Coconut Oil
Health Benefits

Coconut Oil Benefits, Side Effects and Reviews

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 Gramma (Raymond, Alberta, Canada) on 09/13/2009
★★★★★

My husband and I use coconut oil as a rub for aches and pains. Hubby had his right shoulder replaced 10 years ago and coconut oil keeps him pain free. I need back surgery but am too old so I use coconut oil to relieve pain. We also use it to rub arthritic knees, hips, elbows and hands. We were in Majuro for 18 months five years ago and were introduced to coconut oil by the natives when I stepped onto a red ant pile and was severely bitten all over my legs. Instant relief from coconut oil. We don't measure, we just scoop out a little and rub it on. It has to be 100% pure coconut oil to work.

Hair
Posted by Lakshmi (Edinburgh, UK) on 03/28/2009
★★★★★

I am basically from India. Coconut oil is a part of our life. People use it in cooking and it makes them fat. Coconut oil has very high saturated fatty acids. It is good if taken in very little amount it helps in detoxing the body. They are very good for external applications. In the place where i come from it is a habit to apply coconut oil on hair everyday like applying moisturiser for skin. It is really important in a weather like that which will dry out hair. It protects hair and give a beautiful shine. Now i dont live there I stopped oiling my hair and it is very thin and lifeless.

Hair
Posted by Karen S (Calgary) on 01/26/2014

I have to take issue with the poster saying that Coconut Oil makes you fat. Nuh uh!! Coconut oil's MCT are absorbed from the intestine thru the portal vein and straight to the liver! It does not get stored as fat. Please make sure you know what you are posting and that it's true before you do, because people believe this stuff and you might've steered somebody away from one of the most terrific things on God's green earth - Unprocessed Coconut Oil!


Autism
Posted by Charity (Faithville, Us) on 03/15/2018


Broad Benefits
Posted by Sheanna (Douglasville, Atlanta, GA) on 11/25/2008
★★★★★

I take 3 teaspoons of coconut oil a day, 1 teaspoon before each meal. I notice that it lowers cholesterol. Also, I have less headaches and feel awesome. I have also lost 20 pounds taking the coconut oil. Guess what - I still eat what I want! I haven't changed any eating habits. I also drink 6 to 8 glasses of water. I also use this as a hair care product on my scalp. I used to have two bald spots that have been growing like crazy. I have tried everything on my bald spots and nothing has worked but coconut oil. Extra virgin coconut oil is a blessing in my life.


Gum in Hair
Posted by Terese (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) on 05/23/2008

In the past for gum in hair, I have used peanut butter, crisco oil, vegetable oil and have done the freezing method with ice cubes. That is a mess in comparison and takes forever. I have a 16 year old daughter with hair down to her bottom. I know about gum in hair. Nothing has ever worked for me like extra virgin coconut oil and in half the time. I wish I would have known about it 16 years ago. :0D


Snoring
Posted by Kelley (Perry, UT) on 05/11/2008
★★★★★

Every night before bed, my husband and I put a little coconut oil up in our nostrils/mose. Ever since we started doing thtis, he has a lot less trouble with allergies, and he says that I no longer snore! Not that I ever was a real loud snorer, but whatever heavy breathing that blockage or congestion was causing, it is now gone! It only takes about 1/4 tsp. - just a tiny bit on your fingertip for each nostril.


Energy Booster
Posted by Gislain (Phoenix, AZ) on 02/29/2008
★★★★★

I've had Coconut Oil sitting around my house and only used it for cooking. I heard it was a great alternative to Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils. But since reading about the health benefits from Coconut Oil on this website, I thought it would be good to try for my depression and lack of energy I feel mainly in the mornings. Sometimes, I just cannot move or do anything! I ate a tablespoon and managed not to gag from the texture or lack of taste. Within a HALF-HOUR, I went from not wanting to be around and lethargic to INSTANT ENERGY! I was doing chores, showering, moving about and realizing that the Coconut Oil helped me start my day. It felt like I drank two cups of coffee! Throughout the day, my heart was beating pretty heavy so I will try taking half a tablespoon in the upcoming days. This is a WONDER FOOD!

HIV
Posted by Lynn (Saskatoon, Canada) on 01/19/2008
★★★★★

While the word cure is a very final type of word, I would like to say that Coconut oil has been a welcome remedy in my life for the HIV virus. More and more information is becoming available about how the monolaurin and lauric acid in organic virgin coconut oil does its work to literally kill lipid-coated viruses such as HIV. I have been taking VCO off and on and have seen my viral load of 1100 (when 1st diagnosed) digress to 570 6 months later. I will be having another test shortly. My doctor said it was unusual for the virus to digress without medication, letting it not progress is one thing, to have it go backwards is another. Coconut oil remedies so many other ailments too, my skin feels amazing and its the only thing I use on my skin. You shouldn't put on your skin something you wouldn't ingest. Your skin is your biggest organ. I am a loyal user of this product and grateful to hear it endorsed by people like Gary Null.

Herpes
Posted by Mike (Spokane, WA) on 01/02/2008
★★★★★

I have suffered from fever blisters (herpes simplex) on my lips for many years. I read that VCO reduces viral loads in the body so I gave it a try. Have had spectacular results (better than lysine) and no more outbreaks for 9 months. Regarding some of the negative feedback, I was shocked to read of the problems people have had with VCO - I guess because my experience has been so positive. My suggestion is to add some butter along with the VCO. Not sure why this works but it also works to stop repeat when taking fish oil.


Cheap Coconut Oil Sources
Posted by Mousehouse62 (North Richland Hills, Texas) on 02/27/2012

I also buy my VCO from Vitacost and through Amazon in which I can get some great deals! Yes, it does come in plastic, havent found it in glass yet but I use it after I shower, in all my cooking and have made desserts using VCO instead of the "oil" that was called for. I get compliments on my skin all the time and my son loves to snuggle up to me smelling like a coconut. I wont use anything else to cook with or slather with!


