The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
How to Take Internally
Posted by Lili (St Ann, Jamaica) on 06/13/2012
Coconut oil is amazing for skin and hair. I would like to say that Jamaicans have long been reaping the benefits of ingesting Virgin Coconut Oil by using it in our cooking... Use it to saute your veggies... Fish... Etc. I cant imagine taking it by the spoonful like medicine...
Broad Benefits
Posted by Gina (Pasadena, Texas) on 06/17/2012
Hello. My sister loves taking the coconut oil too and uses it on her face. I also have sugary cravings too. But I have to watch my cholesterol. Is coconut oil high in cholesterol? Its supposed to be good for certain skin conditions too. If anyone can get me more info on coconut oil, I will apreciate it. Thank you so much. Love this website!
Broad Benefits
Posted by Dhristiailani (Jakarta, Indonesia) on 09/20/2012
hey, I have been observing the benefits of coconut oil and I have a lot of answers! I am in high school and doing my personal project on the benefits of coconuts because I was startled when I started researching about coconuts! It is a one of those miraclous edibles sent to us by God. Coconut oil has been proven to mildly help diabetics control their blood sugar level and improves the secretion of insulin. For the kidney, it helps dissolve kidney stones and also prevent the accumulation of fat in the liver. Pancreatitis can be treated. It is also a stress reliever along with its dental benefits and for the bones too! And do you know most indians use it for hair care, it really works and also for skin care for heart diseases and for those of you who find it really hard to loose weight, try the coconut oil! It also helps in immunity and for infections.
the book "the coconut oil miracle" might be a help for those who want to know more!
i have been taking coconut oil, and I really see the benefits! You will see it too if you take them often. :) x
Alzheimer's and Parkinson's
Posted by Patty (West Virginia) on 05/13/2024
What is the name of the cream that you bought because I need to buy that for my mother. She is having symptoms of dementia and I have to try a way to get her to use it. This would be perfect for her.
Coconut Oil Recipes
Posted by Shelfarm (Crocker, Missouri) on 03/08/2012
I melt down 2-3 heaping Tablespoons of Coconut Oil in a saucepan. Do not boil just warm enough to melt the Oil. I put 2 heaping Tablespoons Hersheys Dark Chocolate in it, and I use 2 teaspoons Raspberry and 1 teaspoons Vanilla flavoring and Stevia to sweeten, Mix all till smooth, Pour in the bottom of a small plastic container and place level in freezer tell the Coconut Oil hardens again, about 10 minutes or so, depending on how hot you get the oil, so don't get it hot, just warm. Take out of freezer. Turn it out on a flat surface, it will fall out and you brake it in pieces, put candy in a small container with lid. Keep in the Refrigerator for a really Good For You Piece Of Candy. You can use any kind of flavoring you like. Keeps for days in the fridge. There is nothing in it to go bad. I eat this everyday, and I still lose weight. My husband loves it, I can't keep him out of it. Also I cook with it, I make homemade bread with it. I use it in my hair, and on my face. I just love it its a great oil to eat and use.
I love this site I have removed a lot of moles from off my face and other parts of my body, and the dark sun spots from off my hands. I learned how to do that by reading the articles from this site. Thank You everyone for writing in.
How to Take Internally
Posted by Hem (Chennai, India) on 02/04/2012
Dear Group, I find that there is quite a bit of interest in using coconut oil for medicinal purposes. It is true that it is very good for various digestive and other problems and its fatty properties allow for healing very quickly.
However based on its usage in India, I would recommend that you ingest coconut oil by using it for cooking purposes rather than taking it directly by tbsp. I am not sure if that is good for the body. By using it for cooking purposes like frying, I think it is safer and will not give adverse reactions like nausea etc. As for skin and haircare, it is definitely very good, provides lustre and thickness to hair and is good for skin generally and especially in healing scratches and other minor problems.
General Feedback
Posted by Southern Bell (Marietta, Ga, United States) on 01/25/2012
I have been reading about oil pulling with coconut oil. I am taking the capsules daily, plus adding coconut oil to my morning coffee. However, the coconut oil I put in my coffee has solidified due to the cold weather. It melts in my coffee.
