What is coconut oil?

Coconut oil is a plant-based oil extracted from the meat or kernel of mature coconuts. It is used for various purposes, including cooking, skin care, and medicinal purposes.

How does it work?

Coconut oil is believed to work for medicinal purposes due to its high concentration of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) and lauric acid. MCTs are easily absorbed and metabolized by the liver, leading to increased energy expenditure and fat burning. Lauric acid has antimicrobial properties and can help fight bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

What are the active ingredients that are important for its medicinal properties?

The active ingredient in coconut oil that is important for its medicinal properties is lauric acid.

What forms does it come in?

Coconut oil can be found in various forms, including liquid, semi-solid, and solid. It can also be found in capsule form.

When was it first used for medicinal purposes?

Coconut oil has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries, particularly in traditional medicine systems in Southeast Asia.

What does Coconut Oil help with?

Coconut oil is the fat pressed from coconut flesh. Cooks and healers in Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Pacific have used it for ages. Ayurvedic practice also uses it on skin, on hair and in the mouth.

• Dry skin and eczema patches
  Good evidence — clinical trials in children with eczema, compared with mineral oil. In clinical trials in children with eczema, virgin coconut oil cut dryness and skin barrier damage. It did better than mineral oil in those trials. Lab work also shows mild germ-slowing action, which may help calm broken skin.
  Evidence grade B · Traditional tier T3
• Bad breath, plaque and sore gums (oil pulling)
  Good evidence — clinical studies of swishing for 10 to 20 minutes, some against chlorhexidine. In clinical studies, people swished coconut oil in the mouth for 10 to 20 minutes. Plaque, gum swelling and Streptococcus mutans counts went down. Some studies found results close to chlorhexidine mouthwash, with fewer side effects.
  Evidence grade B · Traditional tier T3
• Trouble managing weight or waist size
  Early evidence — small clinical trials of regular MCT intake. Small clinical trials of MCT fats found a slight rise in calorie burn and in fullness. Some found smaller waist size and fat loss over time. Those trials paired MCTs with a balanced diet, so diet was part of the result.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T3
• High blood sugar with type 2 diabetes
  Early evidence — small early studies in people with type 2 diabetes. Some small studies found lower fasting blood sugar when people with type 2 diabetes added coconut oil to food. Early work also points to a better insulin response. Larger trials have not been done, so this stays preliminary.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T3
• Candida and mild fungal skin rashes
  Early evidence — lab antifungal tests plus limited clinical use on skin. In lab tests, the caprylic acid and lauric acid in coconut oil slowed Candida yeast. On skin, it has been used for mild fungal rashes and for diaper rash. Reports describe good safety and fair results, but the human work is limited.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T3
• Memory loss in early Alzheimer's disease
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — case reports and small pilot studies only. Case reports and small pilot studies described better thinking scores in early Alzheimer's with coconut oil or MCT oil. It is well established that the brain in Alzheimer's uses glucose poorly, and that the liver makes ketones from MCTs. That is background science, not proof; no large trial is on file.
  Evidence grade D · Traditional tier T3
• Brain fog and low mental energy
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — known metabolism plus user reports; no trial on file for focus. It is well established that the liver turns MCTs into ketones, and that the brain can burn them. Whether that sharpens focus has not been tested in any trial on file. Many users say they feel clearer on fasting or low-carb days, which is report, not evidence.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T3
• Dry, brittle or damaged hair
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — lab studies of hair fibres; no clinical trial on file. In lab studies of hair fibres, coconut oil entered the hair shaft rather than only coating it. Protein loss from washing and heat dropped in those tests. People use it as a pre-wash oil on dry or treated hair, but human trials are not on file.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T3
• Dry mouth from medicines
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — no trial on file for dry mouth relief. The oil coats dry, sore mouth tissue, and some people with drug-related dry mouth use it for that. No study on file has measured dry mouth relief. The mouth trials on file looked at gum swelling and bacteria instead.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T3

What Coconut Oil has not been shown to do

• It has not been shown to cure eczema; the trials measured dryness and skin barrier damage, not a cure.
• It has not been shown in any human trial to prevent colds or infections; the monolaurin work is lab only.
• It has not been shown to stop or reverse Alzheimer's disease; only case reports and small pilots are on file.
• It has not been shown to replace diabetes medicine, since only small early studies exist.
• It has not been shown to cause large weight loss on its own; trial effects were small and came with a balanced diet.
• It has not been shown to replace brushing, flossing or a dentist's care.
• It has not been shown in human trials to grow hair or slow hair loss.

How to read this:

Each use has its own grade. A means steady results from randomised human trials. B means at least one good human trial. C means small or early human studies. D means weak or mixed human evidence. Insufficient means no human study on file. This page reports what studies found. It is not medical advice, and it is not a promise of results. Talk with your own clinician before you change care.

What can it help prevent?

Coconut oil has been shown to help prevent the following conditions and symptoms:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Diabetes
• Cancer
• Osteoporosis
• Dementia and Alzheimer's disease
• Tooth decay and gum disease
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Infections

Which foods are rich in it?

Foods rich in coconut oil include:

• Coconut meat
• Coconut milk
• Coconut cream
• Coconut butter

What are possible side effects?

Possible side effects of coconut oil include:

• Digestive issues such as diarrhea, bloating, and stomach cramps
• Allergic reactions in individuals who are allergic to coconuts
• High calorie content leading to weight gain if consumed in excess

What’s the recommended daily dose?

The recommended daily dose of coconut oil for adults is 1-2 tablespoons.

How many days does it take to work?

The time it takes for coconut oil to work varies depending on the condition being treated and individual factors.

What time of day is best to take it?

The time of day to take coconut oil does not appear to be significant.

Is it best to take it with or without food?

Coconut oil can be taken with or without food, depending on personal preference.