Power of the Seed by Susan M. Parker

Author:Susan M. Parker [Parker, Susan M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781934170557
Publisher: Process

Carrot

INCI—(base oil) and Daucus carota (Carrot) Root Oil

Alternate INCI—Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil (and) Daucus carota sativa (Carrot) Root Extract (and) Tocopherol

Castor oil, Ricinus communis, is also called Palma Christi, or “hand of Christ,” a reference to its healing abilities, which have been used for over 4,000 years. Edgar Cayce recommended castor oil often in his trance healing, successfully treating many people. The ancient Egyptian Ebers Papyrus also contains information about the uses and benefits of castor oil. Ancient and modern Greece, India, Persia, China, and Africa use castor oil for treating the body via skin applications. Along with olive oil, castor oil has been used for millennia and figures prominently in many healing traditions. The oil is not for internal consumption, as it causes unpleasant gastric upset and is used as a laxative.

Castor oil differs from other eighteen-carbon fatty acid-dominant oils by being thick and viscous yet easily absorbed by the skin. The unique ricinoleic acid is high in the oil, at 90%, and has an unusual fatty acid structure. Ricinoleic acid has a hydroxyl group (-OH) on the twelfth carbon, or sixth carbon from the methyl, free, end of the chain. This structure causes ricinoleic acid to be more polar, water-accepting, than other fatty acids.

The increased ability of castor oil to penetrate the skin allows it to carry nutrients into the body by external application. Castor oil is taken up by the skin, where its properties stimulate and diffuse into the body and organs. Likewise, castor oil can deliver unwanted chemicals into the body, so care needs to be exercised when using it with ingredients that may not be natural.

Castor oil packs placed on the liver and abdominal area are a common method of alternative treatment for a number of conditions, including constipation, liver congestion, and inflamation. They are also used to increase immune function. Placed thickly on the skin, the oil is covered with a cloth, kept warm, and left for thirty to forty minutes a day. Treatment may last a few days, or extend over a period of weeks or months for chronic conditions. The blood and lymph are activated and movement of the fluids within the body releases toxic elements stored in the liver and other tissues. By stimulating the immune system, the body normalizes and ideally returns to a healthy state. Castor oil also helps to minimize scarring when used in treatments for cuts, wounds, and other traumas to the skin. It is soothing and lubricating, acting as a humectant and drawing moisture to it to hydrate the skin.

INCI—Ricinus communis (Castor) Seed Oil

When it comes to making soap, the molecular makeup of ricinoleic acid is unusual due to the uncommon placement of the hydroxyl group on the fatty acid chain. More hydroxide ions are needed to make soap than its SAP (saponification) value indicates. Too high a percentage of castor oil in a recipe will produce a soft transparent soap, but used at less than 15% in a recipe, it adds a lovely soft lather to bar soaps.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.