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.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Kim (Columbus) on 01/23/2014
★★★☆☆BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
I started rubbing VCO on my lower back about 3 months ago. It gave me a instant relief! I was so thrilled but decided to keep it to myself. I was rubbing it all day as needed and on the third day I woke up with no back pain! I started emailing my family members and got some for my 87 year old mom. We all took it internally 1-2 tablespoons a day, we oil pull with it too. My mom had some remarkable results on her skin. A 25 year old bump on her forehead from a car accident subsided 60% after a couple days of rubbing on direct, after 2 months, it's gone. It seems to sooth her itchy skin and helped her curled toes to relax a bit.
Then going into 3-4 weeks, one of my sister stopped taking it because she was getting stomach pain. Then her old stretch marks started to darken, purple, red and bloody looking.
My other sister was having great results for almost two months with her leg pain and skin problems. Then she had to stop because it was making her constipated, zits under her skin on her face. She got scared due to the bloody wipe when she goes to the bathroom. She went off the oil and is ok now.
I have very mild back pain now after 3 months of taking it internally and using it as lotion after showers. Some day no pain at all but my legs were getting bumpy and itchy all day; extreme, miserable itch. Although VCO did a lot of good for all of us with a lot of little things, we now all stopped due to the side effects. I read up on the detox symptons and I waited over 3 weeks for the itching to go away on my legs which it didn't. Does detox takes this long? My mom had to stop cause she scratched her back to the point of bleeding and was getting boils on her head and bottom. I don't understand what went wrong, it was wonderful the first couple months. We all use virgin, coldpress, the purest coconut oil. My mom did stop for a week and said her itching is 50% better and the boil on her head is flatten. Anyone else that can shed some light on this? Ted, are you around?
Ringworm
Posted by Pam E. (SouthWestern California) on 01/10/2024 156 posts
I've found that the thing that worked quick for my cats on their ringworm was MSM ... in their food.
I gave them -1/32 tsp twice daily (in their meals) ... based on the fact that their weights are from 8.5 lbs. to 9.5 lbs.
Too much MSM will cause runny stool, so best start with a smaller amount than the recommended dose, then work your way up to what they can use (which will not cause runny stools)....
Within a few days their ringworm lesions were noticeably better, & began shrinking right after, until totally gone.... I can't fathom why not even holistic vets seem to know about it!!!
Body Temperature, Menstruation
Posted by Cheryl (Massachusetts) on 06/01/2021
I don't eat a teaspoon or tablespoon at one time in my mouth. I do however use a heaping tablespoon when scrambling my eggs, and I use it in salad dressing, if I bake, use it on toast, etc. I also use it on my body, my lips instead of chap stick. I use it on my hair for moisturizing treatment as well. I have never had the scratchy throat issue or nausea.
Antibacterial, Antifungal
Posted by R (Dallas, Texas) on 02/11/2011
Bill thanks for this informing article. How much VCO would you think is needed, daily, to kill a Virus thats on your list (specifically hiv). I have taken it in the past, and had to stop because I was heavily detoxing, and maybe should have just cut my dosage back. I would like to restart, but dont want to over do it again. Any suggestions? And thanks in advance!
Antibacterial, Antifungal
Posted by Bill (San Fernando, Luzon, Philippines) on 02/11/2011
I forgot to add that VCO also contains both caprylic and myrysitc acid triglycerides(saturated oils). VCO contains 5% Caprylic acid and about 18% myristic acid -- and both these triglycerides provide significant defense either topically as well as internally against fungal and yeast infections. I know first hand how useful VCO is against candida. VCO cured my candida constipation rapidly but gently and my bloating symptoms disappeared within a week of starting to take VCO which was a significant player in my own candida cure.
Antibacterial, Antifungal
Posted by Bill (San Fernando, Luzon, Philippines) on 02/12/2011
Hi R... I forgot to fully address your heavy detox problems.
Whenever you have a detox overload problem -- more properly recognized as a Herxheimer Reaction by medical science -- it really doesn't matter whether you successfully kill alot of the pathogens causing your ailment if your liver is over stressed or becoming diseased because it cannot cope with removing and excreting the debris and toxins from the body. An example of this is Stage 4 cancer. You can successfully kill billions of cancer cells but if you liver is diseased and cannot clear the debris or poisons and toxins, then the liklihood is that the cancer victim may well die of cachexia(starvation), morphine overdose or from the cancer. All three of these outcomes can result from a weakened or diseased liver.
