[SIDE EFFECTS]  12/11/2011: Hollly from Algonquin, Illinois: "I've only been OPing for 3 days, once a day in the morning or whenever my stomache is empty. I'm using organic extra virgin coconut oil. The very first day I started, I got a wave of horrible depression. I'm continuing with the pulling but the depression now isn't getting better. I am sensitive to lots of chemicals, substances etc. so I am naturally prone to depression, but I can feel that this depression is something different.

Do I stick with it? Should I stop and give myself a break? Is depression a common side effect? :"

12/12/2011: Timh from Louisville, Usa replies: "Holly, I would stay with the pulling because the side effects are evidence that you have some type of toxin or heavy metal in your body (that needs to be out). All toxins in general are damaging to lipids, sugars, and amino acids; and as such, can have notable side effects like depression.

Also, I have had to up my oral care since O. P. because of the heavy toxin loads (no depression on my part). otc mouth wash, colloidal silver, H2O2 are mandatory for infection prevention. Also consider other types of oil ( I use Canola or Canola blend), and if you foam up quickly, reduce your pull time to 15 or 10 min.

You may need to use some charcoal or bentonite to help remove the toxins. Tyrosine, St JohnsWort, and 5-HTP will help with the depression. NAC will boost glutathione which you seem to be insufficient. Any form of magnesium will help (i use Epsom salt foot bath daily). Vit-C is also critical in detox (i use 500mg before and 500mg after O. P. to lesson my symptoms).

If your negative symptoms get overwhelming, take a few days off O. P. Try a 2 dys on 2 days off until your negative side effects disappear (depending on how toxic your body is).

Hope this helps and good luck."

12/12/2011: Francisca from Zug, Zug, Switzerland replies: "Come on, you don't honestly believe that swishing a bit of oil around in your mouth gives you depression, do you? I have to be honest, sometimes I think that there are people who infiltrate sites like this trying to prove that the people here are wackes and if that is the case it is very wrong. It can be that you honestly believe what you are saying, some people just have to blame anything they are feeling on what they are trying out but come on, getting depression from swishing a bit of oil around in your mouth, once a day for three days......."

12/12/2011: Liz from Boston, Massachusetts replies: "Well, there's a double standard if I ever saw one.

The list of potential cures from oil pulling is quite lengthy. If its curing potential is great, why is it so far fetched to believe that it could also have side-effects?

If it has the 'power' (if you will) to cure ailments, why would it not also have the power to cause some in those who have sensitivities? That seems perfectly reasonable.

To say; "Come on, you don't believe that swishing around a little oil in your mouth gives you depression, do you?" could be flipped to "Come on, you don't believe that swishing around a little oil in your mouth CURES pain issues, sinus issues, migraines, acne, etc. do you?"

You can't have it both ways.

There was no need to mock the poster and question their integrity solely because their experience didn't conform with your personal theory. This is a forum where sharing experiences (both Yea's and Nay's) is encouraged, not scorned."

12/14/2011: Melanie from Owen Sound, Ontario Canada replies: "I don't know about oil pulling - but I went with my mother few years ago to her deep tissue massage session. The therapist told me that many people start to cry, or have depression after deep muscle massage - because of the toxins that are being released from the muscles. I think the same could apply to oil pulling - if the toxins are being pulled out the depression could be a side effect.

Clinical depression lasts for few weeks with no let-up. So sad feelings from toxins being released should ease up as the body toxins decrease.

I am not a professional, but makes sense to me."

01/02/2012: Randy from Howell, Michigan replies: "You can experience the same detoxing results of oil pulling by taking LECITHIN. The powder form of LECITHIN is best according to Ted on EC."

05/18/2012: Miles from New York, NY replies: "Right seems we're moving into discussion about the practice of "oil exchange" for detoxing and healing from many health conditions. Maybe its discussed elsewhere on this amazing site! But here's a bit with few things that may be of interest:

It's said the ever-intelligent body pulls toxins and posions out of circulation by trapping them in the fat cells where they will stay for years unless detoxed. Over time the toxins accumulate, disrupt body functions and manifest as disease.

There's a number of people who've written about this:

* Udo of Udo's Oils wrote a book about how he healed himself using "oil exchange" after he experienced serious ogranophosphate poisoning (nerve agent used commonly in herbicides and commercial lawn care applications -- symptoms of which manifest as depression, anxiety, brain-fog and more. ) He says he drank up to 12 TBL of good oils daily (omega 3 like flax oil and omega 6 like borage oil) in conjunction with saunas to assist the removal of toxins.

