Castor Oil for Lymphedema

Dejaboo
Dejaboo Member Posts: 2,916
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema

I decided to start a thread just for the discussion of Castor Oil...Since the other thread didnt mention it in the subject:

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/64/topic/803435?page=2#post_3879898

After seeing the above  thread I researched Castor Oil & decided to try it myself.   I tried it on Jan 21st.  I wore a Oil pack that I made for about 4 hours.   After I took it off...My worst area on the side of my Chest felt so much better!  2 hours later my arm felt worse then normal & the front of my chest hurt more then normal.  They both hurt more then normal til the next day...Then they started to settle back to their normal (My arm usually doesnt hurt alot)  My truncal LE couses me alot of daily pain.  I wear compression 24/7 on my trunk & a sleeve during the day.

I have used a Pack 4 times total (the 21st, the 23rd, 26th & today)  I put it on the pain area on the side of my chest.  2 of the times I added some oil to the underside of my arm- where I have some pain.  (that pain area has felt better since after that 1st day)  My arm pain as remained 'normal' after that 1st day.   Some days the front of my chest still has pain.

My side pain as stayed good- all except one day I had alot of shooting pain in my bad area for about 2 hrs (was wierd)

I actually wake up with no pain!   Normally the 2nd I get out of bed & move- I have truncal pain.   I have had full mornings without pain...if I get pain it is more on the front then on the side.

My sports bra that I wear during the day is looser then normal- around & in the cup!   I did not realize how swollen my chest was.

For me- so far the Castor Oil is working very good!

 

If anyone else tries it- please post here.

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Comments

  • kimber_1616
    kimber_1616 Member Posts: 99
    edited January 2014

    how are you making the packs?

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  • Dejaboo
    Dejaboo Member Posts: 2,916
    edited January 2014


    I actually dabbed the oil onto my skin.  Then put a cut up folded Tshirt over the oil area.  Then a layer of saran wrap (to protect my bra)  & then my bra (which is what I wear for compression) to hold it all in place.

    If you decide to try this- Please google Castor oil & read up about it then decide for yourself if you want to give it a try.

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  • kimber_1616
    kimber_1616 Member Posts: 99
    edited February 2014

    interesting! Right now I am experimenting with cannibas salve for pain relief. (Which works) I will definitely investigate this. 

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  • Dejaboo
    Dejaboo Member Posts: 2,916
    edited February 2014

    The cannibis salve sounds interesting too Kimber.  How do you make/use that?

    Let us know how it works for you

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  • Dejaboo
    Dejaboo Member Posts: 2,916
    edited February 2014


    I am happy to say that my truncal LE is still doing good with the Castor oil packs (so is my arm- that has always given me less problems/pain)  It has been 23 days since I started the Castor Oil

    I did one pack last week & one this week.  I may do one next week & then stop & see how long the castor oil works

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2014

    Dejaboo, Interesting. Lately Ive seen Castor oil bob up on my travels on BCO but havent paid much attention. Just googled "saran wrap" and if anyones interested, its got quite a few names. Its called gladwrap in NZ.

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  • Dejaboo
    Dejaboo Member Posts: 2,916
    edited February 2014


    Yes, Musical it is an interesting Oil.   It seems to have many uses.   I did one pack last Monday.  I am going to skip them now & see how far I go.  I started lifting my light weights again last Thursday...10 minutes of my Lightest lift (I really never increase the weight-I never get that far.)  I did have increased pain on Fri...It leveled off on Sat & was even a bit better Sun.

    We have Glad wrap here too, Saran & I am actually just using generic Plastic Wrap : )

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2014

    Thanks Dejaboo for getting back on this. Be interested to see how you go a little more down the track.  Its great to hear success stories on LE!

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  • cider8
    cider8 Member Posts: 832
    edited February 2014

    very interesting..!

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  • Dejaboo
    Dejaboo Member Posts: 2,916
    edited March 2014

    update:

    Beginning about 1 week after I started the Castor Oil I started to get heart burn.  Within a week of that starting I was getting heartburn Every single day!  Sometimes it would last all day long-So about 4-5 weeks of constant heartburn.  Even drinking water caused it. (I normally get heartburn about 1 time a month)

    This was not good & kind of scary to me.  I thought well maybe it is not the castor oil...But figure it probably is.

    It has been over a month since I have used a pack.  My heart burn started to lessen about 2.5 weeks ago.  (less mild & not everyday)  I have not had it for several days now.

    On a better note- In that same time frame I did have 1 bad week where my LE was very painful...it was probably 10 days into weight lifting.  That subsided in a few days & I am still lifting weights.  I have even increased the weight a little this week & Have not had an increase in pain or swelling  (although it seems like everytime I mention progress to people...then I end up having problems in a day or 2- LOL)

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