Inspired by Niceheart’s Case of Flakes, I am reposting a revised version of my entry originally posted on 10/11/05 as a reminder to friends about the healing properties of coconut oil.
The following is an excerpt (a straight cut and paste job) from the Coconut Research Center Website:
Coconut In Traditional Medicine
People from many diverse cultures, languages, religions, and races scattered around the globe have revered the coconut as a valuable source of both food and medicine. Wherever the coconut palm grows the people have learned of its importance as a effective medicine. For thousands of years coconut products have held a respected and valuable place in local folk medicine.In traditional medicine around the world coconut is used to treat a wide variety of health problems including the following: abscesses, asthma, baldness, bronchitis, bruises, burns, colds, constipation, cough, dropsy, dysentery, earache, fever, flu, gingivitis, gonorrhea, irregular or painful menstruation, jaundice, kidney stones, lice, malnutrition, nausea, rash, scabies, scurvy, skin infections, sore throat, swelling, syphilis, toothache, tuberculosis, tumors, typhoid, ulcers, upset stomach, weakness, and wounds.
Coconut In Modern Medicine
Modern medical science is now confirming the use of coconut in treating many of the above conditions. Published studies in medical journals show that coconut, in one form or another, may provide a wide range of health benefits. Some of these are summarized below:
- Kills viruses that cause influenza, herpes, measles, hepatitis C, SARS, AIDS, and other illnesses.
- Kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, gum disease and cavities, pneumonia, and gonorrhea, and other diseases.
- Kills fungi and yeasts that cause candidiasis, ringworm, athlete's foot, thrush, diaper rash, and other infections.
- Expels or kills tapeworms, lice, giardia, and other parasites.
- Provides a nutritional source of quick energy.
- Boosts energy and endurance, enhancing physical and athletic performance.
- Improves digestion and absorption of other nutrients including vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
- Improves insulin secretion and utilization of blood glucose.
- Relieves stress on pancreas and enzyme systems of the body.
- Reduces symptoms associated with pancreatitis.
- Helps relieve symptoms and reduce health risks associated with diabetes.
- Reduces problems associated with malabsorption syndrome and cystic fibrosis.
- Improves calcium and magnesium absorption and supports the development of strong bones and teeth.
- Helps protect against osteoporosis.
- Helps relieve symptoms associated with gallbladder disease.
- Relieves symptoms associated with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and stomach ulcers.
- Improves digestion and bowel function.
- Relieves pain and irritation caused by hemorrhoids.
- Reduces inflammation.
- Supports tissue healing and repair.
- Supports and aids immune system function.
- Helps protect the body from breast, colon, and other cancers.
- Is heart healthy; improves cholesterol ratio reducing risk of heart disease.
- Protects arteries from injury that causes atherosclerosis and thus protects against heart disease.
- Helps prevent periodontal disease and tooth decay.
- Functions as a protective antioxidant.
- Helps to protect the body from harmful free radicals that promote premature aging and degenerative disease.
- Does not deplete the body's antioxidant reserves like other oils do.
- Improves utilization of essential fatty acids and protects them from oxidation.
- Helps relieve symptoms associated with chronic fatigue syndrome.
- Relieves symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (prostate enlargement).
- Reduces epileptic seizures.
- Helps protect against kidney disease and bladder infections.
- Dissolves kidney stones.
- Helps prevent liver disease.
- Is lower in calories than all other fats.
- Supports thyroid function.
- Promotes loss of excess weight by increasing metabolic rate.
- Is utilized by the body to produce energy in preference to being stored as body fat like other dietary fats.
- Helps prevent obesity and overweight problems.
- Applied topically helps to form a chemical barrier on the skin to ward of infection.
- Reduces symptoms associated the psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis.
- Supports the natural chemical balance of the skin.
- Softens skin and helps relieve dryness and flaking.
- Prevents wrinkles, sagging skin, and age spots.
- Promotes healthy looking hair and complexion.
- Provides protection form damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation form the sun.
- Helps control dandruff.
- Does not form harmful by-products when heated to normal cooking temperature like other vegetable oils do.
- Has no harmful or discomforting side effects.
- Is completely non-toxic to humans.
Source: Coconut Research Center
Related Links:
Source for Research on the Health Benefits of Coconut Oil
The Health Benefits of Virgin Coconut Oil
Diabetes and Virgin Coconut Oil
Virgin Coconut Oil: How It Has Changed People's Lives
Photo credit: Proust
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Related Links:
Source for Research on the Health Benefits of Coconut Oil
The Health Benefits of Virgin Coconut Oil
Diabetes and Virgin Coconut Oil
Virgin Coconut Oil: How It Has Changed People's Lives
Photo credit: Proust
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I didn't know that our very own coconut can cure these many health problems. There isn't a lot of coconut products here kasi. Merong konti kaya lang mahal dahil syempre imported.
ReplyDeleteThanks. This is a very helpful post. I have to find out if I can find virgin coconut oil here.
and that's why it is called the 'tree of life'.
ReplyDeletevirgin coconut oil is very good.
Yes VCO is very good. I put it on my face and it removed my whiteheads. I applied it on my wart (the one that needs to be cauterized), after a few days, it dried up and just fell off. It's really amazing.
ReplyDeletecoconuts are very useful,that is why it was all over the world.. ill try to teach you how to make coconut sweets specialty of ILOCOS...ciao
ReplyDeletewhen my mom went to manila last february, i only asked for 2 things: virgin coconut oil and dalandan juice mix :)
ReplyDeletei use the virgin coconut oil as a facial and body moisturizer. the coconut fragrance is very light and eventually dissipates. the oil does not leave a greasy feeling because the body quickly absorbs it.
all the coconut trees in mexico originated in the philippines.
btw, is dalandan the same as mandarin oranges? i'm trying to figure out its equivalent.