Blood Pressure
★★☆☆☆
My blood pressure has been going up over the last 8 years or so...got quite bad about 4 years back, so they put me on losartan. Still, it would sometimes be all over the place -- as high as 175/92 and as low as 126/74. And most times at the docs it would be high, then 20 points lower later that night at home. I mentioned this to a friend and he said his blood pressure got into the HUNDREDS, until he STOPPED taking coconut oil. So I did the same, and it dropped down to an average 135/80 or so, which is fine for someone in their 60's. Until tonight -- I just took it and it came back 162/74! And what have I been taking again, but in smaller amounts -- caprylic acid (for candida), which is made from coconut oil! I'll stop it right away, go back to olive oil and will try to remember to post back again in a few weeks. Anyway, in my case -- and that of a good friend -- coconut oil RAISES our blood pressure.
(Hawaii)
11/11/2021
Systolic BP (the higher number) is an indication of acute stress. If coconut oil or caprylic acid is causing your systolic to go up it is likely due to some form of activity going on in the body that requires your heart to pump harder...(systolic is when the heat beats, diastolic is when the heart is at rest). If you are on medications you cannot tell what will cause issues. All other substances taken into the body are potential issues. Coconut oil is a powerful source of health promoting fats and phyto-chemicals that can react with your BP meds, so consider the question "why is my BP high in the first place?" BP medication treats symptoms NOT causes...
Have you heard of eating celery and celery seeds at every meal? That is a well known Chinese food medicine remedy for High BP. Even soldiers in Iraq: smokers, drinking heavily, under daily high pressure combat stress were able to get the BP back down to normal by eating celery and celery seeds with each meal. When they all started to stop the BP meds the officers (doctors) put a gag order on them all to stop it and stop talking about it. I know a Sargent who got himself and all his guys off the meds.
Sounds strange, I know, because in western medicine you are told to avoid all salt and salty foods. The proof is in the doing and seeing.
(New Zealand)
11/12/2021
Hello Brett RN from Hawaii
The Chinese recommend Hawthorn for High Blood Pressure but you didn't hear that from me. Schuss, keep it a secret.
Cheers from Down Under
(IL)
11/17/2021
I think it's more complicated than using/not using coconut oil. Your medication increases potassium. If you eat foods with lots of potassium it may cause an imbalance. Too much salt or too much potassium could have you swinging with your BP, same with cholesterol, as you have noticed. https://www.getroman.com/health-guide/losartan-and-bananas/ Since medication is more powerful than food the BP pendulum will swing much further than with just food. Then the type of coconut oil you use is important. "Although heated coconut oil and indeed lots of other oil has been found to increase the level of blood pressure, virgin coconut oil, however, has been found to effectively lower the level of cholesterol, which is a risk factor to high blood pressure." https://www.greenworldfriends.com/coconut-oil-and-high-blood-pressure-does-coconut-oil-help/ Personally, I just use a good olive oil and occasionally a little Kerry butter, and only lean poultry, fish. I had dropped coconut oil just because it didn't go well with what I cooked. Of course, you have to have a good diet, with lots of vegetables and some fruit. So far, my BP has been good lately and refused meds when it was somewhat high a few years ago.
Blood Pressure
★★★★★
Piggybacking on Beth's comments from 2011, I too was diagnosed with HBP and was given two different meds - Lisinopril and Amlodepine (spelling?) - then I read a book on coconut oil and have now been off those nasty meds for over a year now, and my pressure has been steady and normal. Do some deep diving on understanding exactly what these meds do to your body and it will motivate you to get off them as soon as possible. I recall asking the doctor what exactly is in these meds and they couldn't even tell you, they just tell you to take and if one doesn't work, they will give you another. Those meds used to make me dizzy and nauseous. It took my body a long time to adjust after I stopped taking them. I also take magnesium, sea salt, garlic, and raw or royal jelly honey with the coconut oil daily. I drink a ton of water everyday as well. I don't know if my regimen is "correct" or would work for everyone, all I know is that when I go to the doctor I have never stated that I stopped taking the poisonous meds and my BP is good, let's me know that it is working. I also use MCT oil (derived from coconuts) in my coffee. I did cut back drastically on my coffee intake as well, just a cup per day and some days none at all. I realize that each person reacts differently to different supplements, so, what works for me may not work for all. What I do know is that I tell EVERYONE in my circle about the benefits (the list is lengthy) virgin coconut oil.
