A closer look at: Coconut Oil
“The coconut, in a sense, can be viewed as nature’s medicine chest. The products derived from it—meat, oil, milk, and water—can be used to nourish the body, prevent disease, heal injuries, and overcome sickness.”
Core Information
Common name/s: Coconut, Tumu-Nū / Pū-Nū in Cook Islands Maori.
Scientific name: Cocos nucifera L.
Botanical family: Arecaceae – Palm family
Part of plant used: Flesh of the drupe
Therapeutic Insights:
Therapeutic actions: antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, emollient, hypotensive, emetic, purgative.
Taste: has a sweet coconut nutty taste and fragrance which may range from mild to intense depending on the process used for extraction.
Tissue States: Hot(excess, excitation) and Dry (atrophy), cooling, calming, avoiding dryness through preserving moisture
Energetics: in Ayurvedic medicine Coconut oil is considered cooling and is indicated for Pitta skin conditions
Aromatic Applications: Aromatic formulations for dry, mature, photoageing and environmentally damaged skin. Antimicrobial ointments, salves, soaps, creams. Scalp and hair preparations.
Grated Coconut flesh laid out to dry in the sun
Botanical description, origin and presence in the Cook Islands
Coconut oil is present in every Cook Island household, be it for cooking or for traditional uses for massage and self-care.
Coconut palms grow up to 30m tall, can live up to 100 years or so and can produce close to 70 fruits per year. They are harvested mainly for their fruits, from which the dried coconut flesh, coconut water and coconut milk and oil are all widely used throughout the Cook Islands. The coconut palm is also used as food, in traditional Maori medicine, thatching and basketry as well as for building material.
A study in 2011 identified highly genetically differentiated subpopulations of coconuts as being the Central Indo-Pacific, the region between western Southeast Asia and Melanesia. The distribution of the Pacific Island coconuts probably correspond to the regions settled by Austronesian canoe voyagers indicating that the spread of was largely the result of human introductions.
There is evidence, however, of native Coconut palms in the South Pacific and in the Cook Islands . On the outer island of Atiu, coconut pollen is found in the pollen record at 8600BP (corrected date), which is several thousand years before the first Polynesian settlers arrived [Parkes 1997]as well as on Mangaia, Coconut is in the pollen record at 7300B.P. [Ellison 1994].
Methods of extraction
Cold pressed Virgin Coconut oil
Virgin Coconut oils found in commerce for food and cosmetic use are extracted through drying the grated coconut and cold pressing the dried flesh the oil which is estimated to give a yield of approximately 46–49% of oil.
Polynesian and traditional methods
Traditionally Coconut oil is extracted by boiling coconut milk to evaporate the water, leaving the oil behind.
In the Cook islands and throughout Polynesia there are several processes other than boiling for obtaining Coconut oil. Each family had their own methods that were passed on through generations, such as cold expression, heat rendering or fermenting with plants or shellfish.
Cold and heated rendered expression will give a clear oil whereas when fermented, the Coconut oil will have yellowish tint. Each method retains the distinct scent and fragrance of coconuts. Coconut oil becomes white and solid under 25C.
The ideal and preferred oil for aromatic preparations is either cold pressed or fermented as they retain all their beneficial, health enhancing qualities and are better absorbed by the skin.
At Manongi we use either organically home produced vegan fermented coconut oil or organic cold pressed virgin coconut oil sourced either locally or from overseas.
Expressed Coconut oil from fermentation
Traditional uses in the South Pacific
Coconut oil
In the Cook Islands and throughout Polynesia Coconut oil is used for a whole range of aromatic infusions, called Manongi, which means scented oil in Cook Island Maori, or more widely known as Monoi in French Polynesia. These infused oils are used as much for medicinal as for cosmetic use.
In the Philippines, throughout Southern Pacific nations, Coconut oil is rubbed onto stiff joints and used to treat rheumatism and back pains.
Coconut oil is also used to treat sick new born infants and women who have just given birth. It’s also used to place a baby from a breech to a normal position in the mother’s womb, by massaging the mother’s abdomen.
