede when menopause rolls around when estrogen production decreases.

 

The female reproductive years means the estrogen production is at its height and when you get pregnant and as the baby grows, you will find that even dormant fibroids will begin to increase in size which can cause complications and even require surgery which is why it is important to seek treatment for all fibroids and natural remedies for fibroids may help.

 

Treating fibroids naturally is also a great alternative to surgery due to surgery being expensive and also having various unpleasant side effects.

 

One of the most common natural treatments of fibroids is through the use of castor oil packs.

Castor Oil

The use of castor oil to treat various ailments besides constipation or to induce labor that most people know about goes back many centuries. The science behind the health benefits of castor oil is very little requiring caution to be used if you do decide to use castor oil to treat fibroids or other ailments.

The use of castor oil as a natural remedy dates back centuries and there are many glowing reports from the use of castor oil to treat various conditions. Castor oil has various anti-viral, anti-bacterial as well as anti-fungal properties that help with the treatment of various conditions, in order to reduce pain as well as to stimulate the immune system.

 

Stimulating the immune system is the part that is important for fibroid tumor treatment through the characteristic of pure castor oil. 90% of the fatty acids found in castor oil are made up of ricinoleic acid which is thought to be the reason behind castor oil’s healing properties.

 

Castor oil supports the immune system when it is applied topically and not ingested as you would do with constipation or to induce labor.

 

The external application of castor oil allowing the oil to be absorbed through the skin gave rise to castor oil packs that were popularized by the natural healing guru Edgar Cayce who died in the 1940s. Castor oil packs are thought to improve the thymus gland in addition to other areas of the immune system.

 

A few studies using castor oil packs have shown that castor oil packs applied to the abdomen cause significant increase in lymphocyte production. Lymphocytes found in the lymphatic tissue are disease fighting cells and when these cells are increased, they drive out more of the toxins that lead to sickness and disease in the body such as fibroid tumors.

 

Castor oil as a natural remedy can be applied topically any number of ways such as simply rubbing the oil on the affected area. However, castor oil packs are the ones for which most people looking for natural remedies give the most positive feedback for.

 

A castor oil pack features a flannel cloth soaked in pure castor oil and applied to the stomach area for a period of time with a heating pad allowing the healing properties of the castor oil to be absorbed through the skin.

 

Natural treatment of fibroids almost always leads to the use of castor oil packs. For step by step guidance on using a castor oil pack as well as tips on finding the right castor oil, see the previous post.

Taking Your Health In Your Own Hands When Uterine Fibroids Are An Issue

The benign tumors only become an issue when they produce related uterine fibroids symptoms such as pelvic pain and pressure, constipation, frequent urination, excessive bleeding or periods that last longer than usual, leg pains, etc. When faced with these symptoms, it is important not to panic and instead take your own health into your hands by getting as much information as you can on fibroids and various treatment methods.

Taking Control of Uterine Fibroids and Uterine Fibroids Symptoms

It is important to note as well that the tumors experienced by most women do not produce any uterine fibroids symptoms and because of this, they may go unnoticed. If you are troubled by the various symptoms, it is important to see your doctor for a diagnosis and to get a referral to an appropriate specialist.

An important part of overcoming fibroids is to not feel powerless or victimized. This will allow you to not only obtain the necessary information from the specialist you see but you will also be able to search for information elsewhere and decide the course of action that works best for you.

This independent research is important because you receive conflicting answers from doctors. Some may tell you to wait and just monitor the fibroids periodically for any changes. Others may want to take action immediately including recommending surgery. But since this is your body, you need to weigh the information and not rush into making any decision that you may regret later on.

While in the process of deciding on the best treatment option for you or no treatment at all, it is still important to monitor fibroids once a year to see whether there is any change in size or in the properties of the fibroids. Fibroids are usually monitored with an ultrasound. Fibroids usually grow very slowly and the larger they get, the more difficult they will be to remove.

