Ailment: Bunions

Remedy: Castor oil

Castor oil. Castor oil's healing properties, ailments used for, how to make and use a castor oil pack.

Comment posted by Rosali of Crockett, CA, USA on 3 September 2013 at 15:43       1361

YES
Thanks Liz55. I had a half inch bunion and in the last year my big toe was starting to turn in and lay over the toe next to it. The bunion was growing, the skin getting red and inflamed, the odd blister after walking a lot, and all my shoes really hurt my foot at that spot. After reading growyouthful’s page on bunions I decided to give oil massages a go. Sometimes I used olive oil, and most often castor oil. Twice a day I put a few drops in my hand and gently rubbed all around the big toe, bunion and down that side of my foot. I did this for at least 10 minutes while I read or watched TV. Before, I I drank a glass of water like you suggested. After a week I was thrilled with the improvement. At this time I also started all the bunion exercises recommended on this site – the stretching and the shaking. It has been a month now and the improvement is amazing. I take time to massage around the base of the big toe, and it is definitely straightening. It does take a lot of time and discipline to do this, but wow the improvement is worth it. Thank you!

Comment posted by Cello of Modesto, CA, USA on 20 July 2013 at 16:1       1362

YES
I am 65 years old and have had a bunion on the side of my right foot for some years now. It hurts a little but not too bad because I have learned what kind of shoes to wear (sneakers and sandals). My big toe is bent over the second toe and looks ugly. My doctor said it is impossible to reduce the size of a bunion without surgery but I was determined not to get surgery – too many horror stories I have heard there. Most days I have been doing the massage for a few months and yes it does make a noticeable difference. Thanks for this wonderful site. I recommend it a lot.

Comment posted by Liz55 of Brisbane, QLD, Australia on 3 October 2012 at 15:22       1359

YES
I had a bunion on my left big toe for many years. It was so big that the shape of my foot and toes were distorted with the big toe crossing over the other toes. The skin was so stretched and tight it looked as though it was about to split. It was inflamed and red and painful. The bunion started in my twenties when I was playing badminton every day. By the age of 40 my foot had a noticeable distortion and it was painful to walk for long distances. Wearing looser shoes slowed the bunion’s growth and pain, but it looked ugly with obvious distortion, and slowed me down by affecting the way I walked. A friend suggested massaging the toe and bunion area for 10 minutes several times a day. This increases circulation and blood flow in the area and encourage synovial fluid to move around the joint again. It is also helpful to drink plenty of water before the massage get the body well hydrated which aids blood flow and movement of synovial fluid. For the first month I sat comfortably and rubbed my toe, bunion and the whole foot for 10 minutes every morning and evening, and more during the days when I had time. Sometimes my husband also did it for me, and sometimes we gave it as long as 20 minutes. A little castor oil in the palm of the hand keeps it smooth and feels really good. After two weeks there was a noticeable reduction in the size of the bunion, and the skin was looser and hardly inflamed at all. A month later I could literally pinch the skin between my fingers. It felt as if the bunion was being dissolved and washed away. I am in to the second month now and my whole foot is smaller so I can wear a narrower shoe width again after 15 years. The skin around the old bunion area is loose - similar to major weight loss leaving excess hanging skin. The big toe seems a bit straighter, I am optimistic that it will shift back to its youthful position.