There are so many coconut oil uses. In fact, people have used it with such success on so many unrelated uses, that many have dismissed coconut oil as a scam. But if you read some of the user comments about coconut oil in forums, you could easily come to the point of view that this is not the case. These are people genuinely posting their results, and they're often excited as they share something that worked where other things didn't. Most importantly, they write with conviction.

Herbal medicine has a long tradition of uses being developed as a result of people just trying things and seeing what worked, what didn't. As more people tried things, more feedback was gained, and it became readily apparent if something worked just for an individual, or for larger groups. In many ways, that sharing of feedback from people on the internet about things like their experience of possible coconut oil uses continues in that tradition. It may not satisfy the scientists, but I don't think it can be dismissed out of hand.

Of course, not everyone's body is the same, and what works for one person's situation may not work for another. That is no different to pharmaceutical drugs. Unlike pharmaceutical drugs, coconut oil doesn't have significant side effects (and its much cheaper). Some people, when starting out at the recommended dose of 3 or more tablespoons a day, find they have diarrhea, or even a healing detox reaction. The latter is most often seen with people who have candida. In such cases, it is best to reduce the dosage (even to 1 teaspoon) and let your body heal at a more gentle rate. Healing/detox reactions tend to pass after a day to a week, depending on what your body has to purge or heal. People tend to find that using it in cooking reduces symptoms they have too.

Coconut Oil Uses & Properties

Coconut oil is:

* anti-inflammatory

* improves nutrient absorption

* anti microbial

* anti fungal

* anti viral

* improves hdl ('good' cholesterol) to ldl ('bad' cholesterol) ratio in people with high cholesterol

* improves skin, hair

* helps the thyroid

* helps with weight loss & cravings

* helps with inflammation in crohns

* helps keep blood sugar levels stable and/or helps with cravings in those with diabetes

It's worth mentioning a few things with regards coconut oil uses for weight loss. Not everyone will lose weight, though many do. It may work by making you feel fuller so you eat less. It certainly gives you more energy so you could easily use it before you exercise. For some people who were too tired all the time to exercise, it is perfect, as it will give you a boost of energy in the form of the medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) it contains. MCT are fatty acids that are metabolized in a special way - they go straight to the liver, and then are available to be used for energy by the body. Most fat just gets stored in the body straight away. MCT tend not to be.

Of course, if you consume too many calories still, you're not going to lose weight! Still, many (not all) people have found that just by adding coconut oil to their diet in place of their other oils, they lost weight.

Some coconut oil uses include:

* may relieve gallbladder pain

* has helped some heal genital warts through topical application over 6 weeks, and coconut oil enemas twice a day (depending on the location of the warts)

* has helped some people improve symptoms of an underactive thyroid gland, results have shown subsequent thyroid blood tests becoming normal

* energy boost

* flaky, dry skin - even taking it internally seems to help with skin tone and condition, though it can be used as a moisturizer too

* excellent as a hair mask, even for hair that has been bleached and straightened a lot - apply slightly warmed coconut oil to the scalp and hair, and wash after 30 minutes to an hour. Great if done regularly. Works well on black hair too, also curly hair. Has helped reduce frizz. Some people have reported less hair loss as a result of implementing coconut oil uses for hair. If the oil seems too heavy, you could try coconut milk or cream from the supermarket.

* may relieve acid reflux and indigestion when taken with each meal

* Has helped some with adrenal fatigue

* alzheimers

* H. pylori

* candida albicans

* herpes (applied topically and taken internally)

* asthma, even in children - one woman used 2 tbsp a day for her daughter and eventually found she didn't need the medications anymore, after her daughter had suffered asthma for 7 years

* athletes foot (topically)

* may assist with autism

* some people have even applied it topically on their back and relieved back pain! Taking it internally for this would probably be better in the long run.

* improvements in sense of wellbeing and concentration when taking it internally

* canker sores

* some people have even used it on their cellulite (topically)

* acne

* cholesterol

* chronic fatigue

* circulation/feeling cold all the time

* stronger immune system

* great for dogs and cats

* eczema - taken internally; many have success applying it externally, some don't

* skin problems

* toenail fungus

* improvement in hot flashes

* bleeding hemorrhoids (taken internally); can be applied externally twice a day

* HIV

* head lice

* improvements in menstruation regarding pain/cramps and heavy blood flow

* migraines (with regular use)

* Mononucleosis

* parasites

* diaper rash

* thrush (taken internally)

* plantar warts

As you can see, these coconut oil uses are many and varied. Most people take anywhere from 1 tablespoon a day to several. You can take it straight, or use it in cooking or mix it in with your food. If you're getting headaches or feeling bloated, it might be a good idea to drink a glass of warm water with half a lemon squeezed in, and some sea salt in it. If you don't have any sea salt in the pantry, or you're on a salt restricted diet, just omit the salt. This helps your liver work better. Your liver processes the medium chain triglycerides in coconut oil. So, if you have a fatty liver, or your liver isn't functioning as well due to illness, or prescription medication, this can cause a delay in your liver processing the coconut oil. Liver herbs like milk thistle also help.

Whatever coconut oil uses you are interested in, you must make sure you use virgin coconut oil. All the positive effects of coconut oil stem from virgin coconut oil, which is naturally free of trans-fats. Regular coconut oil (non-virgin) is processed and hydrogenated; it is also bleached and deodorized. Studies have shown significant differences between the two - one is therapeutic (virgin coconut oil), one isn't (refined).

References:

1. earthclinic.com/Remedies/coconut_oil.html