I would like to try oil pulling with coconut oil, but does anyone know what I could do to make it a liquid for pulling?
Thanks.
General Feedback
Posted by Laurie (Pawleys Island, Sc) on 02/06/2012
General Feedback
Posted by Brooklyn Bridge (Union City, Usa) on 01/13/2012
The expiration date on my Certified Organic Extra Virgin Coconut oil Expeller Pressed by Jarrow Formulas is November 20, 2011. My question is if I can still use the oil for my skin? I would not take it internally.
General Feedback
Posted by Sweetberry (Ny) on 01/14/2012
Yes you can till about a year- it's not a red light, it's a stop sign to end usage.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Francisca (Zug, Switzerland) on 01/11/2012
Mihel, funny enough coconut oil didn't help me when my hands were cracked during last winter. I hever had problems in dryness of the skin in the winter, at least not very noticeable but last winter my lips and my hands got very cracked. Coconut oil seemed to make things even worse. I can use it during the summer as a sun screen but if I try to use it in my bath, for example, my skin feels very moist right after the bath but in the morning it looks even dryer, no idea why! I suppose everybody is different..... At the time someone else said here coconut oil didn't help her either! Mine is of very good quality so it is rather weird.... The explanation might be that some oils and creams only moist the exterior of the skin actually sucking the moisture from it, like lanolin. Glad it works for you though!
Broad Benefits
Posted by Cecile (Cape Town, South Africa) on 01/11/2012
Francisca, I was wondering how you react to fatty foods like mayonnaise, oils, cream and butter? You may have a fat allergy and the body is rejecting the coconut oil?
I didn't know I had such a fat 'allergy', couldn't explain the excessive heaviness in my upper chest(thought I had panic syndrome) and phlegm in my throat I was 'allergic' to every and all facial moisturizers I tried. I felt extremely ill after oil pulling with coconut oil. I investigated these weird symptoms... After a lot of searching I came across Donald Lepore's book 'The Ultimate healing system' he suggested that a lack of SULFUR causes this. I have been supplementing with B Vitamins biotin is necessary herbs like fenugreek, eyebright, dandelion and fennel contain sulfur I also took the sulfur Tissue homeopathic salts namely Calc sulf, kali sulf and nat sulf (I know you will easily find it in Switzerland). I still bath 2x a week in Epsom salts(magnesium sulphate) I eat good amounts of eggs, garlic and onions. My problem is complete solved INCREDIBLE sulfur! I would never have guessed.
My milk 'allergy' has been solved by bringing my potassium levels up Himalaya salt and carrot juice goes to show search and you shall find!
Coconut oil is again a firm favorite of mine!
Broad Benefits
Posted by Francisca (Zug, Zug, Switzerland) on 01/12/2012
Hi Cecile, no, I am not allergic to fats! I even like a bit of fat on my meat, chicken and I eat a tbspoon of oil everyday, be it grapeseed oil, olive oil, avocado.... Like you I also eat a lot of raw garlic, onions and eggs. I don't drink milk though but the more I read the less I think that we need it! No idea why coconut oil didn't work for me in the winter or in my baths but I was not the only here who felt the same way. In the sun it is ok. Anyway, this year I don't have such dry hands and lips anymore. We were living in France last year and here the building is so heavily insulated that we can't have the heating on meaning we have a lot more humidity!
Coconut Sugar
Posted by Kimi (Los Angeles, Ca) on 12/31/2011
★★★★★
I started using sugar after coming off of an intense candida cleanse (during which I used mostly xylitol and stevia). I find that coconut sugar doesn't aggravate my candida at all, and it tastes better than real sugar!
I sometimes mix xylitol and coconut sugar together- especially when a recipe calls for a bigger amount of sugar.
Coconut Sugar
Posted by Roger Bird (Colorado Springs, Colorado) on 03/04/2012
Coconut sugar is something else. I am very sensitive to excess regular, cane sugar. It raises my inflammation skyward, and presumably that is my insulin spiking. So I know that coconut sugar does not do that; I can eat it by the tablespoonful and have no problem.