Various alternative therapists have recognized this as key to healing the body. If your excretory pathways are clogged and polluted, you're immune system will remain depressed and you will never heal. Dr Gerson from the Gerson Cancer therapy wisely recognized a healthy liver as a key factor in his cancer and tuberculosis therapies.
Dr Gerson did a famous experiment with two rats. One rat had bone cancer and the other rat was completely healthy. He connected up the arteries and veins of both rats so the blood of the healthy rat ran through the sick rat and vice versa.
The outcome was spectacular. Instead of the healthy rat catching the cancer as you might think, the reverse happened and the sick rat was completely healed.
This proved outright that with a healthy immune system, even cancer will be defeated. And the major organ that he focused upon to tune up the immune system was the liver -- which is the chemical factory of the body.
Which is why I have advised treating your liver with various simple but effective therapies in order to boost your immune system while simultaneously attacking and removing your pathogen problems. This will boost and quicken healing time as well as boost the immune system.
Source reference
http://www.doctoryourself.com/gersonspeech.html
Broad Benefits
Posted by Diana (London, England, United Kingdom) on 03/10/2010
★★★★★
MY FATHER HAS PARKINSONS, I BOUGHT COCONUT OIL AFTER ACCIDENTLY FINDING A SITE ABOUT THE OIL, I FOUND IT INTERESTING READING, MY FATER HAS 2 TBS A DAY AND WE HAVE NOTICED HE IS MORE ALERT AND TALKATIVE AND INTERESTED MORE IN WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND HIM, AMAZING, I READ THAT THE BRAIN IS MADE UP OF FATS, AND MY THEORY IS THAT AS WE ARE TOLD NOT TO EAT SATURATED FATS THAT BEING THE BAD STUFF,WE ARE ACTUALLY STARVING OUR BRAINS, I NEVER KNEW THE COCONUT OIL WAS MADE OF 92 % HEALTHY AND GOOD SATURATED FATS THE KIND OUR BRAIN NEEDS TO FEED ON, I AM ALSO TAKING 2 TBS A DAY I HAVE LUNG DAMAGE DUE TO SEPTICEMIA AND AT TIMES HAVE TO TAKE STEROIDS, I HATE THEM AS THEY MAKE MY FACE LOOK FLUSHED, SO I STOPPED AND JUST TAKE THE COCONUT OIL ALONG WITH A WARM DRINK OF CAYENNE PEPPER A LITTLE GINGER AND LEMON, I FELT BETTER VERY QUICKLY, IT WORKED FOR ME, I ALSO NOTICED MY HAIR IS GETTING MORE COLOURFUL I AM A NATURAL REDHEAD AND OVER TIME THE COLOUR HAS BECOME DULL, AFTER A FEW WEEKS MY HAIR IS GETTING RED AGAIN I AM SO HAPPY, I RUN TO THE MIRROR EVERY MORNING TO CHECK IT L.O.L. I THINK COCONUT OIL IS AMAZING.
Back Pain
Posted by Ellen (Arlington, Tx) on 09/22/2009
★★★★★
Coconut oil for back pain (pinched nerve)
Yes!!! It worked wonderfully. I rubbed a quarter sized amount of coconut oil on my back a little over an hour ago. It has made the pain go away. I don't know how long the relief will last but I will keep using it.
Athlete's Foot
Posted by Jim (Klamath Falls, OR, USA) on 01/13/2009
★★★★★
I had a very similar experience with the EVCO. I also use it for an underarm deodorant, along with ACV. I first apply the ACV and let it dry and then apply a very light amount of the EVCO. If I happen to get too much under the arm, I just dab it with a tissue. It does not stain and the light odor of coconut is gone within 1 hour max.
My athletes foot problem cleared in 3 days usage. Amazing how effective it is as an under arm deodorant. I just started to use it 2-3 times a day in hope that it will have a similar effect on my gastritis.
This is a great web site! Thank you all.
Autism
Posted by Teena (Melbourne Australia) on 03/15/2018 233 posts
Hi Tegan,
Coconut oil is very heat stable. I am very comfortable using it to shallow fry eggs, and occasionally deep frying. I also will (only) use ghee or grass fed lard as these provide health benefits and are heat stable.