Other uses in the South Pacific
Coconut cream, Roro akari, in Cook island Maori, is used for hair and scalp treatments in Polynesia. The cream and oil are also used in preparations to treat fish poisoning.
The juice, from a green coconut, Nu, is rich in electrolytes and is given to fortify those who are weakened by illness and also taken to treat kidney problems. The juice is also given to women who have difficult pregnancies and in Fiji, liquid extracted from the stem, is given for weakness after childbirth and treating maternal postpartum illness.
The root is employed in treating stomach-ache and blood in the urine. It is boiled in combination with the root of Ruellia tuberosa, Tītā ‘Aruru, and used as a treatment for bladder ailments and as an aphrodisiac.
In New Guinea, parts of the plant are used as used as a poultice to treat sores and scabies whereas, in the Solomon Islands, they are used to treat diarrhoea and dysentery.
The coconut flesh is said to have vermicide properties. The dry, spongy kernel of the germinating Coconut, called Uto, is used to stop haemorrhaging.
A little chemistry
Coconut oil is made up of about 90% saturated fats and 9% unsaturated fats. Over 50% of the fats in coconut oil are medium chain fatty acids, such as lauric acid. However, unlike long chain fatty acids, these medium chain free fatty acids are absorbed intact from the small intestine, to go directly to the liver, by-passing the circulatory and lymphatic system to be converted directly into energy and metabolites and not fat. This reduces the risk of cholesterol and blood-fat build up, giving coconut oil its well deserved reputation as a “non-fattening source of energy”.
Lauric acid
is a major component of coconut and palm kernel oils. An in vivo study showed that lauric acid had antimicrobial properties of against Cutibacterium acnes (syn. Propionibacterium acnes,) indicating its potential use in cases of acne vulgaris.
Capric acid
is a minor component of coconut oil which exhibits antibacterial and anti- inflammatory activity.
Uses in aromatherapy
Coconut oil for the body
Lauric acid is generous with beneficial effects on health and wellbeing. It is notorious for its antimicrobial — antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal — properties. The constituent responsible for its antimicrobial action is monolaurin, a mono-glyceride formed from lauric acid, with antibacterial activity against Cutibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Monolaurin has robust antibacterial and antiviral activity in addition to activity against yeast biofilms in cell studies. It exerts its antimicrobial activity through disrupting the membranes of microbial organisms.
Coconut oil is ideal for mouth washes and tongue pulling oils to help with healing bacterial and fungal oral infections.
Included in diets, Coconut oil has also been shown to have the potential to protect against not only heart disease but a wide variety of chronic health problems including diabetes.
Coconut oil for the skin:
Suitable for very dry skin types , Coconut oil is emollient and slightly occlusive, thereby preventing trans-epidermal water loss.
Coconut oil smooths and reveals a fresh, glowing complexion for those who tolerate it well. However, it can be rather heavy and may not be well tolerated if you have oily skin and you may do well to avoid it if you have pimply skin. Combination skins will benefit from it at night.
It is used extensively in body butters, whipped butters, lip and body balms, and creams.
“Coconut oil, being rich in medium-chain triglcerides is able to penetrate the hair shaft, protecting it from protein loss, as well as giving it more body”
Coconut oil for hair
With its MCTs, Coconut oil is the only oil that can penetrate the hair shaft whereas other lipid oils with longer chain fatty acids only have a coating action. This unique quality makes Coconut oil highly moisturising and conditioning for hair.
Home crafted Coconut oil through fermentation
What about fractionated Coconut oil?
There’s a lot of dissension for and against the use of fractionated Coconut oils in aromatherapy and natural formulation fields.
What is fractionated Coconut oil ?
Virgin Coconut oil is put through an additional process which separates it into fractions in order to separate and remove certain components . During this process Lauric acid is removed, making the Coconut oil more fluid, no longer solidify in cooler temperatures and therefore more stable in skincare formulations. The argument is that this process is likened to refining, making it incompatible for creating natural products, even when the oil still retains it’s organic certification. For aromatherapists, the argument is that removing Lauric acid takes away the therapeutic benefits of Coconut oil.
