by Annette Green | Apr 14, 2023 | Fertility, Periods
Castor Oil ?What is castor oil While studying abdominal massage I also learnt about the wonders of castor oil for improving women’s health. For years I have been using castor oil with clients in my clinic and teaching my clients to use castor oils packs at home. I hear wonderful feedback from my clients about castor oil especially for women with endometriosis, period pain, following a cesarean section birth and those with digestive issues. Castor Oil Packs Castor oil is made by extracting the oil from castor beans (Rinicus communise). Castor oil has been used for hundreds of years in traditional medicine in various cultures. Edgar Cayce, an intuitive healer, helped popularize the many uses of castor oil in the western world. Castor oil packs have been used to treat many health conditions including small benign cysts, breast cysts, fibroids, ovarian cysts, adhesions from surgery including Caesarean section, endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). In addition to it’s wonderful healing work on the reproductive and digestive system, it has been used successfully to treat arthritis, liver and intestinal disorders, tumours and more. Castor oil is not recommended for internal use because it is a very strong laxative and could cause damage. ?How does castor oil work Castor oil has components that activate the function of the immune system in the areas where it is applied. The body heals pain in different areas faster with the help of the oil. Castor oil is able to penetrate deep into the skin layers and it helps in healing especially if there is a scar and/or adhesions. Castor oil has a unique chemical profile and is rich in ricinoleic acid, which is only found naturally in castor oil. Studies have shown an increase in lymphocyte production and the level of T cell activity, after applying castor oil to an area. T cells are produced in the bone marrow and thymus gland and are responsible for identifying and eliminating invaders such as viruses, bacteria and fungal infections and for increasing the activity of the immune system. Using castor oil dressings helps the body cleanse the body of toxins and improve lymph flow. Castor oil also has a balancing effect on the autonomic nervous system and improves liver and digestive system function. ?What is a castor oil pack The standard castor oil pack, as recommended by Edgar Casey, is made of several layers of woolen flannel fabric (cotton-based flannel fabric will also give excellent results) and involves soaking the fabric in castor oil and placing it on the place you want to heal. There is also an easier way which is detailed below. How to make a castor oil pack: Warning: Castor oil stains. So before you begin, make sure you have protected your bed/couch with an old towel and you are not wearing your favourite clothing. Supplies: Cold-pressed castor oil (available at local health stores and pharmacies, try to purchase the highest quality available. You can also order from abroad, for example from the iHerb.Wool/cotton flannel or a kitchen towel that you don’t need (it gets dirty), a tetra diaper or kitchen paper towelA second towel or blanketHot water bottle, microwave heating pad or electric heating padDisposable kitchen towel for wiping your hands Instructions: Gather all your supplies. Prepare the hot water bottle or heat your microwavable heat padPour a small amount of castor oil over the area you are treatingPlace the flannel or disposable kitchen towel over the area and cover with a towel to protect your hot water bottle/heat padPlace the hot water bottle or microwavable heat pad over flannel or kitchen towelPlace a second towel or blanket over the heat source to help retain the heatRelax for 30 or more minutes while the castor oil does it’s workWhile the castor oil pack is working, you may find it helpful to quietly meditate. Pay attention to any thoughts that arise. Journal any thoughts, feelings or images that arise during this rest time. How often should you use castor oil packs? If you are dealing with an acute situation: the recommendation is to perform the treatment five days in a row for half an hour and then two days off – do it for three weeks and then a week off (during menstruation). If you are trying to get pregnant, use castor oil packs for five consecutive days after the end of menstruation and then stop, because castor oil dressings are not used after ovulation while trying to conceive. When is it not recommended to use castor oil packs? Do not use during pregnancy Do not use during menstruation Do not use during diarrhea or active inflammation of the stomach If you are trying to get pregnant, use only after the end of menstrual bleeding until ovulation or insemination Castor oil packs are not used during fertility treatments while taking hormones. Consult your Sobada practitioner for more information. In any case of doubt, please consult a Sobada practitioner or another therapist with extensive experience in...