One lab in the Philippines did a study on the glycemic index and the glycemic load. They reported GI = 35 and GL = 1. 4. This causes me to doubt them. The GL = GI times total carbs divided by 100. How could something that was almost 100% carb do that?
I found that this is the only lab that has done this study. The lab is in a country that is heavily dependent upon coconut exports. And all my Filipino in-laws lie like it was some kind of hobby; I never know if I am getting the truth from them or not.
The only sense that I can make out of my experience and this doubtful lab's results is that coconut sugar has a lot of long chain saccharides. But I find not this or a whole lot more on the Internet regarding coconut sugar. It seems that there is not a lot of study on coconut sugar; it seems that sometimes you really do get to the end of the Internet.
In my opinion, coconut sugar is one of the best kept secrets in health, and I am sorry that it is. I hope that some enterprising grad students will do some serious scientific studies on coconut sugar.
General Feedback
Posted by Tina (Princeton, New Jersey, Usa) on 12/23/2011
Hi Pinks! I don't if I would use Parachute oil for OP. You need to use organic coconut oil for optimum results. Do you have a company called Mother Earth in any of the Mumbai malls? I bought organic coconut oil from them in Bangalore this summer- Mother Earth had a large store in Meenakshi mall. I use coconut oil as a moisturizer as well, and this was so good that I stocked up. Try Fab India too, they often carry a range of organic oils. Hope this helps!
General Feedback
Posted by Baldev (Mumbai, Maharashtra, India) on 12/23/2011 184 posts
Hi Pinks, This oil is ok for oil pulling but is not recommended for taking it internally. For internal use you should have extra virgin coconut oil which is cold pressed and not processed.
Baldev
General Feedback
Posted by Simon (Somewhere, Usa) on 12/17/2011
Which is the lesser of 2 evils? Potentially irradiated coconut oil or dead (pasteurized) local butter? The coconut oil seems to have so many health benefits. Since it's often imported, it may be irradiated. They find loopholes to not have to tell us things. People still seem to rave about it here, irradiated or not so I reckon it still is effective. Anyway to neutralize the possible effects of irradiation? Does Lugols work for this?
Oil Pulling
Posted by Hollly (Algonquin, Illinois) on 12/11/2011
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? :
Oil Pulling
Posted by Timh (Louisville, Usa) on 12/12/2011 2048 posts
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.
Oil Pulling
Posted by Liz (Boston, Massachusetts) on 12/12/2011
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.
Oil Pulling
Posted by Melanie (Owen Sound, Ontario Canada) on 12/14/2011
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.
Oil Pulling
Posted by Randy (Howell, Michigan) on 01/02/2012
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.
Oil Pulling
Posted by Miles (New York, NY) on 05/18/2012
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?
Oil Pulling
Posted by Bman (Victoria, Bc Canada) on 11/06/2012
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!
General Feedback
Posted by Shai (London, Uk) on 12/09/2011
I recently bumped up on this web page and it's quite amazing.
I have a question to ask on use of which Virgin Coconut oil- what is best 'Pukka' or 'Tiana' in UK and which one is more effective. Any guidance on this selection will be very much helpful.
Thanks
Shai
General Feedback
Posted by Sarah (Denver, Colorado) on 11/29/2011
Reply to JB of New Iberia, Louisiana: about the LouAna company--they DO make coconut oil but also make the oils that you mentioned. The local groceries decide what oils go on their shelves according to popular demand.
Also, being a "foodie" I have recently learned a little about our nation's food history. Bananas and coconuts have been coming into our ports even as our nation was being formed. I don't know when the tradition started but... "Ambrosia" is a fruit salad which includes coconut and has been served at Thanksgiving in the South for many, many years.
From what I've heard, I think baking with coconut oil--pure or not--may be preferable to using butter, which is what I do now (except for those few recipes that use a liquid oil, then I use canola).
Broad Benefits
Posted by Jay (Toronto, Ont, Canada) on 10/03/2011
To Chris from Singapore: Glad to see you using coconut oil. However the reason you are better but not cured is that you need to help the coconut oil with strong probiotics to balance the bacteria in your intestines. The fungus causing your skin and scalp issues probably initiated its growth from your intestines and overwhelmed the good healthy bacteria types there when your immune system was weak or compromised in some way(possibly antibiotics?). It spread to other areas whenever the environment was suitable. Now that you are attacking it, it is withdrawing to safe areas and will spread again if your immune system is weakened.