Blood Pressure
★★★★★
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).
Blood Pressure
★★★★★
I began using Coconut Oil as I heard it helps you lose weight and can lower your BP. My blood pressure has always been erratic, sometimes it will be as low as 117/70 or as high as 150/95. I exercise regularly, eat right, don't smoke, but still cannot get my BP under control. I started taking 1 tablespoon of the oil in the morning and at night. I noticed my BP was leveling off - but I also found I was gaining weight. I am not sure if it was due to the coconut oil, or if it was coincidental, but I put on 12 pounds! I stopped taking the coconut oil. I just purchased a bottle of organic Apple Cider Vinegar and hope this will aid in lowering my BP and get the 12 pounds off.
Body Temperature, Menstruation
★★★★★
I have tried coconut oil so many times but everything I tried that made it easier to take- molasses, peanut butter, honey, baked goods- ended up causing me so many problems. I am on a low carb, high saturated fat diet that has helped most of my problems (acne, excess weight, constipation, etc) but I struggled to get enough sat fat and one problem that remained - I was always cold.
Eventually, I found a canned coconut milk that was much higher in fat than most I had tried. I started putting that in my coffee and gradually increased the amount to maybe 75% coffee/25% coconut milk. I noticed that when I was at my computer in the mornings I was not feeling cold like I used to.
Then I started taking coconut oil by the spoon, holding the hard blob of oil under my tongue (sublingual?) until it gradually melted. I did a teaspoon two or three times a day.
After a day of this I was going to the programmed thermostat to manually bump it down a degree, then another degree.
I have to mention that when I first started the the coconut oil/milk it always made my throat have this weird itchy/scratchy feeling. This gradually decreased and now I never have it. Previously, I would never get far enough into the coconut oil therapy to get past that feeling and kind of worried that it was a bad thing (allergy). Now I just see it as part of the healing process (thyroid?) and am glad I pushed through it.
After doing this for a few weeks I noticed my monthly cycle was longer. I had been in the 21-23 day range for about a year. This first month on the coconut oil it was back to a normal 28 days.
(Chicago, Il.)
11/06/2011
Thanks so much for that comment about the itchy scratchy throat because I've been getting that off and on too, as I have increased my Tablespoons of VCO per day. I thought as you did that it was an allergy, but have noticed it sometimes not coming on, so your confirmation leads me to feel comfortable that it will pass. BTW, I also notice my cold hands and feet disappearing.
(New York, Ny)
03/20/2013
Yes, that's normal. It feels nasty though, but it goes away after a few minutes or when you drink something. I don't know why it makes you get that scratchy feeling in your throat like that, but what I had really hard time with, was when I first started taking teaspoon or tablespoons in it in the morning, I'd get quesy for a good 30-45 minutes and have to lie down. It's been a couple years and I take it every morning and that feeling has gone away somewhat but I still get it sometimes. Coconut oil will make you nauseated especially in larger amounts. That's why it helps to eat with it.
(Massachusetts)
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.
Broad Benefits
★★★★★
I'll be 68 soon. I use coconut oil for everything. I take a heaping teaspoon every morning.
I have horrible sinus issues and started putting a dab up each nostril sinusitis. GONE.
I use it as lotion and female hygiene for me and it does wonders. I use it for everything in moderation, of course. I buy the best coconut oil I can find. For me, it is truly a miracle oil. We're all different, what works for one may not for another but I'd bet there are many many who could benefit from coconut oil.
I use coconut milk in my smoothies.
If your hair is thinning try coconut oil and castor oil a couple of times a week I leave it on all nite. Love it
Broad Benefits
★★★★★
Coconut Oil, I use it for many things. I am just starting to use it for my sinuses that have been a big problem my whole life. I make my own deodorant using equal parts of coconut oil, baking soda and corn starch. I very been using this deodorant for 4 years because it works better than store bought. The lumps under my arms are gone since using it. I mix coconut oil with baking soda for a face and hand scrub. I mix coconut oil with dissolved epsom salt to soften skin, help reduce wrinkles and fat deposits. That will also help excema or soriasis. Coconut oil and magnesium has recently been very useful in the bedroom for this 60 year old teenager. I never want to be without it. I believe it's nature's miracle food and medicine. I would like to hear your replies to my comments. My name is Sue.
