For years I ran myself and my kids to the doctor and used medications and prescriptions for the illnesses in our family, and only recently have I discovered the benefits and uses of more natural remedies.
As I’ve started my research it amazes me how many natural products can be used for so many ailments. I’ve complied a list of great uses for coconut oil, but please remember I am not a medical professional and though I do believe the oil can help with many ailments, you should consult your doctor with any health issues.
Virgin coconut oil is composed of medium-chain-length fatty acids, or triglycerides MCTs, which are shown to have many health benefits, including raising the body’s metabolism, and acting as an antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial agent.”
Give Your Hair Shine
Run a small bit through your wet hair to get a great smooth shine.
Moisturize Your Skin
From dry feet and hands to sun- kissed skin, coconut oil is a great way to re nourish your skin without heavy scented lotions. One little dab and rubbed in will do the trick.
Remove Your Makeup
Go natural -put some coconut oil on a cloth and wash off your make-up. Rinse with warm water. You skin will be clean and soft.
Remove Sun/Age Spots
Gently rub the coconut oil on your sun/age spots, and watch them fade away.
Baking/Cooking
Use it as a substitute for shortening, butter, or other types of oil, and get a sweeter, lighter tasting dessert. In cooking it’s a great oil with a high smoke point. It’s also a dairy free replacement to butter!
Add To Sweet Beverages
It’s easy to bring a kick of coconut to hot chocolate or fruit smoothies. It’s also great in coffee! (remember if you are adding to a cold beverage, you need to heat up the liquid and melt it before adding to your drink!).
Leather Shoe Cleaner
Make sure your boots remain made for walking by rubbing them down with a dab of coconut oil to keep them clean and soften the leather.
Remove Stickers From Merchandise
Darn you, discount stores! Sticky labels and price tags are easy to remove with coconut oil. Just mix with some baking soda, spread it on the sticky area, leave for 10 minutes, and all evidence of your bargain will rub right off.
Season Cast-Iron Frying Pans
Cast iron needs maintenance to ensure foods don’t stick, and coconut oil makes a great non-sticking agent to keep your pan slick.
Canker Sore Remedy
If your diet consists primarily of fresh pineapple and sour soothers, one of the (likely many) health issues you’ve endured is the dreaded canker sore. Coconut oil has been said to speed up the healing process.
Furniture Polish
Some coconut oil and lemon juice is all it takes to bring a beautiful shine to your wood furniture. (Just be sure to test it out on an inconspicuous spot first.)
Toothpaste
Combine coconut oil with baking soda to make your pearly whites shine.
Lip Balm
While coconut oil makes lips shiny and moist on its own, you can add these items for a added kick – beeswax, shea butter, and colouring.
Help Digestion/Kill Parasites
There is some evidence that coconut oil helps digestion and may even kill intestinal parasites or yeast (see Stockpiling Moms post on Oil Pulling)
Diaper Cream/Cradle Cap
Prevent Stretch Marks
Kill Yeast/yeast infections
Topically, to help heal wounds
To Fight Athletes Foot and Fungus
Can help sooth psoriasis or eczema
Rub coconut oil on the inside of your nose to help alleviate allergy symptoms
Blend a tablespoon into hot tea to help speed recovery from cold or flu
Can help reduce appearance of varicose veins
As a natural shave cream and after shave lotion
Can reduce the itch of mosquito bites
It’s anti-inflammatory properties can help lessen arthritis
Can help speed weight loss when consumed daily
Can help improve sleep when taken daily
Can be used to speed healing of fungal infections when taken internally and used externally
A tablespoon melted into a cup of warm tea can help sooth a sore throat
To help sooth the itch of chicken pox or poison ivy
Some evidence shows that the beneficial fats in coconut oil can help with depression and anxiety
By itself as a natural deodorant
For pets struggling with skin issues when used externally
Some evidence suggests that the beneficial fats in coconut oil are helpful for those with Autism
Can be taken in warm ginger tea to sooth heartburn or nausea
*Use the link below to purchase 16 oz of Extra Virgin Coconut oil for only $8.99 on Amazon (and get 2 free day shipping with Amazon Prime!)
Wow, thank you for posting this. I love finding natural ways to clean, heal and eat. Coconut has so many great benefits that I didn’t know about.
I love coconut oil and use it for everything! It’s a super fruit for sure!
I love it! Can’t wait to try it! I love trying to do things as ‘organic’ as possible!
I always use coconut oil for cooking as it is far more stable at higher temperatures. Plus it’s healthy!
Also started using coconut toothpaste. Works really well!
I’ve always heard such great things about coconut oil but I haven’t tried it. But after seeing HOW MANY awesome uses and benefits it has I think I need to take the plunge.
Oh my, so many Benefits and Uses of Coconut Oil!! I just bought some last week to try in a recipe and a beauty treatment. Plus I keep seeing oil pulling pop up and figured I might give it a shot to see what I think.
I’ve heard about a few of the ones you have listed, but I’ll have to try it on my cast iron skillet. We’re using it more and more lately. And I might try the toothpaste idea along with a few others. Thanks again!!
I’ve read several articles on the Benefits and Uses of Coconut Oil but you have a couple that are new to me. I am interested in trying it out as a toothpaste.
Love, love, love Coconut Oil – thanks for linking to our oil pulling post.