Taking a strong probiotic (one that has at least 6 different strains of bacteria) would help create a balanced intestinal tract and eliminate this fungul overgrowth at its source. I emphasize the minimum 6 strain probiotic (from a good health food store refrigerated section) because some people think yogurt will do the job. FOR AN ADULT, THE PROBIOTICS IN A SMALL TUB OF YOGURT A DAY IS NOT GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE FOR ANY PRE-EXISTING SKIN OR SCALP CONDITION.
General Feedback
Posted by Maggy, (Canada) on 07/11/2011
I have used coconut oil for most of my life for cooking and other uses. Most people in fiji make their own oil at home which is virgin. It is not a good oil. Doc in fiji recommend us to use corn oil instead.
Meningitis, Encephalitis
Posted by Daniel (Bamenda, North West, Cameroon) on 06/02/2011
The magnitude of fungal meningo-encephalitis has been described worldwide; it is presented as the most deadly opportunistic infection in people living with HIV/AIDS.
The classical medications for the treatment of fungal meningo-encephalitis (amphotericin B, flucytosine, and fluconazole), are very expensive, and not available in most hospitals. Fungal infections are frequently not responsive to classical antifungal therapy. Considering the enormous emphasis on the antifungal properties of the fatty acids of the coconut oil, thus the coconut oil, in scientific literature; the natural and the non toxic nature of coconut oil; the knowledge acquired from a previous research; mfonfu oil, extracted from coconut was administered orally twice daily at a dose of 5ml to HIV/AIDS patients as treatment against fungal meningo-encephalitis.
All patients were taking antiretrovirals (ARV); those who were not on ARV were placed on ARV in the following week, except for the patient who was in coma.
The rapid recovery of the patients to treatment with coconut oil was spectacular and miraculous with the major symptoms and signs disappearing generally within the first month of starting treatment with mfonfu oil; indicating that coconut oil treats fungal meningo-encephalitis in HIV/AIDS patients, and that coconut oil is a very formidable, powerful and effective antifungal. Coconut oil will constitute the corner stone in the treatment of fungal meningo-encephalitis in HIV/AIDS patients.
Nevertheless, the only treatment for HIV/AIDS remains prevention of the infection, because there is no specific medication against HIV yet.
The setting of the research was in Bamenda from October 2007 to March 2008, at St Mary Soledad Catholic Health Centre.
For more reading: http://mfonfudaniel.blogspot.com
How to Take Internally
Posted by Todd (Peoria, Az) on 06/01/2011
I tried this Pina Colada smoothie: 3 cups of water/ice, 2 cups of fresh pineapple, 1/2 cup almonds, 1/2 cup pitted dates, 2 tbs of coconut oil and 1/2 vanilla bean. Mix it all up in a high speed blender. It is fantastic!
How to Take Internally
Posted by Diamond (Cleveland, England) on 05/20/2011
hi debbie, thanks for getting back to me, ill start oil pulling tommorrow morning on a empty stomach, starting with a teaspoon first, till I get used to it. I'll post a comment in a week. Im due back at my dentist approx 7 weeks time, which I hope gives the oil time to start healing my gums. thank you.
How to Take Internally
Posted by Diamond (Cleveland, England) on 05/19/2011
hi, thankyou debbie, for your last feedback, could you please advise,
after I melt the coconut oil in a bowl, then put it in my mouth, do I just swish it round, then spit it out or do I swallow it. Im so sorry for being a nuisance just being careful. thank you.
How to Take Internally
Posted by Debbie (Melbourne, Australia) on 05/19/2011
Hi Diamond, No, you don't swallow the oil it because you will also swallow the bacteria that has been released by swishing with the oil.
How to Take Internally
Posted by Sheila (Sandisky, Oh) on 12/10/2012
Hi, for oil pulling: Swish for about 15 minutes then spit it out in the toilet. I usually then swish with a little water then brush my teeth with toothpaste. Some will tell you not to use toothpaste but I just have to. Hope that helps.