(Colquitt, Ga)
10/27/2017
Broad Benefits
★★★★★
I've started taking the EVO myself and I've noticed some success. The brain fog and anxiety has definitely improved and the achy body has improved. I don't wake up tired anymore and I take it with my meals about 3-4 teaspoons. I mix it with honey sometimes. I am going to continue taking it, I'm hoping to see success such as my thyroid improving and weight decreasing. I enjoy the posts. They are great and good to know there are alternatives to your doctor putting you on tons of medications. Thanks to everyone's input.
Broad Benefits
★★★★★
After finding out how bad Canola Oil was, I literally threw away the rest in the trash, along with a tub of Criso {which I had used sparingly}, over time, and mainly for greasing my pans. That was about 6 months ago, and only use Olive oil, Coconut Oil and occasionally Sesame Oil. We always used a lot of Olive oil anyways, and we have always used real butter.
About a month ago I stumbled across the how good it was for you Coconut Oil raves, and started extensive reading, and insisting hubby read some also. He wants to get his cholesterol down. We now take about 1/4-1/2 teaspoon in our coffee in the morning. I normally drink 2 cups. It melts fairly easy with some stirring. When my tubs of coffee creamer are gone-then I am going to make the switch to using milk or better yet, cream, and get away from the corn syrup crap that they put in the coffee creamer. I started using it on my feet almost everyday for toenail fungus, and keep my fingers crossed it works.
Today I mix up a batch of tea tree oil and coconut oil for my feet, and toes.Tonite I will apply it to hubby's almost bald head. I've been using it on my face for the last 2 weeks, and as a moisterizer after shower. When I make my Cream of Wheat in the morning, I simply add a full 2 teas, as its cooking in the pot, add some cinnamon, vanilla, and brown sugar in my bowl.I know that any type of cereal, hot or cold, has never stayed with me, within 1-2 hrs I am starving again. I also use it to fry eggs, and in all cooking and baking.
I keep 2-3 big jars on hand. One near the coffee pot-one on my kitchen island, and one in the pantry. One small tub near the shower-one small tub in my foot basket. I will say my appetite has changed, going for good longer stretches, my cereal now stays with me, and I would say eating about 1/2 the amount I used to do, and feeling satisfied. So far I haven't gotten the blood sugar spikes up and down at all since the first week, that made me shaky, weak or felt like I was starving to death if I didnt get food into me right then-which would always lead to stuffing something quick into me while I waited for some food. Bowel movements have changed to much more volume also.
I/we hate going to regular docs, and will always search another avenue if its not an emergency. I don't know why it takes us so long to smarten up in life, but better late than never. I will say I have gotton a little queasy at times, so I just back off the amount, till I adjust, but will also try a lemon cleanse for the liver. After being on statins for a short period { heart attack}, that gave hubby bad side effects, since then its been all natural stuff-which of course the docs dont like. But he was quite firm in telling them just what he thought of their statins regardless of whatever nonsense they try to spiel off and suck people in. At least if he dies he figures hes had a good quality of life without the bad side effects. He has yet to get another test done to see what the numbers are, and I am hoping after a few months the coconut oil will raise his HDL. He goes to the gym-{ 4 yrs}, almost everyday, he quit smoking. I sure do hope this is the one thing that will straighten out the cholesterol and will keep you posted...
(Skowhegan, Maine)
11/15/2014
Also last night as my cat was sitting on the ledge over the sink- I dipped the spoon in the jar and put a little on it to see if he liked it. He ate it right up-so this morning I gave him some more. I'm hoping it helps his coat with all the scratching he does, as he does have fleas. I also have flea traps plugged in 24/7 all year round and it keeps them at bay...
(Southern Maine)
11/16/2014
★★★★★
Hi Deedee - from one Mainah to another, coconut oil is great. I'm happy to hear of its success for you and your husband (and your cat! ).
I used two drops of grapefruit seed extract in about three tablespoons of water for a facial wash. I guess I put too much G.S.E. in not-enough water because my face was burned by it....my skin was dry, dry, dry for almost two weeks....coconut oil helped tremendously. It's great for so many uses! I <3 it.