Whichever detox you choose to start the children on, my advice to minimise detox effects is to start on much lower dose than is recommended. You could actually start with a pinch of a powder or a smidge of a liquid, keep that going for four days, then increase, gently, slowly. You are less likely to experience negative reactions if you go this way. Keep reading and researching for your family's health, may I suggest for your further research the turpentine castor oil protocol specifically for autism.
Many blessings on your good health journey.
Candida
Posted by Star Z. (London, UK) on 03/17/2008
★★★★★
I have been taking Organic VCO before meals for the last 2 days. A single heaped table spoon. It's yummy. I felt a tense pressure in my baby belly and my stomach has not stopped churning very low pain levels. There is also discomfort to my lower back. I was surprised to find a huge discharge below totay. I was unaware of the fact that I had trush. It disclodged and evacuated more discharge than the prescription medicine I take when I feel the discomfort of thrush. I have also been having an unusually thin poo, not watery, loser than the norm. After the display with the discharge I just wonder what is leaving my stomach! The fact that I didnt know it was there is not reassuring. This is the best detox I have ever done. I think in 3 weeks I will reduce to 1table spoon a day, as well as skin and hair application. This site does a fabulous job, somebody needs to tell Oprah. Star Z.
Chronic Fatigue
Posted by Henri (Los Angeles, California) on 08/23/2007
★★★★★
Hi I have been battling a string of health problems due to chronic stress. The one thing that made everything worse was chronic fatigue. 4 Days ago i could barely get enough strength to get out of bed in the morning. I searched this site for a cure, and found that virgin coconut oil helps. I had bought some a few weeks ago, i started drinking 2 tablespoons a day, it has given me enough energy to get through the day, and be active at work and even enough to go out after work and have a life. It has even helped with my bowel movements. all this after less than a week. I cant wait to see if it can help me with everything else.
Athlete's Foot
Posted by Shelly (Medford, OR) on 03/22/2006
★★★★★
I had a stubborn case of athlete's foot for several months. Tried every kind of natural/herbal cure that I could think of, but there was no relief. I read about coconut oil bringing healing to skin rashes, so I decided to try it. After a week of applying the oil, twice a day, the rash is gone. I'm also feeding it to our dog every morning with his food. He LOVES it! He 's a young dog with no apparent health problems, but I look at as a preventative measure and I anticipate that it will also help him with flea and tick problems. It's great to have such wonderful natural remedies!!!
Virgin Vs Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
Posted by Michael (New Zealand) on 12/17/2016
There have been several postings recently concerning the many merits of Coconut Oils in their various shapes and forms. Nothing wrong there, EXCEPT that folks seem to be unaware that whilst the appellation "Virgin" and "Extra Virgin" actually mean something when one is referring to OLIVE OILS, they don't mean a hell of a lot when one is referring to Coconut Oils, (if you are seeking clarification on industry-applicable, certification authorities that is)!! This is NOT BAD, it is just that one should look at Coconut Oils from a different perspective and not judge them by similar criteria. So, as far as I am aware, one should not place too much reliance on a brand of C.O. that claims to be a virgin as if you were looking at an Olive Oil! As for "Extra Virgin", I don't think anyone would be bold enough to make such a claim. The Pacific Islanders do the best that they can, but the processing to a very high standard has various challenges and costs associated with it. Cold-pressed, "organic" and filtered oils, as well as processed oils, are out there. The Island oils usually get imported into New Zealand for final quality control. If you wish to learn more you could do worse than refer to an internet site where a few independent reviewers, review these issues/concerns and where these technicalities are nicely put forth (including any health concerns you might have). Coconut Oils are a real gift to humanity. I like my one. I consume a half teaspoon each day. We are now able to track our oil to a specific (Pacific) Island which is rather nice. Just trying to sift through the dross of misinformation!! Knowledge is power folks. Get acquainted with your foods!
Cheers, Michael
Make Your Own Coconut Oil
Posted by Jean (Ontario, CA) on 01/04/2015
★★★★★
It is easy to make coconut oil. Get 1 coconut (dried with husk removed), grate the coconut, pour some water on and squeeze out the milk. Boil that until you see a custard base with the oil floating on top. That my friends is the purest form of coconut oil you will ever get. Do it out on the barbecue outside, it smells. Saw my grandparents making it in the country in jamaica when I was a child. The custard is the best sauce you can taste, goes with any meat or fish..superb!!