I actually sympathise with both arguments, however, in my practice, I’ve made a personal call for Manongi, to make use of organic fractionated Coconut oil under certain conditions for specific purposes.
Therefore, at Manongi we do actually use fractionated Coconut oil in some of our products which is organic, carefully sourced and ethically produced. Our reason for doing so is that in certain topical applications, as a facial, body or hair oils or as a vehicle for specific aromatherapy formulations it is lighter in texture, and more easily absorbed than Virgin Coconut oil. It is also odourless which is great where fragrance is the primary purpose. It also remains liquid at most temperatures which makes it ideal for rollerball blends. Lastly it has an extremely long shelf-life and therefore remains stable for longer, which is an important consideration when formulating products in a tropical climate like the Cook Islands.
References
Coconut Cures: Preventing and Treating Common Health Problems with Coconut, Fife, Bruce. Piccadilly Books, Ltd..
http://cookislands.bishopmuseum.org/species.asp?id=5960
WHO Regional Publications, Manilla.1998
https://www.herbalreality.com/herb/virgin-coconut-oil/
https://www.holistichealthherbalist.com/complete-list-of-comedogenic-oils/
https://www.holistichealthherbalist.com/my-favorite-ways-to-use-coconut-oil/
https://aromaticstudies.com/coconut-oil-explained/
https://aromaticstudies.com/coconut-oils-part-ii/
https://app.labaroma.com/ingredients/214
Power Of The Seed, Sue Parker
The Carrier Oil Palette, Jade Shutes and Sheri Roach, School of Aromatic Studies
https://www.tahitiheritage.pf/noix-de-coco-tahiti/
Sreeranjini Sundrasegaran, Siau Hui Mah, Extraction Methods of Virgin Coconut Oil and Palm-pressed Mesocarp Oil and their Phytonutrients , eFood Vol. 1(6); December (2020), pp. 381–391 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2991/efood.k.201106.001; eISSN 2666-3066 https://www.atlantis-press.com/journals/efood
Baudouin, Luc; Lebrun, Patricia (July 26, 2008). "Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) DNA studies support the hypothesis of an ancient Austronesian migration from Southeast Asia to America"Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. 56 (2): 257–262. doi:10.1007/s10722-008-9362-6. S2CID 19529408
Gunn, Bee F.; Baudouin, Luc; Olsen, Kenneth M.; Ingvarsson, Pär K. (June 22, 2011). "Independent Origins of Cultivated Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) in the Old World Tropics".PLOS ONE. 6 (6): e21143. Bibcode:2011PLoSO...621143G
Huang, W.-C., Tsai, T.-H., Chuang, L.-T., Li, Y.-Y., Zouboulis, C. C., & Tsai, P.-J. (2014). Anti-bacterial and anti-inflmmatory properties of capric acid against Propionibacterium acnes: A comparative study with lauric acid. Journal of Dermatological Science, 73(3), 232-240. doi: 10.1016/j.jdermsci.2013.10.010
Nakatsuji, T., Kao, M., Fang, J-Y., Zouboulis, C., Zhang, L., Gallo, R., & Huang, C-M. (2009). Antimicrobial property of lauric acid against Propionbacterium acnes: Its therapeutic potential for inflammatory acne vulgaris. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 129, 2480-2488. doi:10.1038/jid.2009.93
Pratiwi Dian, The use of helichrysum italics essential oil for CO2 laser aftercare for atopic skin patient - Case report - Aromatika magazine 2021. 8.4.1
Vaughn, A. R., Clark, A. K., Sivamani, R. K., & Shi, V. Y. (2018). Natural Oils for Skin-Barrier Repair: Ancient Compounds Now Backed by Modern Science, .American journal of clinical dermatology,19(1), 103–117. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40257-017-0301-1
