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.
Side Effects
Posted by Shane McManus (Sunbury, Victoria/Australia) on 11/07/2007
★★★☆☆BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
I've had mixed results taking coconut oil. It cleared my eczema and improved my skin but have been light headed and dizzy after 2 weeks of taking it. Also my hayfever has come back where i was fine before. A herxheimer reaction should have settled after 2 weeks. I'm wondering if others who have had reactions are Blood group O, as according to the blood group diet coconut oil does not agree with type O blood.
Side Effects
Posted by Linda (Concord, CA) on 12/14/2007
★★★☆☆BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
I began using VCO on doctor's orders to help combat hypothyroid. My skin, hair, energy levels were all positive results. I also used VCO as a deodorant. However, after a few days I began gaining weight, got dizzy spells and some diarrhea. My blood pressure soared! After continued trials for a couple of weeks, my doctor advised me to stop using it. This was disappointment as I got good results in other areas; however, every attempt made to try it again caused my BP to go higher. I do full body cleanses once or twice a year. Possibly it might help if I did just liver cleanse? I'm 60 years old, exercise daily, eat healthy foods, do drink 1.5 cups coffee in morning and am Blood Type A. Disappointed as not being able to use coconut oil due to HBP. Would appreciate any comments on my HBP problem to be answered on this site. Any insight would be beneficial. Thanks, a CA gal
Side Effects
Posted by Beverly Anne (Miami, FL) on 12/19/2007
★★★☆☆BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
Up to two weeks of v.c.o. usage I've got great looking/feeling skin but my face has broken out and experienced dryness. I've also got diarrhea and nausea with usage but am almost certain it is because of candida die-off symptoms as I understand vco has caprylic acid qualities used in fighting candida infection. Otherwise, I've lost weight, thyroid pulsating has subsided quite a bite and no vaginal discharge. Will up the dosage from 1 TBS. to 1.5 gradually during next week.
Side Effects
Posted by Becky (Bellefonte, PA) on 12/26/2007
I've started taking Coconut oil, and for the 1st time in my life I get terrible heartburn. What can I do to rectify this? I really want to try coconut oil for a number of benefits to my health, but what to do???
Side Effects
Posted by Melissa (Miami, USA) on 02/27/2008
Hello, just wanted to give some feedback in regards to my experience with coconut oil usage. I took about 1 tbsp. of coconut oil and in less than 1 hour I had intense pain in my stomach along with heartburn (I never get this). After that I developed diarrea and vomited. Those reactions lasted well through the night and for two days after taking the coconut oil the intense stomach pains persisted. If you are going to try cocunut oil it might be a great idea to use it as a cooking agent as suggested by another reader rather than ingesting it.
Side Effects
Posted by Deborah (Denison, TX) on 07/12/2007
I have read a lot of the comments about the VCO and its problems. i have been taking VCO & ACV (Read my testimonial) for over 10 years. In addition to both of these natural cures I also take 1/2 lemon & 1 tbsp. of Sea Salt each day with 8 oz. of warm water. This lemon/sea salt drink is a natural cleanser for your liver & digestive tract. If anyone is scared of the VCO causing liver problems then this might benefit them. The VCO does give you a oily discharge and gas but the benefits far outweigh the negative. I have taken several body cleanses and the natural, cheap and easiest way to do a body cleanse is to take the VCO twice daily (I mix mine with vanilla yogurt) and you will dispel the parasites that cause illnesses and clean your intestinal tract that when old food is not dispelled causes diseases. I do the lemon drink first thing then my VCO with yogurt and then my ACV & water and I am ready with so much energy to start my day. I have my thyroid and weight under control due to this regimen.
I also use VCO instead of body lotion or hair conditioner. I had very dry hair, skin and cuticles due to a thyroid problem but once I started the VCO it went away. I also make a VCO & Sea Salt scrub that does double duty because it opens your pores of the skin to dispel toxins and softens your skin. I am a 48 year old red head grandmother that looks in her 30's because of this great oil. I have 3 incurable diseases that I take no medication for except for my thyroid medication and my dosage keeps getting smaller & smaller each time my blood work is done.
I have found many cures for illnesses that are natural and have not been to a doctor in 4 years except for my yearly Lupus physical.
Side Effects
Posted by Michael (USA) on 07/12/2007
The other controversy with Coconut Oil... some experience a body odor, while others find it's a pleasant light scent. The minority reporting that they EVENTUALLY acquire an odor from using the product, are more then likely experiencing the toxins that the oils absorb from the skin, while other don't have that issue.