Appetite Suppressant
Posted by June (Charlotte, North Carolina) on 10/30/2014
I suspect the nausea is your gallbladder reacting to too much fat. I get the same response from coconut oil and any rich, fatty foods and generally have to avoid them. I suggest you stop for a day and then lower the amount of coconut oil and see if that helps. If not, try another supplement.
Appetite Suppressant
Posted by Alanna (Beverly Hills, California) on 02/29/2016
Sandi - I don't personally use coconut oil for weight loss, but it appears just from reading several topics in here that people start with one teaspoon and go on from there, up to a couple of or a few tablespoons, for whatever it is they're taking it for. I don't know if this is helpful to you or not, but I hope you get some help in losing weight.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Stephanie (Philadelphia, Pa) on 05/16/2014
★★★★★
I have very good results with coconut oil. Grew back my hair with hot oil treatments, great for heartburn, great for weight loss. I mixed with my yogurt, oil pulling/teeth. Forget teeth whiteners! Bye bad breath. Good for sunburn..stay indoors, while sweat to death. Great for colds. Add a spoon to some tea. Lighten your complexion by mixing a little with shea butter once a week. Great butter substitute. Recently tried for asthma. Perfect results. Added and drank hot tea three times during an attack, completely disappeared...not even a wheeze. I swear by this stuff. My cat loves it to. great for her constipation/anal sac issues. I let her lick a little off a spoon. She's too smart for me to add it to her food. My only downside is that the more I drank it, the more I passed kidney stones. I had to slack off a little. I would like to use it for hemorhoids, but need to figure a how to?
I do have a question. Any reviews for Trader Joes coconut oil. It's the only one I use and it's the cheapest.
Canker Sores
Posted by Mmsg (Somewhere, Europe) on 07/02/2013
Coconut oil soothes canker sores. Don't know if it heals them but for me it takes the pain away for a while.
Hair
Posted by Debbie (Stanfield, Nc, Usa) on 12/06/2012
I started using coconut oil on my hair about a month ago. I have EXTREMELY dry and really frizzy hair. I put it on til my hair looks oily (not drippy oily but like its about time to wash it oily (lol)). I do not wash it out. I'm retired so I dont have to go out if I dont want to, if I did I would probably pull it back or wear a scarf. Because my hair is SO dry, I dont wash but once or twice a week. Within a day of putting on my hair, it has totally soaked in and not frizzy and not oily looking. (told you my hair is extremely dry). When my hair has been shampooed and i'm blow drying or hot ironing, I put some on (like when you put on "heat treatment" that is over the counter that you're supposed to use before blow drying or heat ironing).... I dont have to use all that stuff the hairdressers recommend using.... Shiney stuff, body stuff, heat treatment stuff, etc etc etc. I love the way my hair is starting to look AND with only ONE product. I use it also on my legs for conditioning but just started that and it takes a bit longer than lotion. Also, I started Apple Cider Vinegar about 3 weeks ago and my energy has really improved. I need to check and see what all Apple Cider Vinegar is supposed to do but I know I have some more energy. I LOVE THIS SITE!!!!
Blood Pressure
Posted by Beth (Pembroke Pines, Fl, Usa) on 11/18/2011
★★★★★
I am amazed at how well coconut oil has worked to normalize my blood pressure. I am a very healthy and petite woman who was diagnosed with high blood pressure at the age of 27. My diet is clean and I exercise regularly and with high intensity, but nothing lowered my blood pressure except medication. It was about 160/90 without medication, but stayed steady around 110/70 so long as I took it daily. After I began taking coconut oil daily (just 1 Tbsp. A day does the trick), I noticed that my blood pressure was getting TOO low! I stopped taking my medication and kept an eye on my daily readings. The coconut oil keeps my blood pressure just as low as the medication did! I am surprised there aren't more reports here of coconut oil normalizing blood pressure (I have read that it also works for people whose pressure is too low).
I have been spreading the word of coconut oil to anyone and everyone! There are other benefits as well, but I'll post those in the appropriate sections. :) The next challenge I'm going to give it is trying it on warts (the banana peel remedy isn't working for me).
