
Castor oil is one of the most common kitchen cabinet folk remedies used to promote healthy digestion each season, otherwise known as a colon cleansing. But did you know that you can also dissolve cysts and tumors naturally with castor oil?
Almost everyone has heard stories about “Grandma’s traditional spring castor oil cleanse.” Are you one of those people who had one? Castor oil is great for a cleanse but that isn’t even the most amazing benefit that castor oil offers.
The best thing about castor oil is that you can apply it topically and naturally dissolve cysts and tumors! Seriously. I’m not kidding about this, because I have done it.
What is Castor Oil
Castor oil is a wonder-substance, which comes from the seeds of the castor plant (Ricinus communis). Historically, castor oil has been documented for medicinal use as early as 1550 B.C. by Egyptians, although cultures with oral histories have been using it even longer. It has also been known as Palma Christi, or Palm of Christ, for its miraculous healing properties.
This thick, viscous oil has a strong odor and taste and can be tricky to use, but its benefits are well worth the effort.
One of the great points about castor oil is that it’s easily accessible in pharmacies and/or health shops worldwide. Plus, it’s not expensive!

Although castor oil was known and used in ancient times, it was “rediscovered” by the west during the 1920’s. When Europe and America became involved in eastern mysticism, the study of ancient healing modalities came right along with it.
One key proponent of castor oil for improving health was Edgar Cayce. He was a simple American farm boy who became well known in the metaphysical and spiritualist circles for his psychic experiences.
During Cayce’s trance experiences, he often cognized prescriptions for healing the physical complaints of his clients. Castor oil regularly came up in his readings as a solution to various ailments. His teachings eventually (although unintentionally) became the cornerstone for the New Age Movement that is so popular today. Before his passing, Cayce set up a foundation that continues to make his teachings available. The Heritage Store, founded by one of Cayce’s advocates, is one of the best sources today for pure castor oil and other therapeutic products.
This east-meets-west phenomena brought yoga postures, meditation and Ayurveda into western cultures many decades ago. Therefore, castor oil detoxes have become popular these days among those who strive for better health.
Jay and I learned more about castor oil when we studied Ayurveda, India’s traditional herbal medicine tradition. One of Ayurveda’s most important healing modalities is the castor oil cleanse during a seasonal purification spa-type treatment.
My first experience of taking castor oil internally, under the direction of an Ayurvedic physician, was powerful!
But like I said, that is not even the most stunningly effective use for castor oil.
Castor Oil Uses and Health Benefits
1. Helps Shrink Tumors, Cysts and Warts
Many people are not aware that castor oil is a discutient. That means, it has the ability to draw out harmful toxins that build up in bodily tissues. This is most often attributed to one of its active ingredients, Ricinoeic acid, which is a rare Omega-9 fatty acid.
To effectively shrink large or persistent tumors and cysts we need to apply a castor oil pack to the area. A castor oil pack is usually a large square of absorbent 100% cotton or wool fabric soaked in castor oil. We place the pack on the problem area and cover with a towel (or cover the soaked fabric with a layer of plastic wrap). We then apply a heating pad over the covered pack. The heat allows the area to absorb the castor oil into the body’s lymphatic system, promoting drainage of accumulated toxins.
One type of cyst, known as a sebaceous cyst, usually appears due to a clogged hair follicle that traps oil and sebum from the scalp or skin, forming a waxy nodule. In the case of sebaceous cysts, castor oil may not appear to have an effect for several treatments. Then the cyst will contract and draw upwards as the oil or sebum is drawn to the surface of the cyst. At some point the cyst will open up and the icky old matter will drain out. This process may happen more than once before the cyst is fully dissolved.
Castor oil is also effective in dissolving:
- Fibroadenomas (benign breast lumps made up of glandular and fibrous tissue)
- Lipomas (painless lumps beneath the skin made up of fatty tissue)
- Ganglion cysts (round, hard, fluid-filled lumps that grow on joints, most commonly wrists and tendons)
- Ovarian cysts (either fluid filled or solid sacs that grow within or on the outside of an ovary)
- Uterine fibroid tumors (tumors that grow as single tumor or in clumps, either within the uterus or within or on the outside of the uterine wall)
- Dermatofibromas (fibrous nodules or lumps that appear under the skin, usually on legs or arms
What about those tumors that you cannot visibly see or feel?
