Women’s Medicine / Hormone Balancing:

As a physician dealing with women's health care, and a woman herself, Dr Elizabeth Grady finds it critical to focus on the complete endocrine hormonal axis; estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid, and adrenal function. If one hormone is not stable, then it affects the other hormones. Chronic illnesses, like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia, often come from an imbalance in endocrine function. Stress of all kinds will also affect endocrine function.

PMS symptoms, contrary to TV commercials, are not “normal” and not everyone has them. Those symptoms are actually signs of hormone imbalance that should be addressed as soon as possible before becoming more problematic, or even deadly. These hormones and their receptor tissues can be normalized using Acupuncture, Botanical Medicines, Homeopathy, or even other hormones.

Post-menopausal hormone replacement, otherwise known as Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT), can often leave a woman feeling better than she has in years. With all of the misinformation (and pure ignorance) about hormones and their effects on women it can be confusing as to what is the healthiest thing to do before, during, and after menopause. Dr Elizabeth Grady strives to treat each woman and her situation individually, finding the right remedy(ies) not only to ease symptoms but provide the best long-term outcome. Castor Oil Pack Instructions

Castor Oil has been used through out the ages as a natural therapy. Castor oil is often applied externally in the form of a "pack". The Cayce Readings inform us that castor oil packs are to be used to improve assimilation, elimination and circulation; especially of the lymphatic system.

A castor oil pack is made from 4 layers of either wool or cotton flannel, enough to absorb and hold the castor oil during application. A common area to apply the castor oil pack is over the liver (on the right side of the abdomen, between the lower part of the rib cage and the upper edge of the hipbone) to boost immune function and detoxify the liver. Another common area is across the central abdomen (over the belly button) to improve small intestine function.

Application is usually for 1 to 2 hours with heat or 8 hours (while sleeping) without heat. A heating pad is placed on top of the castor oil pack to keep it slightly warm during application. You can use the same castor oil pack for additional applications. It is important to discard the pack after it becomes rancid or changes drastically changes color/odor. It may be helpful to store the pack in a plastic storage container and refrigerate between uses.

You must use cold-pressed Castor Oil. It is available in an 8 oz, pint, quart, or gallon sizes. Most individuals start with either a pint or a quart. Frequent users usually purchase by the gallon. Small amounts of Castor Oil should be added to the pack before each use.

Directions for Using the Castor Oil Packs:

• Fold the wool or cotton flannel into 4 layers and place it on top of a piece of plastic wrap.
  
  
• Add castor oil to the flannel. The castor oil should be added to saturate all 4 layers of flannel, but not so much that it drips from the pack.
  
  
• When you are ready to begin, flip the castor oil pack on to your abdominal area, cover with a towel and heating pad (on low), and relax. If you intend to use it during sleep, you can either safety pin the towel so that it is snug around the pack or use something like an ACE bandage wrapped around you and the pack. Do NOT use heat if there is inflammation.
  
  
• General application time is between 1-2 hours.
  
  
• After your session, clean the oil from your body with a soap and water.
  
  

Many people store the castor oil pack in a plastic storage container between uses. Be sure to keep the pack out of the sun and in a cool dark place. After 3 days of using the castor oil pack, take about 1 teaspoon of olive oil (NOT castor oil) by mouth, in the evening before retiring. Do NOT use during pregnancy or during menstrual flow.