Antibacterial, Antifungal
Posted by Brett (Hawaii) on 05/30/2021
No...too many serious errors in your Biochemistry and Physiology info. Stop, just stop, until you have your facts straight. Bad info is worse than anything for people, it makes everyone who seeks alternative information on treatment options look uneducated...go back, read your post and research MCT, Glycogen, fatty acid storage etc. and never repeat things you've heard people say unless you have read up on it from reliable sources of information.
Skin Issues
Posted by Sonam (New York, Ny) on 04/12/2015
★★★★★
So for anyone who's a seasoned VCO user, you already know how powerful its antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties are.
I have eczema (I've had it since I was a baby), and I recently had a flare-up after consuming too much dairy and gluten for a period of 2+ months. I started using coconut oil on my eczema patches, and I had the same experience as you -- my skin got worse (a lot worse, actually, because it literally looked like it was peeling and getting even more inflamed than before). But the main thing to realize is that this is SUPPOSED to happen when you use a natural substance like VCO. It works by drawing out toxins through your elimination organs, and for a lot of people - especially those with prior skin abnormalities - the way those toxins come out is through the skin. Hence the temporary worsening of symptoms. My skin got way worse for a little over a week, as my skin condition was pretty severe, so the healing took longer than it would for most people. But once that week passed, it was clear as day. No redness, no dryness, no itching. I noticed it recently started to get worse again, but that's because I've been lenient with my diet over the past 2 weeks, so I plan to get back on my strict dairy-free, gluten-free, sugar-free meal plan.
Anyway, the main point is that yes, it's normal, and even encouraged, for your condition to get worse before it gets better, as this is a sign that deeper internal cleansing is occurring. Good luck!
Skin Issues
Posted by Cat (Austin, Tx) on 05/10/2010
★★★★★
Grandmother Guffys Method for forever soft, clean, ageless skin.
My grandmother Guffys skin was as soft and smooth as a babys butt till the day she died at 94. One day, when I was a younger woman constantly on the go, she noticed how dry and ashy my skin was and elected to tell me about her method of bathing. It was the only thing she said she did to keep her body clean and soft. First, she never took long baths (and NO, she did not smell). She said bathing dried out skin. Second, she never used hot water on her skin. Third, she never needed lotions. I listened; yet, despite the evidence before me, I did not take her advise. Hot showers were invigorating, I exclaimed. Who ever heard of not bathing, I secretly thought. Why do not the young listen! For years now I have suffered with extremely dry and itchy skin. FINALLY! I recalled my grandmother Guffys bathing method for clean, itch-less, soft, ageless skin. Here it is:
1) Massage 2-3 tablespoons of (antibacterial, anti-fungal) coconut oil over your entire dry, naked body, but not your face. Be sure to include your private areas and feet - get utterly greasy with it! Let it soak 5 minutes.
2) Take a clean, white, DRY bath cloth, folded in fours and scrub your entire body. When one side of the cloth gets cruddy, refold to a clean side of the same cloth. Don't forget private areas.
3) Shower/rinse in very lukewarm to cold water and ONLY wash your private areas with diluted baking soda and water or an organic non-soap or as I sometimes do, diluted ACV.
3) Get out of the shower and barely pat dry.
Believe! This works! People who touch my skin always exclaim at how soft it is AND my husband who has scratched my back many a time has taken to gently rubbing my arms a lot. Just try it! It is not real expensive or hard to do and results are quick. If you are allergic to coconut oil, switch to a light olive oil or sesame oil. Soon you will do as I did - throw away all your bathing soaps and bottles.
Head Congestion
Posted by Sweetwater4life (Covington, Ga) on 02/01/2010
★★★★★
I have been suffering from pressure in the back of my (L) eye and then radiating to my forehead and (r) eye. I went to the doctor was given an antibiotic for possible sinus infection. Took antibiotic, did not work well. Still experienced pressure. I was reading a book about Barbados and the Rastafarian culture. They mentioned the use of coconut oil for head congestion. I am a firm believer in natural healing, and the use of herbs. So, I tried it along with clove oil (a droplet of clove, very strong). I mixed the coconut with the clove, and that night I slept all night without being awakened to pressure behind my eye and in my head. I have been doing this for 4 days and have not experienced the pressure that I have endured for close to 4 months. Also, clove oil is such a powerful oil, it has helped me with gingivitis (no more bleeding gums), muscle aches, bad breath, bee stings, and infections of the skin. Check it out.