Heated castor oils packs, placed over the area in question, can penetrate the skin and reach the deeper layers of tissue, including the tumor. It is our opinion that castor oil certainly could dissolve a deeper seated tumor.
It is most effective to leave a castor oil pack on for at least 2-3 hours at a time. As with most natural remedies, results do not happen instantly and will require patience for the best outcome.
For small cysts or warts, it may be possible to simply rub castor oil over the affected area several times per day, leaving the oil to soak in through the skin.
For ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids and breast fibroadenomas, 45-minute treatments of castor oil packs with heat over several months time, are advised.
Reminder: If you have been to a medical doctor and have been diagnosed with a tumor, (even if you can’t feel it) please consult with your doctor about your plan to use castor oil, especially if you are currently undergoing treatment for the tumor.
Regarding Cancerous Tumors
I want to mention something here about cancerous tumors. We have heard positive anecdotal stories about the use of castor oil on cancerous tumors, but… we have no direct personal experience with that. If you are currently seeking to dissolve a cancerous tumor with castor oil, please get the advice of a natural health care practitioner who either has experience with this, or will assist you to go through the process.
Please note: This comment is that of a non-medical layperson and is not a replacement for medical advice. Any action taken is your own personal responsibility. But, if you want options that fall outside of the medical advice that you have received, please find a local natural practitioner who will help you with your specific situation!
As I stated earlier, I do believe that castor oil is one of those marvelous miraculous gifts of nature… so I hope that everyone who chooses to use castor oil finds their own personal miracle.
Regardless of what type of tumor you are trying to resolve, the process will involve the tumor material being drawn out and released. For this reason, you should always accompany any use of a discutient (such as castor oil) with the use of supporting herbs known to remove unwanted toxic material from the body.
For this purpose , we suggest manjishta, a very powerful herb that come highly recommended in Ayurveda for blood purification and detox. And if you want to read even more about manjishta, you can check out our full article on manjishta, too.

My Own Story
For some unknown reason, I woke up one morning and had a large lump (bump) on my shoulder, near the back of my neck. And by large, I mean it felt like about the size of a small cherry! Although the skin was perfectly smooth and unblemished, the bump was big and ugly looking. I’m going to say it looked like a dermatofibroma.
One thing I’ve noticed over many years is that minor health issues often resolve themselves between the time that they are noticed and the date that one could possibly get a medical appointment. Also, due to the fact that we regularly find ourselves living in remote places around the world with little access to modern medicine, I’ve gotten used to trying natural remedies for minor inconveniences, like an ugly skin bump.
So, I immediately got some castor oil and went to work on reducing the thing… whatever it was. It was summertime and raging hot weather, (and no air conditioning!) so luckily I wasn’t wearing turtlenecks. But I couldn’t bear to put heat on my skin. I just kept putting a large smear of castor oil over the bump as I went about my day.
Whenever I thought about it, I’d reapply the castor oil.
It was not an overnight miracle. However, after about a week, I noticed that the bump was a bit smaller. Over the next couple of weeks it kept reducing and reducing down until it was only the slightest little bump under my skin. Finally, even that was gone and I kept applying the castor oil for a while longer, just to be sure it was absolutely G-O-N-E! So, this is what I mean about castor oil being a miracle substance.
I believe that the sooner a lump, cyst or tumor is treated with castor oil after its initial appearance, the easier it will be to dissolve the offending lump away.
2. Colon Cleanse
“Grandma’s spring cleanse” really does work! Ayurveda recommends a cleanse each season, but even once or twice a year is good for the health. Castor oil, taken internally, is a natural laxative that can relieve constipation and remove toxins from the body. One reason why no one looks forward to a colon cleanse is that castor oil has a very strong and unpleasant taste.
A traditional recipe, according to Dr. Suhas Khirasagar, director of the Ayurvedic Healing and Integrative Wellness Clinic in Northern California and an advisor with the Chopra Center, recommends adding 3-4 teaspoons in your diet during the days prior to a cleanse (not all at once!). On the day of cleansing, he recommends taking 2 tablespoons of castor oil mixed in a small glass (1/2 cup) of fresh squeezed orange juice (to mask the icky flavor).