Compare the growth of your fibroids or lack thereof with your doctor each year and determine whether there have been any changes from the prior year and how many you have and determine whether you need to have them removed or simply continue to monitor them.

If you suffer from various uterine fibroids symptoms, you may be able to get information from many sources on how to deal effectively with these symptoms. Surgery should always be a last option due to the expense as well as the associated risk factors. In addition, unless you decide to go ahead with a hysterectomy that removes the entire uterus, the fibroids may still return when other surgeries are performed.

There are many home remedies that you can use to deal with uterine fibroids symptoms and being proactive about dealing with fibroids will help you find various remedies and solutions that will help with fibroids.

Many treatments for fibroids are being discovered everyday so it is important to not just rely on your doctor for information. Do your own independent research on fibroids and uterine fibroids symptoms.  Doctors do have a lot of experience and knowledge but it is impossible for them to know every single medical development in treatments and procedures so you are better off being proactive about your condition.

In addition, while there are many good doctors there are also many bad doctors who may not take your symptoms seriously or suggest courses of action that may not be wise at the present time.

Take responsibility for your body. If you are experiencing various uterine fibroids symptoms, get as much information as you can on treatments. You never know, all you may need to do is make some lifestyle changes or use various fibroid natural treatment methods without resorting to surgery.

The Use of Hysterectomies To Deal With Fibroids and Uterine Fibroids Symptoms

While many women will develop fibroids at some point during their childbearing years, most will not suffer from any uterine fibroids symptoms which means that these women will not even be aware that they have these benign (cancer free) tumors. A few other women will suffer from severe symptoms that will require medical attention including a hysterectomy.

Fibroids are tumors that grow within the walls of the uterus or can grow out from the uterus. Very rarely may they grow on the cervix. In a few cases these fibroid tumors fill the uterus entirely, push out through the cervix and appear in the vagina.

The uterine fibroids symptoms if experienced at all by a few women include a heavy and prolonged menstrual cycle, pelvic pain and pressure, backache, leg pains, constipation, frequent urination or problems urinating, etc.

Medical attention is usually required when the uterine fibroids symptoms that you suffer from include very severe bleeding from the vagina as well as a sudden sharp pain in the pelvic area.

Hysterectomy for Dealing with Uterine Fibroids Symptoms

While the majority of hysterectomies performed each year are usually performed as a result of symptomatic fibroids, this surgery is usually recommended as a last resort when all other treatment options fail if you suffer from severe uterine fibroids symptoms.

Most of these tumors rarely require medical intervention and are simply monitored periodically by a doctor. If however, they produce complications such as causing severe bleeding and pelvic pain, surgery may be recommended.

As a last resort, a hysterectomy is usually recommended for women that are past their childbearing years or women who have no desire to bear children. This is because a hysterectomy makes pregnancy impossible by the removal of the uterus which leads to the termination of monthly menstrual cycles as well as the ability to bear children.

A hysterectomy is usually recommended for symptomatic fibroids because without a uterus, no tumors can be produced. This surgical procedure gets rid of these tumors for good.

A total hysterectomy involves the removal of the entire uterus and the cervix. A partial hysterectomy which is rarely performed today involves the removal of the uterus while leaving the cervix intact.

When a hysterectomy is performed, the uterus is removed either through an incision in the abdomen or through the vagina. When the surgery is performed through the vagina, the top of the vagina is sewn back together after the surgery. Because there isn't an external incision, there is no scar and the healing time is usually shortened than if the procedure was performed through an incision in the abdomen.

Hysterectomies usually do not interfere with or reduce a woman's libido or the pleasure derived from sexual intercourse. It also does not lead to weight gain contrary to popular belief.

The disadvantages of hysterectomies include but are not limited to the inability to bear children, are very expensive and in some cases may lead to early menopause. You may also have to deal with scarring if performed though an abdominal incision.