by Annette Green | May 31, 2021 | Uncategorized
It is very common for women to have spotting before and after their period but it’s not normal. Why do you have spotting? General weakness in your uterus: when it’s time for your period, your uterus contracts gently to release the uterine lining that has built up during the month. That process should be only a few days long and it should start and end with fresh blood flow and without spotting. When you do experience spotting it is a sign of weakness, your uterus can’t hold the blood in and it starts releasing before it should. Low progesterone: Estregon, the hormone that is dominant in the first half of the cycle gets most of the glory but it’s progesterone that is responsible for keeping your uterine lining in place until your period is due and sustaining a potential pregnancy. Once the egg ruptures at ovulation, the leftover follicle on your ovary, now called the corpus luteum (literally yellow body), produces progesterone. If blood flow is compromised to your abdomen and pelvis and your ovaries aren’t receiving the blood, lymph and general energy they require, the corpus luteum may not be able to produce enough progesterone or continue producing it for long enough. Both of these scenarios could impact on your ability to conceive and to sustain a pregnancy and it could mean your cycles are very short. Ideally the luteal phase (between ovulation and your period) should be between 11 and 16 days. Why is it important to have high enough progesterone levels? In addition to getting pregnant, having sufficiently high enough levels of progesterone is important because it helps lighten your periods, regulates immune function, reduces inflammation and supports healthy brain, bones, thyroid and breasts. The only way to produce progesterone is through ovulation. Your overall health is going to have a big impact on your menstrual cycle and your menstrual cycle reflects your overall health. Especially for women who are charting their cycles (Fertility Awareness Method) If you’re taking your basal body temperature each morning and charting cervical mucus here’s how to spot a progesterone related problem: Low temperatures during the luteal phase: progesterone causes your basal body temperature to rise. If your temperature rise is very low or you see temperatures dipping below the coverline following ovulation your progesterone levels are probably low. A short luteal phase: Your luteal phase should be at least 11 days long. Any less than that indicates progesterone levels might be too low. Fertile mucus in the luteal phase: One of progesterone’s roles is to dry up fertile mucus. If you’re noticing fertile cervical mucus after ovulation, it sounds like your progesterone levels aren’t high enough. Spotting in the luteal phase: Progesterone is what holds the uterine lining in place until your body is sure you haven’t conceived. If bleeding starts early, even if it’s just spotting, it’s a sign progesterone isn’t high enough. How can you prevent pre-period spotting? I use a combination of Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Massage which consists of massage techniques on the abdomen and back to gently encourage improved blood flow to the organs in the pelvis – ovaries, uterus, intestines, etc and remove any restrictions that may be impeding that flow. In addition to blood flow, we are encouraging good flow of lymph, nerve energy and general energy (called Chi in Chinese Medicine and chu-el in the Maya tradition) to the whole of the pelvis. When your ovaries are receiving all the nutrients they need they are more likely to produce a healthy follicle that in turn leads to a healthy egg at ovulation and the corpus luteum producing enough progesterone after ovulation. In addition to performing the massage techniques on you, I teach you to complete a short massage technique on your own at home which complements the treatment with me. Together we look at lifestyle issues which may be impacting your cycle like nutrition, movement, sleep and stress levels and I’ll give you suggestions of small changes that can support you in having healthier cycles. Once you make changes how soon can you expect results? It’s a little known fact that a fully developed egg released at ovulation has been developing for approximately 100 days. What you were doing, eating and experiencing (ie stress levels) three months ago is going to impact your ovulation now. So if you are receiving holistic treatment to improve your cycles and ovulation you may need to be patient and wait three months to see results. For Orthodox Jewish women who observe Taharat Hamishpacha Spotting before and/or after your period can make a huge difference to how long you are considered niddah. Ideally you want to be able to do a bedika and start counting seven clean days as soon as possible. Unfortunately, many women who experience spotting mistakenly think there isn’t much they can do to change the situation. As you can read above, there are different things...
English