Coconut Oil
Health Benefits

Coconut Oil Benefits, Side Effects and Reviews

Menstruation

4 User Reviews
5 star (4) 
  100%

Posted by Tanya (Christchurch, Barbados) on 08/26/2007
★★★★★

Been using VCO for acne for about two weeks. Progress has been slow to non-existent. I als read that it helps with regularity so decided to take it internally (1tsp) for that. Well I didn't get that effect either but amazingly I tookit around the first day of my period and I noticed that my period stopped for a couple of hours. Whenit came back I took another tsp and it went away for two days. It eventually came back but the flow was low and totally painless. I googled the effect and foud out people have been using it for this purpose for centuries. Wish I had known earlier.


Migraines

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Sandy (Bangalore, India) on 11/29/2007
★★★★★

Dear Earthclinic, Thank you for putting up such a fabulously informative site. I am a daily visitor. After reading some virtues of coconut oil on your site, I decided to drink it daily for weight loss. Well, I began to notice that if I had a couple of teaspoons coconut oil in the morning with my breakfast, then I didnt get acidity the entire day. Also, I didnt get migraines that day. I am quite susceptible to migraines close to my periods. So during those days, I have a couple of teaspoonfuls twice/thrice a day, and dont get migraines that day. In fact, I now carry a small bottle of coconut oil in my purse, and drink some of it if I start feeling a migraine coming on, or if I start feeling nauseous(sign of acidity)--after drinking the oil I burp (because of acid base neutalization and subsequent gas release, I guess), and my acidity/migraine goes off.If I am home, I may drink the coconut oil with some cold milk--helps immensely. If I am out, I drink the coconut oil by itself, and just drink some water on top of it to take the oil taste off my mouth. Ever since I started taking coconut oil (thanks to earthclinic), I have been free of migraines and acidity nausea. My facial skin had open pores previously--the pores have closed now (!!) since drinking coconut oil and skin looks moisturized. Thanks again.


Mite Infestation

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

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).

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Replied by Cured
(Niceville, Fl)
01/04/2010

Check out the BV page on this website. Peroxide does wonders for BV. Read all the comments and come up with a regimine that works for you.


Moles

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Nancy (Bangor, Maine) on 07/24/2009
★★★★★

I had a large mole on my breast, the cost to remove it was rediculous so I decided to try coconut oil. It took about 2 months of keeping the mole saturated with the oil, but it finally just came off in small pieces and has not come back.


Mono

4 User Reviews
5 star (4) 
  100%

Posted by Jacqueline (Omaha, USA) on 03/27/2008
★★★★★

Natural Remedies to Treat Mononucleosis: I have had mono for 2 months now, and I read about the coconut oil, and went out and bought some about 3 days ago, and I cannot tell you how much better I feel even now. I take 4 in the morning and 4 at night and I drink a TON of water all day. I highly recomend this remedy, it has helped me when nothing else could.


Mono
Posted by MARK (WGTN, MINNESOTA) on 02/07/2008
★★★★★

my daughter who is an active 18 year old that plays high school basketball came down with mono. i read on this site about coconut oil curing the mono virus. my daughter was diagnosed with mono and a week later revisited the doctor and he said her spleen was way enlarged..no b-ball until it is back to normal. i figured, why not try coconut oil, i went to the gnc store, got coconut oil pills, took 4 in morning and 4 in the evening for 6 days. went to the doctor today and he first noticed her color was back, checked out her spleen and it was back to normal. doc wrote her a note that she could resume b-ball again, as everything checked out good. coincidence or not, you decide.


Mono
Posted by ROB (JUSTICE, IL) on 11/08/2007
★★★★★

coconut oil for mono... my niece had mono about 3 mos. ago... the doctor said all she could do is rest. he told her it would be about 6-8 weeks before she would start to feel better. i immediately called my brother and told him to get some coconut oil. within 2 days she was up walking around and had an appetite again... within 1 week she was back to normal---eating, playing with her friends, and feeling 100 %. it definitely works wonders... the kicker to the story---my other niece is a nurse at a local hospital... i asked her if she told the doctors about her sister being cured of mono by using coconut oil-----she did---to which one of the doctors replied "we know it works, but because we can't prescribe it and make money from it, we don't tell people". he summed up what our health care system is all about...


Mono
Posted by David (Memphis, TN) on 11/29/2006
★★★★★

I have been taking coconut oil for five or six years now. About five years ago, my daughter,who was in college at the time, came down with mononucleosis. I overnighted her a bottle of monolaurin, the main ingredient of lauric acid, which is only found in any quantity in coconut oil and human milk. My daughter was diagnosed on a Tuesday, she got the monolaurin on Wednesday and on Friday, nine days later she had no symptoms and quit taking it. The following Monday (that's 13 days post diagnosis) she had lab work done and was completely normal. Other dorm-mates of hers had mono for months. Coconut oil, lauric acid and monolaurin supposedly lise the lipid envelopes of lipid viruses and bacteria.

Most colds are caused by lipid enveloped viruses as are a number of major viral infections.

Just last Saturday, a friend of mine called to tell me he had a horrible cold and had made an appointment to see and ENT physician on Monday. I told him to take three tablespoons of coconut oil. When I saw him on Monday, he was obviously fine. He told me he had taken two tablespoons on Saturday and Sunday and was fine on Monday so he cancelled his doctor's appointment.