Before opting to use surgery to overcome fibroids and the various uterine fibroids symptoms, many women are turning to natural or holistic methods which have been proven to be very successful in curing these tumors and the symptoms. 

Plagued By Fibroids? Get The 411 On Uterine Fibroids Symptoms And Conventional Treatment

While many women do not produce uterine fibroids symptoms and may not even be aware that they have these tumors, many others experience various symptoms. Although what causes fibroids remains unknown, it has been noted that women with a family history of fibroids tumors are at greater risk. In addition, black women have been found to develop these tumors in greater numbers than women of other races.

The great news is that fibroids are usually benign (no cancer properties) growths that are found on or in the uterine wall and may navigate in a few cases outside the uterus. Believed to be a reaction to the high estrogen levels during childbearing years, these growths are common to women of childbearing age which may explain why menopausal women experience a reduction in these tumors.

The types of fibroids that a woman can develop include submucosal fibroids that develop on the inner uterine wall which can cause heavy periods that last longer than normal and subserosal fibroids that develop on the outside of the uterine wall and lead to pressure on various organs such as the bladder, rectum and various nerves in the spine leading to back pain which are some of the uterine fibroids symptoms.

Uterine Fibroids Symptoms

As mentioned, some women may not experience any uterine fibroids symptoms at all or any problems related to the tumors. For many other women, a few uterine fibroids symptoms include pelvic pain and pressure, heavy periods, the need to urinate frequently, problems being able to urinate due to pressure on the bladder by the fibroid tumor, being constipated from the pressure of the tumor on the rectum, back pain, pain in the upper thighs, periods that last beyond seven days, etc.

With the various uterine fibroids symptoms and not knowing when to seek treatment, the following signal that you should seek medical care immediately;

• If your pelvic pain or discomfort does not dissipate
• If you experience bleeding or spotting between menstrual cycles
• Prolonged constipation or difficulty urinating
• Painful and heavy menstrual cycles
• If you experience any pain during sexual intercourse
• Fever or fainting spells

Conventional Treatment

In the cases that treatment is necessary, you doctor will begin by simply monitoring the fibroids using an ultrasound to determine whether there is any change in the properties or the size of the fibroids. Medication to regulate the hormones and estrogen production may be suggested for less severe fibroids in order to shrink them or reduce the various uterine fibroids symptoms.

For more serious fibroids and uterine fibroids symptoms, a doctor will usually recommend a hysterectomy which is a form of surgical procedure that removes a woman's entire uterus which means that this woman will not be able to physically get pregnant and carry a child which may be more than most women who wish to procreate can bear. Without a uterus resulting from a hysterectomy, no fibroids can be produced. Besides the cessation of childbearing, this surgery is also expensive and can lead to various side effects including the premature start of menopause.

Another surgical procedure that is used in cases of less severe fibroid tumors is a myomectomy that removes the tumors while leaving a woman's uterus intact. A newer surgical procedure also for less severe tumors that will allow them to shrink is to clot the blood supply to the tumor in order to starve it which should hopefully cause it to shrink in size.

Besides the life changing hysterectomy, none of these conventional treatment methods lead to a cure for fibroids which is were natural treatment methods come in. There are various natural cures for fibroids and uterine fibroids symptoms that work effectively and prevent recurrence because they go to the root of the problem.

Uterine Fibroids Symptoms

What Are Fibroids? 

Affecting almost 40% of women at some point during the childbearing years, uterine fibroids are the most common tumors found on the uterus. The fibroid tumors are usually benign (non-cancerous). These tumors are usually made up of connective tissues and smooth muscle fibers.

Fibroids usually grow within the uterine wall and can sometimes attach themselves to the uterine wall. Fibroids can also develop as a single tumor or can be a cluster of tumors and can grow to any size whatsoever. Uterine fibroids usually grow very slowly and may fill the entire uterus, push through the cervix and show up in the vagina. They can grow to very large sizes especially when the woman is pregnant which can cause problems as the baby grows.