Coconut Oil Body Care

Skin Moisture

Since learning about sustainability and natural health we follow a motto that states if you can’t eat it don’t put it on your skin. Our skin is our largest organ of assimilation and elimination it therefore literally drinks whatever it comes into contact with.

Coconut oil has been used as a skin moisturizer for thousands of years. It is ideal for dry, rough and wrinkled skin. Its high content of Medium Chain Fatty Acids (MCFA’s) makes it easily absorbed by the skin. It prevents stretch marks and lightens existing ones. Its antiseptic elements keep the skin young and healthy and relatively free from infections. All of these benefits also make coconut oil ideal for massage and massage therapists.

Many of us are being exposed daily to external (and internal) environmental toxins and bacteria. Our skin naturally produces an oil called Serbum, this oil contains MCFA’s and is produced to protect us from unwanted toxins. Unfortunately when we wash our skin with soaps and detergents we also wash away this protective layer of oil. Coconut oil when used as body oil replenishes the natural MCFA’s into our skin and creates the protective layer we need.

Coconut oil as a skin moisturiser also has a pleasant odour and provides a beautiful radiance to the skin.

Reversing Skin Tissue Damage

Skin Damage and Free Radicals

The largest cause of free radical damage in the body is from cooked, rancid and oxidised oils. Free radicals are oxygen molecules that have become unstable and reactive. They bounce around cells and tissues depleting healthy molecules and causing damage, this has come to be regarded as the primary cause of aging. The damage often becomes visible on our skin as wrinkles, blemishes, age spots, liver spots and lingering scars.

Polyunsaturated oils, which are all commercial vegetable oils, soy products and margarine are often already rancid and toxic as a result of the use of chemicals and heat in their production process. Other oils such as flax, olive, hemp, nut and seed oils and so on, are light to moderately stable. They are therefore extremely heat and light sensitive and can become oxidised, rancid and even toxic when left exposed to light and/or heat. When oxidative damage or rancidity occurs to the oil it becomes sticky and difficult to wash off. Once inside the body this characteristic of oxidised or damaged oil has a similar affect leading to free radical damage. *

Nourishing and repairing the skin with coconut oil, is approached by using the oil both internally and externally. Coconut oil reverses the tissue damaging process by displacing the cooked oil from the tissues and providing fat-soluble vitamins, minerals, and super nutrition factors directly to the damaged tissues.

Treating Wounds

Coconut oil on its own or as a carrier for essential oils is a great way to treat skin wounds topically. Mixed with Tee Tree oil it has powerful antiseptic, antimicrobial and antifungal affects that may help treat fungus overgrowth, open cuts and sores, rashes or skin irritations such as psorisus, escema and athlete’s foot.

Hair

Polynesian, Asian and Pacific Islander women often attribute their long, silky, shiny and rich looking hair to the regular use of coconut oil as a hair moisturising treatment. Coconut oil offers moisture and hair nourishment that unlike many commercially produced products is pure and nutrient rich. Simply massage the oil through your hair and leave it in as a treatment for 2 or more hours and wash it out. You can also do this before bed and leave it in over night. Each of our hair types may have different moisture requirements, so it is best that you determine for your self how often your hair needs a treatment. I aim for at least one coconut oil hair treatment per week. I know women who use coconut oil as a regular conditioner only with nothing else.

As an Erotic Oil

That’s right coconut oil is also used as an erotic oil. We say that you should have one jar in the kitchen, one in the bathroom and one in the bedroom.

The smell and taste of the oil enhance sexual intercourse. It’s antiviral, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties can offer some protection from sexually transmitted disease, not complete though so it is best to use condoms and other appropriate protection when necessary. Coconut oil should be used with polyurethane condoms or a natural skin condom. Latex condoms are best avoided because coconut oil can dissolve the latex. *

Meditation and Essential Oils

Because of its beautiful aroma and calming nature coconut oil is excellent to use as a lotion or massage balm to relax and calm your mind. To help obtain mental clarity and focus simply massage some oil across your forehead and temples. Mixed with lavender, sandalwood or frankincense it also enhances the therapeutic qualities of these essential oils. Mixed with rose oil it also makes a lovely natural and uplifting perfume.

* reference David Wolfe, Eating for Beauty