Herpes
Posted by SG (Bakersfield, CA) on 08/25/2007
★★★★★

I wrote earlier about my experience with eight years of un-diagnosed herpes. Since then, I've been experimenting with it, and I've got complete control over it--I can make myself completely symptom-free, or cause an outbreak within 30 minutes.

THE CURES: Coconut. Yep, another vote for that one. I recently discovered Thai food, and they put coconut milk in just about everything. Taking special care to eat Tom Kha Gai (Food of the gods!) or Thai curry dishes several times a week, I've discovered that I have no need for my previous supplement: Gigartina Red Marine Algae, 1000mg (4 capsules) per day. And it's a lot more fun! To be fair, though, the Red Marine Algae works just as well.

If I want to cause an outbreak within an hour, all I have to do is not eat any coconut products for a few days, and then have a Diet Red Bull. Chock full of both Aspartame and arginine, if your doctor needs you to have an outbreak for testing purposes, this will do the trick. Drinking two of these per day sent me to the emergency room with horrible sores, and was how I discovered I had herpes. Other energy drinks (containing arginine) kept me having sores for the next few months until I realized the connection.

Mite Infestation
Posted by Michelle (Baltimore, Maryland) on 07/25/2007
★★★★★

re: Mite Infestation -- I, too, like others have suffered similar ailments--intense itching and red, swollen bites on upper part of body for three years, and until recently, my face. I am of African descent and my skin does not heal well, after any kind of bruising. When the redness and itching finally go away, I'm left with lots of black spots. Needless to say, it leaves me quite depressed and I'm not able to wear short sleeves, shorts or go to the beach (due to eczema on the lower part of my body). Well, I though it was bedmites or dustmites and replaced my mattress and linens and even wash these in hot water, ammonia and borax every couple of days. But almost every morning when I wake up, I find more red bumps.

Well, much thanks for Earthclinic!!! After reading many testimonials on different skin issues, I purchased ACV to neutralize my body's acidity and Organic Coconut Oil for eczema, etc. I was still getting my usual number of bites and tried 3% Hydrogen Peroxide for the itching; it helped for a couple of hours. Just by chance, I read about the lady who had tried Pond's face cream with the intent to "suffocate" the mites and I reasoned that coconut oil has such tremendous healing properties--bacterial/viral/fungual; this just might work. So, I put some on all over my face, chest and arms where I had bites and voila! The itching subsided within several minutes and by the end of the next day, the swelling and redness was 97% gone and I still have NO more itching!!! (I've also been taking the coconut oil internally but not diligently as I should be.)

I'm so ecstatic to share this with others and hope that you would have as much success as I did.

P.S. Ted, can you share any light on this. Also, since using ACV and baking soda, my eczema has flared up. I'm now trying baking soda only. (I also suffer from chronic BV).

Cheap Coconut Oil Sources
Posted by Daphne (Brunswick, Georgia) on 11/19/2008

Extra Virgin and Virgin Coconut Oil are the only coconut oil's with health benefits I was told. If you spend $7 you could spend $10 and get better health results. I have the caplets and I love them. They are helping with my Hypothyroidism. I already feel so much better.


Hair
Posted by Tammy (Montreal, Canada) on 04/29/2007
★★★★★

LOVING this site. In my late thirties and sick and tired of all the products THAT DON'T WORK. Looking for a nautural way to help me stay young and fit. decided to use coconut oil unrefined to moisturize hair and had great results. Started to use it on my skin and after day one i'm impressed. I will start to ingest in a cup of tea in the morning because of all the benefits i'm hearing about. will update next week. Also so much hype about apple cider Vin. that I'm going to try it to cleanse hair, reduce pores, and ingest with honey to see what everybody is raving about. Keep you posted. comments are welcome.


Teeth
Posted by Lucille (Jersey City, USA) on 04/23/2007
★★★★★

Wow! I just read this cure [oil pulling] for the first time and decided to try it with my organic coconut oil. I still can't believe it but the chronic sensitivity I had in two of my teeth is gone! It's hard to tell which teeth were hurting! And my teeth feel different.


Hypothyroidism
Posted by Carolyn (Lorain, OH) on 02/25/2007
★★★★★

I have been taking virgin coconut oil for eight months now because I read it will help regulate my thyroid.I am hyper-thyroid and have been on medication for the past four years.Last month I stopped my meds.because I was told my thyroid is in remission now.I believe the oil is what helped me.


HIV
Posted by Jay (Manila, Phillipines) on 12/22/2006
★★★★★

In the Philippines, studies have shown that coconut oil can cure HIV. Test subjects were given at least 12 tablespoon of coconut oil a day, and and after 6 months, HIV have been cured. I had no time to confirm this report but the story had been featured several times in radio and tv programs.


Digestive Issues
Posted by Irene (Bayville, NJ) on 12/20/2006
★★★★★

Coconut Oil cured my IBS and Bowel Distention. It was a little tough getting used to the taste tried all sorts of ways to get used to it but I actually don't mind it in my morning coffee. It has also made my skin very soft and my nails are growing like crazy. I will keep this one in my diet I feel so much more energy and it has only been a week!


Lice
Posted by Dianna (Sapulpa, OK) on 12/06/2006
★★★★★

My daughter came home with lice, and a friend told me to use some coconut oil overnight to suffocate the lice and the nits. I had no trouble getting the nits out, and there didn't seem to be any bugs when I combed through her hair. The only problem I had was getting the coconut oil out of her hair. I used the coconut oil conditioner, which I think is different than liquid coconut oil, but it worked so well I had to share the tip.



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