I take it all the time but every now and then I run out. Usually I will get sick when I do. Then I go get some more. It is particularly effective for sinus infections. I just snort some into my sinus cavities. Most people are amazed when I prescribe it and it works. But I have seen it happen so many times now, I just expect it to work.

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Replied by Greta
(Kamloops, Bc Canada)
01/16/2015

How do you snort coconut oil into your sinuses?


Nausea

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Me (Nowhere, USA) on 03/05/2008
★★★★★

My son likes oil based salad dressing, french fries, fried rice, etc, but always felt nauseous after eating those things. We tried using coconut oil instead of other oils, and when we do, he feels well after eating, and can eat a normal size portion instead of only a few bites. Any amount seems to work.


Oil Pulling

4 User Reviews
5 star (2) 
  50%
3 star (1) 
  25%
(1) 
  25%

Posted by Jana (Portland, Tn, United States) on 04/11/2013

I would like for my elderly mother to try oil pulling as she suffers from severe arthritis but she has both upper and lower dentures, would this still be a viable option for her? Could she still 'swish' in the morning before putting her dentures in? I would love to be able to be able to tell her about this and for it to work for her so she would not be in so much pain. Additionally, what kind of coconut oil is best to use? Organic, extra virgin, etc? I'm new to all of this and it's all a bit confusing to me. I will be trying this myself as I suffer from chronic daily migraines as well as cluster headaches nonstop with no relief in sight and have been on massive doses of opiates to control the pain for six years now and I hate the amount of chemicals running good through my body. I and am hoping that this will help with the migraines and hopefully the clusters as well, not to mention a total body cleanse!

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Replied by Dawn
(Ia)
09/22/2016

I would have her start. There is still a lot of toxins and bacteria in the mouth. Even with dentures.


Oil Pulling
Posted by Debi Sunshine (Apple Valley, Ca) on 04/09/2013
★★★★★

I use 1 tbsp of Coconut Oil and I add a few drops of oil of wild oregano for immune support OR clove oil if I have a toothache. I average 5 days a week and I do it in the morning. For three years I have not had a cold or flu. I started OP because I couldn't afford a dentist and I am thrilled with the results. Whiter, stronger teeth and pinker gums. Feeling good. I learned about this from Earth Clinic then checked out Bruce Fife's book from the library. Happy swishing!!


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? :

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Replied by Timh
(Louisville, Usa)
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.

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Replied by Francisca
(Zug, Zug, Switzerland)
12/12/2011

Come on, you don't honestly believe that swishing a bit of oil around in your mouth gives you depression, do you? I have to be honest, sometimes I think that there are people who infiltrate sites like this trying to prove that the people here are wackes and if that is the case it is very wrong. It can be that you honestly believe what you are saying, some people just have to blame anything they are feeling on what they are trying out but come on, getting depression from swishing a bit of oil around in your mouth, once a day for three days.......

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Replied by Liz
(Boston, Massachusetts)
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.

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Replied by Melanie
(Owen Sound, Ontario Canada)
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.

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Replied by Randy
(Howell, Michigan)
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.

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Replied by Miles
(New York, NY)
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?

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Replied by Bman
(Victoria, Bc Canada)
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!


Oil Pulling
Posted by Joe (Melbourne, Australia) on 04/03/2011
★★★☆☆

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

I'm on the start of my 4th day of Oil Pulling. I use Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. I have already seen improvements in my teeth & gums - teeth are whiter and my gums don't hurt like they usually do.

I have been doing OP three times a day for 20 minutes each time. I use about a teaspoon of coconut oil.

The downside is that I seem to be feeling quite depressed. I guess it is a detox reaction to the OP.

I normally feel quite fine, so I assume this is a reaction to the OP. I am also taking Apple Cider Vinegar (1 tablespoon twice daily) but I haven't increased the amount recently. I drink plenty of water every day.

I think I might reduce the frequency and/or the duration of my OP sessions. Hopefully that will reduce the intensity of the detox reaction.

Any suggestions on what to do?


Oil Pulling
Posted by phogallen1 (Peoria, AZ) on 07/02/2009

Hi all i just started using coconut oil last night and i used 1 tablespoon and swished and held in mouth for about 20 minutes. All went well but i did noticed that right after i spit it out that my gums were like a transperant white around my teeth. I felt great but i looked a little strang. Also when i spit out the coconut oil it looked milky in consistency. I guess i was expecting something different dont know if that worked or not. I went to the dentist today and my mouth is a little sore. i am wondering if i can continue with the oil after just having my gums cleaned under the surface which was done today...........thanks phogallen


Oil Pulling
Posted by Denise (Atlanta, GA) on 06/09/2009

Hello:
I have had chronic mucus build up for more than 15 years due to food and environmental allergies and have been using over the counter sprays and guifenisin tablets like Mucinex several times a day. I tried oil pulling for the first time this morning (for 20 minutes) using 1 tablespoon of Coconut Oil. After 20 minutes I spit out the oil and it was still white, not yellow. Based on all of the information I have read, if the oil has removed the toxins it should have turned yellow after 20 minutes. I am still congested, should I continue to use the coconut oil or switch to a different type, oil pull for longer than 20 minutes or simply give the oil pulling more time to work. Please advise. Thanks



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