Depends on one's diet and functioning of organs again. The skin is an organ of elimination and when other organs are congested, the skin will take over to eliminate the toxins (backup into blood and end up in skin). Did these individuals clog their organ detoxification systems and need more internal cleansing then others that are maintaining better diets?... you bet. Mike G. Website: http://www.nynaturalhealthcenter.com
Side Effects
Posted by Michael (Getzville, NY) on 07/05/2007
Why the Coconut Oil Side Effects include heart palpitations and digestive issues... I am a natural health practitioner, I have been reading posts about the side effects of Coconut Oil and wanted to share some insights. If the liver is not flushed clean using a liver flush procedure or perhaps being on Lecithin for a pretty good length of time, one will not be able to digest it since the Liver plays a role with digesting fats.
If the liver is clogged you will have undigested fats causing not only digestive upsets, but elimination problems with disrupting bowels. Since the liver is a filter that cleans our blood of used fats, if the liver is clogged, we will have a backup of fats in the blood.
This backup of fats causes the heart to over work to pump the thicker blood and cause possible headaches (small capillaries in brain/ micro-circulation) and bloating (partial digestion and hence rotting), among other issues dependent on individual and what they manifest with their particular condition and body type.
The answer is to clean the liver then introduce the good oils that will then be absorbed to improve over-all health tremendously over time.
Many times it's the order in which we do things which depends on what that specific individual needs. Organs need to be cleansed and restored in a specific order dependent on findings when working w/ clients. Hope this helps shed some light. Michael G. Natural Health Center, NY
Side Effects
Posted by Roxane (Jacksonville, Florida) on 12/19/2007
I've read the email reports you've posted regarding virgin coconut oil. I want to tell those people having side affects from taking VCO that I've been taking three to four tablespoons a day for almost three months now and have lost 20 pounds and feels great. Yes at first I experienced nausea and diarrhea but keep in mind that VCO goes to the liver first and starts detoxing it. If your body needs detoxing these heart palps, diarrhea, and nausea may be due to the detoxing. I'm not a doctor but I do have an autistic son who was metal poisoned due the fact that the vaccines he was given are preserved with toxic metals. It took two years to detox him and horrible side affects of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc go hand in hand with detoxing the body. So logically I think the VCO detoxes me and causes these symptoms too. Perhaps a homeopathic doctor out there would respond to my email and clear this up for everyone.
Side Effects
Posted by Billy (Louisville, KY) on 01/01/2008
I have been taking 2 tablespoons daily for 2 yrs. I am a teacher and pack a basic breakfast daily, which I eat daily. Total amount = 1 cup cereal (bran and knock-off wheat-chex and cheerios), 1/4 cup blueberries, and of course, 2 tablespoons coconut oil. A larger amount of food would be desirable, but this diversity is better than nothing. By the way, buy blueberries in bulk mid-summer (3 for 1!) and freeze, to get you through the winter. Been doin' this a while.
Simply put, less is more. Rome wasn't built in a day. The side effects do occur (diarrhea, etc.). This tells you what a slob you've been over the years. If you want to be healthy, sign -on for the long haul.
For those from India deriding internal ingestion, read your history. Clarified butter is the clogged artery culprit. Apparently, agricultural interests spread around the world to sell sunflower, safflower oils, etc. as a healthy alternative. The U.S. lumped lard and palm oil together with coconut oil as an across-the -board saturated fat ban. Coconut oil is a different animal.
Observe the effects of oxidation on your vegetable oil, safflower, etc bottle caps.The oxygen in your blood will convert these seemingly free-flowing oils into a viscous material which taxes the digestive system. A material approaching the consistency of varnish passing through the body is counterproductive.
My own experience has yielded energy, regularity, and fewer instances of flu and colds.
As a final word, studies in the U.S. have shown that hype about "bad fat" has induced people to abstain, resulting in a lack, which is necessary to digest the "good fat" . The target of the Atkin's diet was correct. The source of red meat, however, was incorrect. Coconut oil is the yang to the complimentary yin.
Side Effects
Posted by Dani (Sydney NSW) on 02/27/2006
★★★☆☆BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
Been taking coconut oil for over one month so far. Unfortunately, i wasn't aware of the "side-effects" when i started, and started taking the standard 3 - 5 tbsp daily, thinking this is good for me. The nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting were not pleasant. I would become nauseous around 8 - 10 hours later, diarrhea would follow, and sometimes i'd wake in the middle of the night to vomit. It took a while to work out these symptoms were caused by the coconut oil. I kept thinking it was food poisoning. I stopped taking coconut oil temporarily, and the symptoms disappeared. Started the coconut oil again, and the symptoms returned -- just like clockwork. I found the trick is to start off with smaller doses, say 1 tsp the first week, then gradually increase. Wish i'd known this prior to starting, would've saved me nearly a month of continually feeling nauseous and ill. On the plus, it has helped with a few things -- it's diminished cravings for sweets and alcohol. And that's great! I'm hoping the longer i take this oil, the more i'll receive some of the other wonderful benefits that i've read about.