(Florida)
06/23/2018
Coconut oil can do many great things, but changing your diet to a WFPB (whole food, plant based) diet will help your heart, lower cholesterol, high blood pressure, get rid of type 2 diabetes, etc! Promise! It helps your body heal! Try it!
Broad Benefits
★★★★★
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.
(Western Wa)
03/29/2015
Broad Benefits
★★★☆☆
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?
(Fl, Usa)
01/24/2014
Maybe the coconut oil dried out the skin. During the winter it gets more dry so skin is more vulnerable to drying out hence itching. So it may be a seasonal thing. As far as back problem, is this a back problem related to the spine or just the skin and are you over 50.
Maybe your other sister may have developed an allergy to VCO.
If for some reason you still can't get around VCO then you may try experimenting with a combination of MCT oil, lauric acid and caprylic acid supplements and see how you react.
(Denver)
01/24/2014
Kim: I have spent 7 years studying folk medicine from cellular biologists, sports nutritionists, old people and the food they eat, and this perplexes me. You take the oil, you get better, then you get worse, so you stop and get better again. You could email the experts, Tropical Traditions, and ask them.
(Kamloops, Bc, Canada)
01/16/2015
They symptoms as described above must have been horrible!! And I really empathize with each one of the ladies. Rather than an allergic reaction to VCO, it sounds more like a response - something being kicked out of the body. Quite possibly parasites.
The boils, zits, itching, stretch marks darkening, constipation and bloody wipes all sound indicative of parasites and I can only imagine how terrible the itching might have been. Naturally the symptoms would eventually cease once the VCO is discontinued however, the original problems would still exist. When one says they are fine, I would question what that means. Constipation would occur if there is a large mass of material in the bowel that was dislodged from the effects of the VCO and perhaps an enema would have helped solve the problem. Bloody wipes can occur from material being excreted from the bowel was not excessive, this would be sporadic until the material (parasites?) was eliminated.
The first thing that comes to mind when one incurs symptoms such as above is a bowel cleanse.
I really hope others experiencing similar symptoms will look at doing a bowel cleanse.
Broad Benefits
★★★★★
I started researching coconut oil last year to help my sister with Alzheimer's. I also started using it myself as I was borderline under active thyroid and found my basal temperature went up from 36.1 to 36.6 on regular basis. For 2 years I'd suffered with sore eyes that felt as if grease was smeared across sometimes so badly I couldn't see to drive. My optician and my doctor both said it was dry eyes and gave me drops but they didn't help. I then went to a Consultant who diagnosed it as post menopause hormonal imbalance which meant my tears were not viscous enough to stick to the surface of my eyes, so I was given Visco tear drops which helped. About the same time I started taking the coconut oil and after about 5-6 weeks realised I was no longer having to use the visco tear drops. I ran out of the oil for 7 days and on day 5 I had to use the artificial tears again. Once I re stocked with Coconut oil, my eyes became problem free again. I was amazed. I can only think that the boost to my thyroid helped balance my hormones. And I no longer have pains in my joints which I put down to allergies! I recently got a stomach virus and doubled my oil intake plus having Kefir and lacto fermented vegetables like sauer kraut and I was was better within 4 days whereas most friends that had it were 12 days or more. For more good ideas read Mary Enig and Sally Fallon's Nourishing Traditions, full of life changing knowledge and research.
(Hope Bc Canada)
01/15/2014
Weston Price, Mary Enig et al. I highly question their understanding of nutrition in our times. Have there been No changes??
Dairy is dangerous now and I don't understand when people post recipe and ideas when dairy and meat are thoroughly poisoned plus the new wheat strains that brought havoc on the western population. Even so called grass fed animals do receive their potion of GMO's, like free run chickens, etc. You name it.
From vegetarian to vegan now, I am hungry quite often since foods are becoming increasingly unfit for health .But the good part is that one becomes innovative plus keeping in mind the fact that huge number of humans are on the border of starvation.
Most recipes and good old time food ideas don't pass the test any longer. Om
(Wales)
01/16/2014
Hi xxx It's Raw Milk you are supposed to use. The problem with Dairy now is it's heated and treated and all the digestive enzymes are destroyed in it. But also unless it's Grass reared organic Grain Free Cattle there will still be problem's with drug and all sort's getting in to the Dairy via the Animals treatment.
