36. Conditioning Hair Treatment
As a pre-shampoo hair treatment, coat hair in coconut oil the night before a morning shower (make sure to wear a shower cap to bed) concentrate the oil on the ends for super silky locks.
37. Lip balm
Next time you run out of chap stick, try melting 1 1/2 Tbs of coconut oil with your favorite essential oils and 1 tsp of beeswax. Fill the chap stick tube with the melted oil and allow it to come to room temperature before using.
38. Hemorrhoids
Applying coconut oil directly to hemorrhoids helps alleviate swelling and soothes pain.
39. Dandruff
Try a scalp treatment with coconut and rosemary essential oil to treat dandruff, simply massage the combined oils into the scalp and allow it to seep in overnight. Wash hair as usual in the morning and repeat until the problem subsides (26).
40. Aftershave
Amazing that something so simple could be so effective in calming the inflammation associated with shaving.
41. Mosquito bites
Apply directly to any bug bite to help soothe the itch and relieve swelling.
42. Makeup remover
Coconut oil is an impressive eye makeup remover, it dissolves gucky mascara in an instant leaving your skin moisturized and clean.
43. Sunburn relief
Ayurveda an ancient Indian medicine system, states coconut oil to be a cooling oil, it can provide great relief to burning itchy skin. Another great sunburn remedy is apple cider vinegar mixed with water, sprayed on the skin and allowed to dry. Apply coconut oil after ACV for even greater relief.
44. Acne
Both internally and externally, coconut oil is excellent for treating acne. From the inside it helps to balance hormones associated with causing acne. Externally you can apply it to pimples for the anti bacterial effects as well as reducing swelling and redness.
45. Shaving cream
If you want to completely avoid razor burn try using coconut oil instead of shaving cream.
46. Stretch marks
Treat stretch marks and scars with coconut oil when the pores are open after a bath or shower. You can also apply coconut oil to your belly to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy.
47. Perineal massage during pregnancy
Starting about a month before giving birth, massage the perineum with coconut oil to prevent tearing or necessity of episiotomy .
48. Eyelash treatment for super lush lashes
Apply a little coconut oil to your lashes before bed, this is especially useful if you wear eye makeup as it can cause hair loss and breakage over time.
49. Homemade coconut oil soap
You can easily make your very own soap with just 3 ingredients and a crockpot check out this excellent photo tutorial for full instructions over here.
50. Cuticle softener
Massage coconut oil into dry, hang nail prone cuticles, your nails will thank you.
51. Varicose veins
Apply coconut oil daily to varicose veins and massage in really well, anecdotal reports show this to be an excellent method for dealing with varicose veins naturally.
52. Season your cast iron
Use coconut oil to season your cast irons pans, once you’ve washed and dried them add a touch of coconut oil to keep them non-stick and rust free.
53. Start a fire
Forget about bringing that jug of gasoline on your camping trip. Instead try soaking a few cotton balls in coconut oil and using them as a fire starter.
54. Save money and buy in bulk
It takes a very long time for coconut oil to go rancid and now that you know how awesome it is you’re going to want to use it alot!
Medium Chain Triglycerides
We should also note that countries with an abundant consumption of coconut are amongst some of the healthiest people on the planet today. It’s no accident that Kitivan people of Papua New Guinea consume ample amounts of coconut yet have zero incidence of modern ailments we see today (27).
Our current state of health in North America is ravaged with anxiety over fat, with obesity becoming an epidemic and heart disease close behind, people are looking for something to blame.
The ironic thing is fat does not make you fat. MCT’s (Medium Chain Triglycerides) in coconut oil have been shown to increase energy expenditure and metabolism by up to 5% in a twenty-four hour period.
A study done on 6 healthy men given medium chain triglycerides vs. long chain triglycerides found that the men consuming MCT’s ate almost 300 calories less per day than the other group (28).
MCT’s are also being used as a therapeutic treatment for reducing seizures associated with epilepsy. Researchers have found a diet high in fat and low in carbohydrates helps to greatly reduce seizures (29).
Like I mentioned above, coconut oil is extremely useful for people with Alzheimer’s disease, specifically the MCT’s which the liver breaks down into ketone bodies that the brain uses as fuel. One study showed immediate improvement with mild forms of Alzheimers after consumption of MCT’s (30).
Athletes take concentrated MCT oil for increased stamina during workouts and to ensure they stay lean.
Conclusion
The various uses of coconut oil, medicinal and otherwise are so pervasive that everyone should have this superfood in their cupboards. If you want to see even more benefits check these out as well.
Make sure to purchase pure, cold-pressed, extra-virgin organic coconut oil to reap the full benefits. Any other uses you can think of? What’s your favorite way to include coconut oil in your life? Let us know in the comments below!
source: rootandsprouts