* Dr. William Rea head of the Environmental Health Clinic, who's helped restore people to health after toxic exposures like 9/11, Katrina, and the Exxon Valdez clean-up, believes a huge percentage of "diseases" and conditions are related to chemical toxicity. Part of his protocol includes sauna to remove the toxins and good oils supplmentation, as well as PPC - phosphaytidylcholine which is found in lecithin (and naturally in egg yolks and krill oil), and is a lipid (good oil) that helps restore and rejunvinate cell membranes in the liver, instestines, brain etc. and is providing good results for maladies in these areas (like alzheimers, chemical sensitivity, Hepatitis C, cirrosis, etc.)

(See also Drs. Kane and Shoemaker who've had great results treat patients with chronic diseases using "lipid exchange" -- IVs of PPC and glutathine.)

and then

* Deepak Chopra recommends oil pulling ... which is perhaps a great "DIY" version. Curious if someone might explain how coconut oil specifically factors into this concept of "lipid exchange" for healing?"

11/06/2012: Bman from Victoria, Bc Canada replies: "It's been awhile since Holly's post, but since people like myself use this site for relevant info I thought I'd add that depression and chemical sensitivities are both symptoms of candida (yeast) infections, and that cocunut oil can cause a die-off reaction as it kills the yeast.

A multi-year systemic yeast infection is what led me to this point. My symptoms got worse and worse as well as more and more (panic feelings, athlete's foot, jock itch, psoriasis, itching). Finally I tied together several of the symptoms through extensive research and came up with the idea of candida. But how to cure it? Everyone had an idea to sell me something, but I've been living overseas and have no access to these 'cures. ' Until I came across caproil as a possibility, and then learned that caproil is just a marketable part of coconut oil!

Since then I've been slowly adding more oil to my diet, stopping now and then when my die-off reaction became too much, and then getting back at it (insomnia, crawling/itchy skin, what felt like electrical reactions throughout my body, etc... ) I'm still only at 1 tablespoon a day, but I already feel so much better. All of my symptoms are gone or almost gone. And since I have learned of coconut oil's extensive benefits, I know its a superfood I will always be taking. I just wish somebody had told me about it earlier. It seems if there is no profit in it, we are all left to fend for ourselves. Good luck all!"

01/17/2011: Healthy248 from Digby, Nova Scotia, Canada: "Need to know if coconut oil is only found in a solid state, what I found is Organic, in a jar and its white with a texture like soft lard. Its good for Med/High heat frying, baking, and for body use as well. Is this the right product, does it have to be Organic or anything else special? Thanks in advance"

01/17/2011: Elizabeth from Nashville, Tn replies: "It's best to use Organic Extra Virgin coconut oil. Walmart sells a brand but it just says Organic coconut oil. I have bought it before and it doesn't really have a coconut-ty smell. I went back to my regular oil and feel like it works better."

01/17/2011: Lisa from Marrakech, Morocco replies: "That sounds like the right kind of coconut oil, but I agree that organic is best. At cooler temperatures it is a solid like you stated, but as it gets warmer it will turn to a clear liquid and that is normal."

[YEA]  02/24/2009: Cindy from Woodland, PA: "I have been taking coconut oil for the last 2 weeks 1 teaspoon every morning and also cooking with it. Today, (this may sound gross)I had a pain in my back just around the rectum and after using the toilet I looked and found a dead worm in the toilet. YUK! I can't believe that came from me. So it must be killing off the parasites I have. Hopefully it gets them all."

[YEA]  03/01/2010: Faithinhealing from Forest Park, Ohio, Usa replies: "I've been detoxing for a few months, I added the two tablespoons of coconut oil to my detoxing program, in addition to raw plant aloe and have also seen more liver flukes and tape worms! This combination seems to be working better than any I've tried!"

07/31/2012: Meow from Portland, Oregon replies: "Parasite tests, in order for them to be accurate my ND told me that you need at least TEN parasite checks at different times to determine if you have parasites, because parasites hide and may not be visible they go undected. I read that 85% of people have parasites, Parasite tests are 20% accurate, some estimate it to be lower shocking 10% accurate! The best lab for testing in the states is in Arizona. I was really sick flu-like symptoms: chills low grade fever, stomach pressure, colon pain, shortness of breath my heart rate would sometimes go up The MD had me try every single thing and I had been tested three times for parasites all the tests showed up negative, well Finally my MD suggested an ND best idea she ever had! I started the ayurvedic coconut parasite cleanse with cloves, with wormwood and gse.. Dramatic decrease of my symptoms by 80% in ONE DAY ! I'm posting this because I hope this seriously helps someone!"

[YEA]  01/20/2006: Cain from VA Beach: "I recently started using coconut oil on my skin. I have really bad acne and i tried almost every acne product you can think of and spent hundreds of dollars on medications and nothing worked. I came across some information on coconut oil and decided to try it. I started using the coconut oil two weeks ago. My skin has improved greatly. The texture of my skin is no longer dry and flaky, plus my pores are much smaller. My face looks so much clearer and I actually have been getting compliments on my skin and how healthy it looks. I want to mention that I have perioral dermatitis which in the past I had to use a steroid to get rid of this condition but as soon as I stopped the steroid the condition would come back much worse. I applied coconut oil on the affected area, and now I have no signs of dermatitis present. Coconut oil has worked for me so far."