But the other thing is the gland to digest milk shuts down by the age of 3 in Humans and this is to digest Mother's Milk. But Raw Milk it's self has worked Miracles in some seriously sick people and many 'Stone Age' peoples drink a lot of dairy and keep Cattle as well.
All 'Hunter Gatherers' around the World consume Goat's or Cow's milk when they can get access to it and also honey when they can get it. But lots of people say not to eat that too.
Some of us are fine with some of the 'Forbidden Food's' others are not. But Raw Milk, and Raw Honey is the only one's anyone should eat if ever.
My Body makes it plain as day what it DON'T WANT, if not right away in a shrt space of time. And then I got to suffer as it comes out and sometimes it feels worse than when it went in and for longer!
But i'd rather THAT than the result of carrying on? If it's started to do thing's I'm now aware of, what the hell has it done to me before my body started screaming for help and I can't see it?
Only a fool would carry on and not take the time and discomfort of being long term ill and suffering? I have spent years of pain and tears to get stuff out of my system that nearly killed me. stole my life, and they called it MEDICAL HELP? MEDICAL EXPERIMENT' .
lOVE ANDREA C XXX
Broad Benefits
★★★★★
I began taking coconut oil internally for a skin issue. I can definitely verify that the results I've had are from coconut oil because I came off it for about 2 months and I went back on as soon as I noticed a difference.
The first thing I noticed was energy. I take the coconut oil (about a tablespoon) with my breakfast every morning, and my energy is through the roof. I used to feel like I absolutely needed a nap every day. Now, I'm awake all day no problems! I don't experience that usual 3pm dragging feeling that happpens to most of us. I just feel... idk more awake. It's really odd, but definitely great. I noticed my appetite has also been curbed. It's not in a starving way at all. It's as if the coconut oil helps my body metabolize my food more efficiently. I can relax and eat my breakfast around 10 am and the next time I'm craving a meal is at 6pm. I just drink water and tea between then, and I feel not "full" but satisfied. I don't really crave anything, I just feel sustained. Coconut oil has definitely helped my digestive system. I'm not sure if my recent weight loss is due to the oil or not, but I definitely did lose a noticable amount of weight. It's my body that I've loved, it just seems to have deflated the extra baggage. My bowel movements are also quick and easy. I'm more regular without feeling like my stool is too loose. Coconut oil just makes it a breeze to go. I also notice that my waste smells different, so that's a plus. I don't know if I can attribute this directly to the coconut oil, but in the months I took it, I definitely noticed overall mood stability, increased skin suppleness, reduced soreness after workouts, and it seems like my hair is growing in faster. Again, these are only results I've been able to note an absence of when I was off the coconut oil versus when I took the coconut oil.
A little shot of melted coconut oil in the morning honestly gave me a lot more than I bargained for! I love this stuff!
Broad Benefits
★★★★★
A few years ago I stumbled on this site when looking for more natural cures for common ailments. I didn't like the idea of using antibiotics all the time, especially when I would be taking 750mg horsepills several times a day. Yuck!
Oil pulling with Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) has changed my life in several ways:
Sinus infections- I used to get these all the time! Since I started pulling, though, I feel any hint of congestion break, especially in the shower with that steam. I stopped pulling for awhile out of laziness and totally caught a sinus infection that was going around. Within minutes of pulling I felt the congestion start to break, especially in my ears! A little pulling, some cracking and popping in my ears and I was able to hear clearly for the first time in a few days! All the gunk started coming out. I need more tissues...
IBS-C- I was diagnosed with IBS several years ago but oil pulling I have much more regular and healthy BMs. My digestion is fabulous!!!
Teeth- People ask me how I get my teeth so white and when I tell them its not bleach they usually don't believe me at first! My mouth, teeth, and tongue feel cleaner and whiter for sure.
Energy- Overall my energy levels are so much higher when I oil pull. If I go without pulling for some time I'll go through a detox period where I may feel fatigued after oil pulling or break out slightly, but I know its a sign of healing.
I've read up and seen conflicting ideas about what it actually does. All I know is that it changes my body in a real way for whatever reason. I'm hooked... And tellin the world about it. Thanks Earth Clinic!
Broad Benefits
★★★★★
Pure coconut oil which we extracted at home provides nice aroma for kerala dishes. It won't increase cholestrol. It helps me in reducing the hair fall and the dry skin problems.
