Castor Oil and the Colon

CASTOR OIL AND THE COLON

Castor oil is indigenous to the Western Cape and grows prodigiously around Cape Town.  It would be wonderful if someone would produce natural castor oil for us in Cape Town.  In the meanwhile castor oil is the magic therapy for the colon.  The colon is the seat of Vata which is the most powerful intelligence running and shaping our bodies.  It may roam around but that is the seat.  While it may not be good to mention the processes in polite company the colon is in fact our big boss.   The qualities of Vata are space and air, dry, hard, minute, rough, cold, moving.  So when Vata goes out of balance or too much then hardness and dryness come up and constipation and many related conditions arise.  The antidote is oil and most particularly castor oil.   We will discuss other remedies for constipation elsewhere.  This is all about wonderful castor oil.

There are two ways one can use castor oil.  One way is as a laxative which means it will encourage a good bowel movement and the other way it may be used is to gradually oil the colon so that old green and black faecal matter can start moving out.  It can also be rubbed on the lower spine and around the coccyx.   Castor oil is usually taken last thing at night for an early morning bowel movement.   Dr Vasant Lad in his home remedies for constipation oil suggests that Castor oil should be used in emergency and not on a regular basis unless taken in a cup of hot milk.  (His book is called The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies )  DO NOT PUBLISH THIS IT IS IMCOMPLETE AND NEEDS RESEARCH AND RETHINKING AND I CANNOT FIND THE SOURCE FOR MY CASTOR OIL TREATMENT WHICH IS A GRADUAL ONE OILING THE COLON I HAD THOUGH IT CAME FROM LAD.  IT WILL TURN UP SOMETIME.   I FIND HIM CONTRADICTORY AND MAY NOT USE HIM AS A REFERENCE.

USING HERBAL TREATMENTS

We know that using herbs from our own region is more potent than using imported herbs.  However we also know that herbs are more effective in combination and this is a very specific knowledge.  We also know that the method of growing and harvesting and processing is important.  It is also important to use the whole of the part of the plant which is usable.   So at the moment it is easier and better to get herbs from reputable sources in India where the tradition of processing and combining herbs is lively.  And we look forward to a culture developing in every country which can make use of their own indigenous herbal knowledge.  India as commented on  by Maharishi who explained that indigenous and local is better has enough herbs to supply the whole world for a 100 years so we do not need to panic.