If you are a chronic back pain sufferer like I am, this may help you. I cannot afford to go to have a massage every week so this is what helps me. My medical massage therapist does this for me and it works wonders. I never heard of it before until he used it on me. I have scoliosis and have chronic pain. Many people have had back injuries and other conditions that plague them. This will help with the pain and the tension that goes along with these conditions.
What you will need for this procedure
A large plastic bag or small kitchen trash bag
A large absorbent towel
Castor oil
Woodlock oil
Citrus Blend
Clothes dryer or conventional oven
Water
A squeeze bottle similar to a small mustard bottle or hair colorings bottle
If you don’t have access to all of these essentials oils don’t worry. Use what you have. Woodlock is not always easy to find. My medical massage therapist gets his from Asia. I am using peppermint and a stress relief formula.
How to begin your Castor Oil Pack
It is easier if you have someone else to help you do this. If you do it yourself you can use this method.
I like to have the towel moisted by spinning it in the washer. This way the moisture is more uniform.
Warm up your moist towel in your clothes dryer or carefully in your oven. I recommend using a clothes dryer as it is safer.
You want the towel to be moist.
You may mix the oils together. Just use a couple drops of the essential oils into an eighth of a cup of castor oil. Warm the container up setting it in hot water in the sink. Make sure it is not too hot to the touch.
If you have someone else doing this for you, they can drip the oils on your back in the specific area of pain and or tightness.
It is hard for me to lay on my stomach with the heating pad on top of my back. This is how my massage therapist does it. When I am at home I lay with it under me. It is more comfortable for me this way.
Lay the warm moist towels over your back on top of the oils. Use the plastic to protect your heating pad and lay the heating pad on top of the plastic. If you have a heating pad that is made specifically for moist heat you can use it. Don’t shock or electrocute yourself.
Keep this on for approximately 20 minutes. You will feel your muscles relax and if you are real lucky you can have someone massage the area. If not your back will still feel much better. A friend and I help each other with this procedure. We both have back issues and when we help each other it doesn’t cost either one of us. We can split the cost of the oils and the rest is pretty much free.
Reference:
- back pain, pain management, essential oils, massage, alternative medicine, pain, chronic pain