[YEA]  11/29/2007: Sandy from Bangalore, India: "I drink coconut oil 2 teaspoons in the morning with my breakfast, and my facial open pores have shrunk completely.Sometimes I drink 2 teaspoons in the morning with breakast, and 2 teaspoons in the afternoon with my lunch."

[YEA]  07/02/2006: Dianne from Mansfield, MA: "I has a new skin growth on my arm and starting rubbing coconut oil into it a couple times a day. It totally disappeared within 2 weeks I was amazed. I had been all set to go see the doctor but never had to go."

01/12/2012: Ladyliza from Granada Hills, Ca replies: "Coconut oil is curing my psoriasis. I only have it on one elbow but it doesn't look very pretty. I think I will buy the capsules as that seems to regulate the right dosage."

[YEA]  09/12/2007: Marites from Manila, Philippines: "After I read all those comments and feedback...so I decided to send my feedback...my daughter (2years and 3 months old) got a good results to her VIRGIN COCONUT OIL. i think its last year it was prescribed by her pedia and I hesitate I always think that if its safe to her then maybe it is safe coz it was what my pedia said....finally I gave her VCO.... last week of august until now, and I discover the effect...my daughter has a history of PRIMARY COMPLEX....her lungs is very weak....and her pedia said...try VCO she said it is good to her lungs daw....then I tried...ITS REALLY FANTASTIC...all her phlegm has been blown....she always make spit with phlegm ....before....after she got cough (a severe cough) the next will be cold...and next is fever....then I always rushed her to her pedia....and as always ANTIBIOTICS....ANTI ASTHMA....SALBUTAMOL.......CARBOSISTEINE.....what else....she always take med....thats the usual...when she had a COUGH...her hard phlegm makes her weak...then finally I found the best remedy for cough...I think ah...and as far as my daughter experience is concern... eventhough she does not have a COUGH right now....she always make spit with PHLEGM...and finally I don't heard any sounds HALAK to my child...THANKS TO GOD...because I always pray what should I do...I always think to my child for her condition and her health is so weak because of her lungs...and now VCO... is her "so called" VITAMINS.....10ml a day before she sleep and it mixed with her milk.......i always pray to GOD and I'm always thankful...for the VCO...and now I'm also using it for my face, hands and elbow so far....im saying this as a feedback and comment not an ADVISE....so please consult first to her doctor before taking it....thanks"

[YEA]  02/10/2008: Olivia from Brooklyn, New York: "Coconut oil reduced my husband's swollen left testicle about 85 percent in one week of light massage. My husband is terrified of seeing a doctor. There is no negotiating with him. The answer is a resounding no. For the past two months I have been giving him a combination of saw palmetto and pygeum tablets for prostate problems. He had terrible dribbling of urine and waking up many times per night. I gave him two of each tablet twice per day and within three days his bathroom runs were reduced to twice per night from four or five times. After about six weeks was reduced to once per night. I was therefore in shock when one week ago I noticed one testicle was three times its size and hard. He had been hiding it because he was afraid I'd insist on him going to the doctor. He said there was no pain. I was terrified of the thought of testicular cancer but he said he did not care he was not going to the doctor. He is 63 and cannot remember the last time he saw a doctor. Well I prayed and the thought of massaging it with coconut oil came to me. It has been one week since I'd take some oil in my hand and massage lightly from groin to under and around both testicle area. I'd then take another generous helping of oil and cup the swollen testicle in it while praying. The swelling has gone down about 85 percent in one week. I will continue doing so even after all the swelling leaves because I am hoping for a complete cure of the dribbling, which is also much better. I forgot to mention that I also started giving him two ounces of noni juice and two ounces of goji juice per day. I was so scared that I tried everything. I think the coconut oil is key though. I give one juice in the morning and the other at night."

01/05/2011: Leonard from Las Cruces, Nm replies: "RE: Prostate
You should also seriously consider Small Flowered Willow Herb. A serious help for Bladder and Prostate."

09/12/2012: Debbie from Melbourne, Australia replies: "Renne Caisse who used to make up the Essiac Tea formula said in a video that she saw many cancer tumors go hard and grow larger before they healed and vanished so maybe the prostate was already healing."

[YEA]  05/30/2008: Adria from Kennesaw, GA: "I have been taking coconut oil capsules (2000 mg twice daily) for 3 weeks today. It has completely cured the psoriasis I have had on my elbows for over 25 years now. I'll have to get back with you to let you know what else it has helped me with. But, so far, I LOVE IT!"