This is taken on an empty stomach in the morning. You can take a bite out of a slice of orange to remove the flavor of the castor oil in your mouth, but no other food or drink (including water) should be taken until the cleanse is completed. Plan to stay at home all day – the castor oil needs time to do its work. You will evacuate the bowels 2-5 (or more) times before the flush is over. (Please see the link in the sources below for details.)
Take it easy for the rest of the day, as you may feel a bit tired after all that cleansing. It is better to eata liquid diet on that day and mild food for the next 3 meals until the system has adjusted. So, that means, don’t cleanse with castor oil and then go out for pizza or fried food that same night!
NOTE: As castor oil is not considered a “food” due to its undigestable properties, you will most often find castor oil advertised for skin care; however, organic cold-pressed, hexane-free castor oil is used for colon cleanses.
If you are being treated for serious health conditions, consider getting the advice of a physician before undertaking a castor oil colon cleanse.
3. Anti-aging

Applying castor oil to the face helps to create collagen and elastin. Castor oil smooths fine lines and face wrinkles, brightening and giving a “glowy” look to skin.
With its many, many healthful benefits for skin, castor oil is often added to beauty creams, balms, lip gloss and lotions. Its phytonutrients (plant nutrients) and emollient qualities enhance any skin care recipe.
4. Heals Dry Skin and Cracked Heels
A little bit of castor oil applied anywhere on the body, especially on callused feet or cracked heels will soothe dry skin, helping skin cell regeneration.
5. Nourishes and Lengthens Eyelashes, Thickens Eyebrows
A little dab of castor oil on eyelashes and eyebrows before bed will nourish the lashes/brows and add to their length/thickness over time.
Remember: NOT in a day, or two days… but over time!
The older you are, the longer regeneration will take… be consistent and patient for best results.
6. Soothes Sunburned or Inflamed Skin
Castor oil’s regenerative and anti-inflammatory properties will soothe sunburn and decrease skin inflammation.
7. Settle Digestion and Relieve Abdominal Discomfort
Believe it or not, something as simple as massaging castor oil onto the belly button and abdomen can work wonders! If you do this before bed, clean your belly button first and then massage with castor oil gently for a few minutes. Let the castor oil soak in and leave overnight, washing off in the morning.
8. Nourishes Scalp and Hair and Promotes Hair Growth

Castor oil is well known for its anti-fungal and antibacterial properties. Massage into the scalp and leave on overnight as a hair treatment. With repeated use, many people report a lessening of hair fall and actual regrowth of hair, in addition to more luxurious hair.
Note: Castor oil is very sticky and viscous and you’ll want to securely wrap your hair if you use it overnight. If that seems too messy, you can leave it on for several hours before washing out. This will bring noticeable benefits, if you do it regularly.
9. Boosting Immunity
Studies have shown that even applying castor oil to the skin can boost the immune system and fight infection by increasing the white cell count of the blood.
Conclusion
See how miraculous castor oil is??
Castor oil has so many practical uses that it should always be on hand in anyone’s natural medicine cabinet. It’s amazing for so many reasons, and I love that you can melt cysts and tumors naturally with castor oil.
It is recommended to use the highest quality castor oil available. Organic, cold-pressed oil is the best for both health and beauty purposes. Try to avoid ultra-refined castor oil. It most likely has been processed using hexane, which is a toxic chemical that can cause severe allergic reactions.
High quality, organic castor oil ✓ is not expensive and you are trying to do something good for your body – it only makes sense use the highest quality product. If in a pinch, you can always find castor oil in a pharmacy or drug store, but unless it is marked as organic, it will probably be more processed (refined) than is preferred. I have tried both… pure natural castor oil and processed, highly refined castor oil and the natural castor oil works much better!
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Sources:
- https://www.edgarcayce.org/the-readings/health-and-wellness/holistic-health-database/therapies-castor-oil-packs/
- https://chopra.com/articles/ask-dr-suhas-the-protocol-for-a-castor-oil-cleanse-how-much-and-how-often-you-should-use-it