I went ahead and tried the castor oil on the swollen lymph node, since it appears no one has an answer for my above question.

I've applied castor oil three times (so far) to the node, and speaking objectively, I have to say it's working. I was skeptical before the first application, but it really seems to be working.

The node is the smallest it's been in years (the node has been swollen for around ten years, but the pain disappeared a long time ago).

It doesn't feel as rock hard as it 'normally' feels. There's some 'give' when I press lightly on it.

I will definitely keep using the oil, and (hopefully), it will completely disappear from sight. Obviously, my lymphatic system has been congested there, and the castor oil has cleared something out of the way, so that particular node isn't being overworked anymore.

Therefore, it doesn't have a backlog of work to catch up on, and is able to return to its normal size. For what it's worth, i'll keep this forum posted on any further progress.

Oh, and btw, if anyone is suffering from swollen lymph nodes, be sure to get it checked first by a doctor, as in using castor oil to reduce its size, you might end up masking something in serious need of attention.

I got mine looked at first...

Just an update on my progress with castor oil. I have no doubt now that the node is reducing in size, and it can only be castor oil, since that is the only thing I apply to it.

The chances of the node just happening to reduce in size (after 10 years mind you) --at the same exact time that I start using something that is promoted as being able to help-- it's very unlikely, don't you think?

I think so. The node is so small now, that when i'm applying castor oil to it, sometimes I forget where it is, because I can hardly feel it.

Now, if I had enquired about how to deal with it (reduce its size) when I saw the doctor, he might have suggested that I go under the knife, and have it removed.

What's also surprising is that my castor oil doesn't specify that it is cold-pressed, so I assume it isn't.

All (well, most) of the places (i've researched online) state that the cold-pressed version is the one that is effective. Then again, most of them were selling something (namely, cold-pressed castor oil).

I've searched high and low for cold-pressed castor oil locally, but couldn't find it. Perhaps it's a way of attracting more customers, knowing that the cold-pressed version is extremely difficult to find.

So people will (hopefully) decide to buy their oil, reasoning that if they buy non cold-pressed, from their local chemist, it won't work.

Perhaps i'm just being my usual paranoid self. Or perhaps mine is cold-pressed after all.

Whatever the case, i'm glad it's working, and that my research looks to be paying off. I just love the internet. :)

Yeah, i'm really happy about it. I had my doubts (as I said) that something so cheap, and readily available, could work so powerfully on one's body, but I continue to be amazed.

It didn't even take castor oil a week to reduce the node to near its original size.

I was thinking of researching the various points on the body where nodes can be found, and then continuing to use castor oil in this way, perhaps once or twice a week, on those areas, just to make sure my lymphatic system is flowing smoothly.

Works great around the eyes too, to keep the delicate skin there looking good. I wouldn't use it during the day though (around the eyes), because of its purgative powers.

I find that it tends to draw 'stuff' out of the eyes. Useful in the case of an eye infection, but not too pretty. :)

I found your thread using google. I typed "reduce swollen lymph node" and found you, it's the third from the top.

I created an account here so I could thank you for sharing your story with the world. I have had a similar success with my epidytimis. I had a vasectomy over a year ago and have had swollen episodes when too much sperm is produced. I use castor oil and cayenne pepper tinture to apply on my scrotum. It stimulates blood flow and helps disolve the sperm and reduce the swelling.

Anyway, thanks again.

I had to thank you, too~ !

2 years ago, I went to the clinic because I found a hard lump 2 fingers below my earlobe, right where it meets my jaw. It was quite large, just on the left side, and came on rather suddenly. She told me she couldnt feel anything, I felt liek an fool, and also- thats not where my lymph nodes are. Huh. So I mentioned it to my regular doctor at my next physical... she felt it , but said it's not a lymph node- possibly a neck muscle. Seriously??

Well the last 2 days, it's been painful. It's a hard, rubber like ball about 1-2 cm, and I KNOW I can feel it. It's painful. It seems liek it swells, then goes away periodically, so i'm not worried about cancer so much. Or I wasn't, until 3 weeks ago when I had a fairly large swelling in my groin area- right where my thigh meets my torso. I can still feel it, but 4 weeks later, it's subsided somewhat. I was also diagnosed with anemia 3 months ago, and have a follow up appointment next week with my Dr. - will mention the groin are (It felt like a hernia- my boyfriend was pretty freaked by it).

So I don't know what's going on with me, but I'm definitely going to try the castor oil- I'm thinking my lymphatic system is blocked. I haven't been sick lately, so I doubt it's an infection. I'll post if it works. I'm really concerned it's something more serious though. I don't want to be an alarmist, running to the doctor every time I find a funny bump (especially after the first doctor- she almost seemed angry when she told me there was nothing there). But 2 lumps, and anemia? Should I be worried? Even though my doctor has discounted it? If it was leukemia or cancer, they would have noticed something else in my blood when they checked it, right?

Hey thanks for the info. I guess this question is for anyone else who can answer it, I'm just wondering how you go about applying the castor oil, to the area on your neck and if you placed a heat pad on it following the application. I bought castor oil at a pharmacy but it is used as a laxative, is that what you used or should I be looking for something different.

Thanks a lot

a key thing I looked for was to make sure the castor oil is cold pressed and cold processed. The kind I use is for external use only and not to be ingested. Just clean the skin with mild soap and water. I apply the mixture as a pack, I soak a cotton ball in the mix and just hold it up against my scrotum. Applying dry heat is ok and actually helps the castor to soak in; in a way it stimulates the oil to work better.

Heat brings more blood to the area, increased circulation speeds up healing. In my mix I put .5mL of Cayenne tincture which gets pretty warm and helps attract the blood. If you choose to use the cayenne, start with little amounts and work your way into it. I used to much on my first time and WOOO! The oil takes awhile to wash off and my nuts where pretty sore for awhile. haha, oh well. Some things are truely better with moderation.

Another way is to take hot baths. I take one or two 15-minute baths per week and that helps reduce my sperm production. It's relaxing, which helps the emotional healing (you can't heal physically if you're fatigued mentally). When you're happy you produce better hormones that heal you physically. Most importantly, taking a hot bath gives a great excuse to play with toy boats and rubber duckies; it's fun to be healthy.

What brand of Castor oil did you use?

thankyou for your info I will try it and post my success (if I have any here)

Uzaman, thank you very much for taking your time and post your results and experience.

Do not and I repeat do not fool around if you have these. My 23 year old daughter had them for about 6 months and I insisted she get them check out and they found out that she has stage 4 hodgkins lymphphomia, and in her bones. This is nothing to fool around with. Get to the Dr and insist on a Pet scan ASAP.

My grandmother had her lymph nodes removed along with her mastectomy and has developed Post Mastectomy Lymphedema. I have been searching for "natural" ways to help her with this. I know that grapefruit oil is supposed to help with the fluid buildup and since I saw this forum I was wondering if I could use castor oil as the carrier oil. Would this help with her drainage like it does for the swollen lymph nodes???

Canarygirl-
I agree that it's important to get checked, but let me ask you; what other symptoms did she have?

She had pain in her left leg, that was her only symptom. They told her she had a pulled muscle, sent her to a physical theapist, then told her they were blood clots, then finally figured out they were swollen nodes in her leg. She worked the whole time, it was a blow to think she had a pulled muscle to finally a stage 4 and in her bone.

ZTs Momma - have you tried using Castor Oil? I would like to know if it is helpful for primary lymphedema.

I use the brand Palma Christi castor oil its cold pressed and all that you can find it at whole foods or a health store. I'm using that and cayenne to dissolve some heterotopic ossification (bone) in my hip.