27 Ways To Use Coconut Oil

What is the Vietnamese word for buzz saw?

I don’t know, but I’m pretty sure I heard it the last time I took my mangled feet to get a pedicure.

It’s true: I have ugly feet. 

And half-way through sandal season (ie now) they are at their ugliest. I would show you pictures but I try to keep things wholesome around here.  Sufficient to say, they are dry and rough around the edges. One of my toes spreads out all crooked and scary like E.T.’s finger. It’s not pretty.

But...

But, but, but, but, BUT…they got a whole lot prettier when I discovered this body scrub recipe last summer.
 

Sit on the edge of your tub and rub on your feet for 2 minutes...rinse, dry, repeat. Boom, new feet!

Yes, there are about ten berjillion face and body scrub recipes running around Pinterest these days, but this one is better. Know why? 

Coconut oil.   

Yep. It’s that good. 

It makes a huge difference. No, I mean that.

I had been using coconut oil soap on my hyper-sensitive/allergy/eczema-prone skin for years, but I didn’t join the official die-hard fan base until last spring. To be honest, prior to reading about the health benefits, I had the idea that coconut oil consumption was something to keep at a minimum – probably because it comes semi-solid like Crisco, and in my mind that put it in the same genre as vegetable lard, right? 

Wrong. 

For the money, coconut oil is just about the best thing running. It helps to prevents wrinkles, heart disease, cancer, and lowers cholesterol levels, and research links it to improvement in memory and the prevention of a multitude of other diseases.

If you are anything like me – I had you at wrinkles (yes, it’s true: coconut oil is a natural antioxidant that protects the body from free radical damage and prevents premature aging and degenerative diseases (read: your skin is going to love it)).

Did you know that multiple studies on Pacific Island populations who get 30-60 percent of their total caloric intake from fully saturated coconut oil have all shown nearly non-existent rates of cardiovascular disease? 

Plus, let’s be honest; what would you give to have skin like a Hula girl?

Yeah. Me too. 

Coconut oil is antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial. It attacks and kills viruses that have a lipid (fatty) coating, such as herpes, hepatitis C, influenza, and mononucleosis. It kills the bacteria that cause pneumonia, sore throats, dental cavities, urinary tract infections, meningitis, gonorrhea, food poisoning, pneumonia, and many, many more bacterial infections. It kills the fungus/yeast infections that cause candida, ringworm, athletes foot, thrush, jock itch, diaper rash and more.

I could go on about this for a while, but seeing as this is not a health food store and I am not the All-Knowing granola guy in the Hawaiian shirt behind the counter, I’ll just link some sources at the bottom so you can do your own research. Or, just watch this video from Doctor Oz. That guy is is so crazy. He’s like 60 something 52 and looks 22. It’s creepy how he keeps asking me to look at my own poop but I’ll listen to what he to say because, well, look at him -- the dude must be doing something right.

Anyway… I have been tinkering with the idea of doing a series of posts on common household remedies for a while now, and since coconut oil is something of a wonder-elixir in my book I thought I would start out with a post devoted to the stuff.

******* 27 Ways to Use Coconut Oil *******

• Soothe chronic ulcers (Doctor oz does a good job of explaining how this works) 
• Diaper rash reliever (a friend of mine with three kids swears it works better than Desitin) 
• Breast feeding aid (certified organic coconut oil is an excellent anti-chafing balm for nursing mothers)
• Condition wooden spoons, serving bowls and cutting boards
• Tame dry ends  (rub a small amount between fingers and run over the end of your hair before brushing)
• Rub on psoriasis and eczema plaques to help heal irritation (side note testimony: my own eczema improved significantly when I switched to coconut oil soap several years ago -- far more helpful than any $100 prescription soap or tube of cream)
• Pet-Friendly digestion aid (add ½ a teaspoon to dog or cat food to aid digestion and relieve constipation)
• Oil pulling (I know several people who swear by this) 
• Use as shaving cream on legs or face
• Cream foundation base (in the palm of your hand, mix a dab of coconut oil with powdered mineral foundation to create a matching cream foundation for around the eyes/mouth area)
•  Deep conditioning hair mask (mix 2Tbs coconut oil + 2Tbs of real mayonnaise (ie: not miracle whip) then rub all over hair starting from the bottom up, put on shower cap and rest for 30 minutes before rinsing) 
• Magic shell (melt chocolate chips and mix with a spoon full of coconut oil. When you pour over ice cream it will harden off just like the magic shell stuff).
• Help heal stretch marks (especially if you rub it in before the stretching starts)
• Homemade Vapo Rub (mix 2 Tbs of solid coconut oil with 3 drops of tee tree oil and 3 drops rosemary oil. (I also like to add a few drops of Olbas oil) and rub on chest and neck to relieve congestion)
• Guitar string cleaner 
• Kill head lice (for real) 
• Facial scrub (mix with equal parts sugar and baking soda for a brightening facial scrub)
• Whitening tooth paste  (mix equal parts coconut oil and baking soda)
• Eye make-up remover  (added benefit -- after you smear away the makeup, the residue will sit on your skin all night as a mega moisturizing eye cream)
• Massage Oil
• Substitute for olive oil in cooking (I have found that most of the coconut flavor disappears with exposure to heat or any sort of spices – some people are more sensitive to the taste than others, though) 
• Frozen facial mask (mix with egg and honey for a frozen facial mask) 
• Deodorant base (smear a small amount on *clean* underarms and sprinkle with baby powder or cornstarch Or follow this recipe to make a real bar)
• Healing ointment (use to help heal and seal small cuts, bee stings, minor burns or skin irritations)
• Schmutz remover (mix with baking soda as a substitute for Goo-Gone or similar -- get gum out of hair and carpet as well)
• Leather sealant and conditioner (dribble a small amount into a rag and rub on shoes or bags vigorously)
• Substitute for WD-40

Additional Sources:

Dr. Joseph Mercola: Coconut Oil Benefits-When Fat Is Good For You

Mayo Clinic: Alzheimer's research volunteers critical to helping find a cure

She Knows: 12 Inexpensive Beauty Treatments Made with Coconut Oil

Live Strong: The Best Virgin Coconut Oil Benefits

Weston A. Price Foundation: The Latest Studies on Coconut Oil

So, OK, clearly I like coconut oil for lots of stuff around the house, but I have a question; what is your favorite home remedy?